Fidelity

64th

Totally worth it

Hindi ako pumayag umakyat sa unit niya.

If anything happens between us tonight, I don't think I'd ever be able to think rationally after.

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya nang iabot niya ang card key ng penthouse niya.

"Take this and just spend the night here. Malalim na ang gabi para umuwi ka pa. Sa Calle Nueva na 'ko matutulog,"

Napaawang ang labi ko.

I didn't take the card and told him to just stay since he's the one who's drunk anyway. I said it with a sense of finality and authority that he wasn't able to do anything but obliged. He looked like a golden retriever who's being scolded with his head down.

"Wait here.." aniya at tumalikod para mag-dial sa telepono.

I thought he was calling for a chauffeur or booking a cab for me. Ngunit imbes na kung sinong driver ay ang assistant niyang si Erol dala ang company car ang siyang dumating.

Davion held the car door for me. He bit his lip.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" maingat na tanong niya, may bahid ng pag-aalala sa mga mata.

I sighed and tried to match his tender gaze.

"Can I ask for some time to sort things out in my head?"

I didn't like the trace of fear that immediately crossed his eyes. Gamit ang isang kamay ay inabot ko ang pisngi niya upang haplusin.

"I promise I'll come to you as soon as I'm ready.." I softly said as my thumb caress his skin.

Bumagal at gumaan ang bawat pagbagsak ng talukap ng mata niya. He reached for my hand on his cheek and enveloped it with the warmth of his palm.

"How long?" his voice came out rather small.

I bit my lip as a sudden urge built up inside me with how he looks and sounds right now.

"I don't know.. A week, maybe? I just really need to think about how we'd go about this.."

Laglag ang panga ni Raya na kakabalik lang galing sa honeymoon nang magkita kami ng linggo ring iyon. She couldn't believe what I just said.

Nagulat pa ko nang magtubig ang mata niya at yakapin ako nang mahigpit.

"God. I didn't wanna say anything because I know how hard it has been for you too. At nakita ko rin na masaya ka naman kay Austin kaya't ayokong makialam." aniya habang nakatingala at pinipigil ang luha.

"But ever since I got back with Cal, I've witnessed how Davion was actually struggling. That man... he already died inside the moment you left him, Sol."

Hindi ako makapaniwala kung gaano siya kaemosyonal ngayon gayong isa siya sa mga pinaka-nonchalant na taong kilala ko.

"He'd often show up outside Cal's place in the middle of the night, looking like a total wreck. I never thought I'd see Davion like that.. looking so vulnerable and helpless. Umabot sa puntong pati si Cal ay napapagod na at di na alam ang gagawin dun sa tao,"

Napaawang ang labi ko.

"Doon pa lang ay alam ko na. That what he had for you was real. But the more I learn from Cal, the more I think it was even beyond that. The man was fucking down bad for you. Really bad."

"Kilala mo naman si Cal. He knows everything. Lalo na at si Davion itong pinaguusapan natin dito. All the things Davion does just because of his love for you, I was always speechless every time I hear one from Cal. It was painful to think you two didn't work out. I guess a part of me started rooting for him after actually seeing how fervent his love for you was. But I knew it wasn't my place to say something.. He even told us not to mention his name around you.. He doesn't wanna cause you pain in any way.."