I'm so sorry for the typos and grammatical errors! Thank you!
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"Mama.." The eight-year-old girl holds Leontine's hand tightly, crying. Leontine gently pulls her daughter for an embrace, biting her lowerlip to stop her tears.
She started caressing her daughter's back. "Why my baby's crying? Magbabakasyon lang kayo ni Mommy. It'll be fun, Nat."
"It will be fun if you're with us, Mama." Nathalie's shoulders were shaking from crying. "I heard Mommy last night.. she said she would bring me to states with her.. h-hindi na po ba kita makikita?"
Leontine let go of the hug to check on her daughter. She wipes her daughter's tears using her thumb. "No, bakit mo naman nasabi 'yan? She just wants you to take somewhere else.. aalis lang kayo saglit, ayaw mo ba? Magkikita pa rin tayo, don't worry."
On the other hand, Therisha was just staring at them from afar, in front of her car, and ready to leave. I don't want to do this, but I have to, Leontine. Masakit na, ayoko ring masaktan ka pa na ipilit ang relasyon natin kahit wala na talagang pag-asa. I'm sorry, Nathalie. I'm sorry, Leon.
"Nat, let's go!"
"Sige na, go to your mommy. She's calling you na." Leontine took a deep sigh, caressing her daughter's cheek.
"I love you, Mama.." Nathalie leaned over her Mama and gave a peck on her right cheek. The older woman looks down as her tears stream down on her face.
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The night before..
9:51PM.
"Magpapaliwanag ako, 'ga.. just stop this."
Therisha stopped putting their daughter's clothes inside the luggage and faced her wife. "Paliwanag? Ngayon pa? Sana noon mo pa ginawa, Leon!"
"Therisha, natakot ako.. hindi- hindi ko alam kung paano-"
Therisha bit her lower lip and shook her head. "I waited.. I waited and waited para sa paliwanag na 'yan pero hindi mo naman ginawa! Naghintay ako na ikaw mismo ang magsabi saakin pero ni-isang salita wala akong narinig mula sa'yo! Does that mean na may namamagitan talaga sainyo ni Izla? Na nagustuhan mo talaga 'yung paghalik niya sa'yo!?"
"Therisha, no. W-What are you saying? Ikaw lang ang mahal ko-"
"I'm tired, Leontine. Pagod na pagod na." Tears are now streaming down on Therisha's face. "Naaawa ako sa anak natin, Leon.. naaawa ako dahil sa tuwing tinitignan ko siya.. n-naaalala ko 'yung katarantaduhan na ginawa mo!"
"Therisha, just let me explain, please."
"Ano pang sasabihin mo? Na lasing ka kaya hindi mo napigilan ang sarili mong halikan siya pabalik? Na tanga ako para isipin na may namamagitan sainyo ni Izla? Enough, Leontine." Therisha removed her gaze from her wife's.
"..."
"We'll go to the states, I will bring Nathalie with me. Kila Dad muna kami."
"W-What?"
"I already bought tickets for me and Nathalie." The younger woman closed the luggage before pulling it towards the door. As she held the door handle, she felt the warm embrace from her wife's arms behind her, wrapping around her body. Therisha's tears continue to fall as she looks down and closes her eyes, feeling her wife's embrace for the last time because she knew it would be the last...
"I love you so much, Pangga. I'm sorry." Leontine's heavy breathing was visible because of crying. She then buries her face on her Therisha's shoulder, tightening her hug more.
"Leontine.."
"'Ga.."
"Stop making it hard for me." Therisha bit her lowerlip, crying. "Let me go."
"Therisha.."
"Please, Leon.."
"I'm really sorry, 'ga. Don't do this, please."
"Let go of me, Leontine."
"Is... is that what you really want?"
No, Pangga.. but I have to. I'm sorry. I love you. "Y-Yes.."
"..."
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"Can I still talk to my daughter?" Leontine asks as her wife closes the car's door. Nathalie was just staring at them inside the car, crying.
"Of course.."
Eyes swollen, and the older woman formed a smile on her lips. "Take care of you two."
The younger woman smiled. "Take care also, Leon. We'll go now." Theresia was about to turn around when the older woman spoke.
"I love you."
Therisha stared at Leontine, blinking. "I know."
"..."
"So am I, Leon."
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