Clash Of Crowns I: Shadows Of Love And Sacrifices.

XLIV || I Love Her

Please note: This story may contain errors and grammatical mistakes. Your understanding and patience are appreciated as this is a work in progress.

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Third Person's POV

Napag isipan ni maxine na pumunta na sa headquarters, ngayon pa lang ulit siya makaka punta dito mula ng bumalik sila sa pilipinas.

At ngayon na babalik na siya ay nag tatalo ang puso at isip niya kung sasabihin ba niya lahat kay aiesha, dahil sigurado siya na masasaktan ang dalaga sa mga malalaman nito, at baka sisihin pa ang sarili at yon ang ayaw mangayri ni maxine.

Pag pasok niya ay hindi niya nga napansin ang mga kaibigan na seryosong nag uusap usap sa living room at dire-direyso lang siya nag punta sa bar nila sa headquarters.

Nag katinginan naman ang mag kakaibigan, ramdam nila na may mali kay maxine especially aiesha. Dati kasi dumidiretso siya lagi kay aiesha at parang bata na mag papa lambing or di kaya makikipag biruan kila cole pero ngayon malamig lang ang aura nito at ni hindi sila binalingan ng tingin.

Pinag masdan nila ito mula sa labas ng bar at kita ng mga ito kung pa ano nito buksan ang isa sa pinaka matapang na alak na nandoon.

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Nag salin siya sa isang baso at mabilis na inisahang lagok yon, wala siyang paki sa sakit na gumuhit sa lalamunan niya at nag salin pa ulit, at uminom hanggang sa mamanhid lang ang nararamdamn niya.

Agad naman na tumayo si aiesha at nag aalala na siya para sa dalaga, ayaw niyang nakikita na ganto ito dahil nasasaktan rin siya pag ganto si max.

Pero bago pa siya maka pasok sa loob ay hinarangan na siya ni cole."Aiesha, give her some space," saad nito. "She needs time to process whatever's going on."

Napabaling ulit siya kay max at kita niya kung pa ano ito suno sunod na mag salin ng alak at mabilis na iinumin. "But I want to talk to her. She's not herself right now cole.."

"I know," Cole replied, placing a hand on Aiesha's shoulder. "But trust me, you pushing her right now won't help. Let me and the others talk to her. We'll figure out what's going on."

Ayaw man ni aiesha ay wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi bumalik sa tabi nila yves na may pag aalala rin para sa kaibigan, habang pumasok naman sila cole, skye at gian sa loob ng bar.

"Max, tama na yan" Cole said softly, reaching for the bottle as Maxine went to pour another glass. Pero tinabig lang ito ni max.

"Don't, Cole," Maxine muttered, her voice hard, laced with pain.

Cole exchanged a worried glance with Skye and Gian before she turned back to her. "We just want to help. Hindi mareresolba nang pag inom ng alak yang problema mo."

Maxine let out a bitter laugh, setting the bottle down on the counter. "Siguro nga hindi, pero makakalimot naman ako...kahit saglit lang, ang gulo na kasi."

Skye pulled out a stool and sat beside her, placing a hand on her arm. "Max, you're scaring us. Ano ba talagang nang yari? Hindi ba ang huling balita mo samin andito narin si tita sa pilipinas kasama nila kuya enzo at ate parcia? Nasabi mo rin samin na stable na ang lagay niya hindi ba?"

Sobrang tagal bago pa mag salita si maxine, halos naka tingin lang ito sa alak na nasa harap nila na parang andon yung sagot sa mga tanong nang mga kaibigan niya. Pero hinayaan lang siya nila cole na mag isip isip at hinintay na maging ready na ito mag salita ulit.

"I don't know what to do," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm stuck, and no matter what I choose, someone's going to get hurt." Mga katagang lumabas sa bibig niya at napa sandal na lang sa upuan niya.

Gian, who had been quiet until now, spoke up gently. "What do you mean, Max? Who's going to get hurt?"

Maxine's grip tightened around her glass as tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. "Aiesha," she said hoarsely. "It's her family. Her dad's men are the ones who shot my mom."

Her words hit them like a ton of bricks. Cole, Skye, and Gian froze, their eyes widening in shock. None of them had expected that.

Maxine let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "Can you believe that? The girl I love... her family is the reason my mom is lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life."

Cole reached out and took Maxine's hand, squeezing it gently. "Max, I'm so sorry."

Maxine's voice cracked as she continued, the dam she had been holding back finally breaking. "I can't tell her, Cole. If I tell Aiesha, it'll destroy her. She'll blame herself. But if I don't tell her, and she finds out some other way, it'll be even worse."

Skye frowned, her voice soft and full of concern. "You're in an impossible situation, Max. Deserve parin niyang malaman ang totoo. Masasaktan siya, oo. Pero pag pinag tagal mo pa yan baka mas lalo lang kayo masaktan."

Maxine wiped at her eyes, her throat tightening. "Mahal ko siya, Skye, Mahal na mahal ko siya at hindi ko kayang makita siyang nasasaktan. Pero hindi rin naman ako pwedeng mag panggap na parang walang nagyayari. My dad... he's going to go after her family. He's not going to stop until he gets revenge, and I don't know how to stop him."

Gian sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You shouldn't have to choose between your family and the person you love. But I think you already know what you need to do, Max."

Maxine shook her head, frustration bubbling up inside her. "No, I don't know. That's the problem! I'm terrified of making the wrong decision. If I choose my family, I'll lose Aiesha. But if I choose Aiesha, I'll lose my family."

Cole took a deep breath, her expression serious but compassionate. "Max, walang nag sasabi na madali lang to, kailangan mong kausapin si aiesha. Kailangan niyang malaman, At alam nating pareho na maiintidihan ka ni aiesha hindi mo kailangan sarilinin ang lahat andito lang kami"

Maxine looked at her friends, her heart heavy with gratitude for their support, but also with the crushing realization that no matter what, things were about to change.

Maxine took a shaky breath, her mind made up, even though her heart was still torn in a thousand different directions. "I'll talk to her. Tomorrow. I'll tell her everything."

Cole nodded, relief washing over her face. "Good. You're doing the right thing, Max."

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