The Path of Longing 🔞 (BINI MACOLET)

CHAPTER 25: Broken trust

Malory

When I woke up, I felt a familiar pair of hands landed on my cheeks. I quickly opened my eyes only to see a surge of cluttered reaction from Mason's face. I just stared at her, waiting for her to say something. 

"S-sorry for leaving without letting you know. I had an e-emergency."

"Emergency? What kind of emergency do you have para iwanan ako nang basta-basta at hindi magparamdam simula kagabi?" I can't help but to let out my frustrations through words dahil sobra akong nagtampo at nag-alala mula sa pagkawala ng presensya niya simula nang makabalik ako sa room namin. 

"Work related. I'm sorry, Malory. Another thing.." Nakita ko ang lalong paglugmok ng mukha niya na para bang pinag-iisipan niyang mabuti ang kasunod ng sasabihin niya. I just kept my mouth shut as I felt the sudden rush of worry on my system. I feel like there's something wrong, na may tinatago talaga siya sakin. 

"We have to go back na sa manila. I really want to spend more days with you here but an urgency came up. I'm sorry for ruining this, Mal." I was disappointed dahil may dalawang araw pa sana kami rito but I can't help but to hug her. Mas nangingibabaw ang pang-unawa ko ngayon kesa sa tampo na nararamdaman ko. I felt her arms wrapping around my body, hugging me back. 

"It's okay. We have other times pa naman for this. Unahin mo muna yung kailangan mong asikasuhin." I softly said, my face facing hers, trying to see her emotions through her eyes. I already learned how to interpret every emotion she has on her eyes or face, but this one felt different. Hindi ko napigilang mag-isip ulit ng kung ano-ano but on the back of my head, I knew that I had to trust her. Kahit ano man ang tinatago ng emosyon niyang ngayon ko lang nakita. 



When Mason and Malory came back to Manila, iba parin ang kinikilos ni Mason sa paningin ni Malory. The CEO seems to be occupied with a lot of things troubling her. Malory tried to ask and comfort her, but Mason kept on insisting that she's fine and there's nothing to worry about. Malory chose to believe the latter kahit siya mismo ay may sariling agam-agam. Days passed and Mason became distant. She refused on eating with Malory, having dates with her, and even spending the night together. Mason always reasoned out about how heavy her work load is at puro sorry lang ang natatanggap ni Malory tuwing sinusubukan nitong isingit ang sarili sa schedule ni Mason. Weeks had passed at ganon lang ang naging routine nila. They would only talk about work at madalas pa ay nagpapaiwan si Mason sa opisina, still reasoning out na madami pa siyang kailangan tapusin. 

Malory chose to understand everything. After all, alam niya kung gaano ka-importante ang lahat para kay Mason. She continued her father's legacy and even made it more successful with her blood and sacrifices. Isinantabi nalang ng dalaga ang tampo at pangungulila niya kay Mason dahil pinagkakatiwalaan niya ito. She never pushed Mason to actually tell her what's wrong dahil sawa na siyang marinig ang paulit-ulit nitong tugon sa kanya na walang mali at maayos lang ang lahat. 


It was already 9pm and Malory was about to leave the office but she decided to wait for Mason para makapagpaalam. Alam niyang hindi na naman ito sasabay sa kanya pauwi but she at least needs to know na mauuna na siyang umuwi kahit hindi niya sigurado kung may pake pa ba sa kanya ang dalaga. 

Mason went outside few minutes ago and 15 minutes already passed pero hindi parin ito nakakabalik. Malory just sighed dahil parang nagsasawa na siya sa ganitong routine nila. She's starting to feel unfair dahil parang unti-unti nang nabubura ang presensya niya kay Mason. The fact that she doesn't even have the tiniest bit of idea behind Mason's sudden distance added up to Malory's frustrations even more.

While fidgeting on her phone, Malory noticed that Mason's phone kept buzzing for awhile now. Her growing curiosity made her stand up and head towards Mason's table to reach for the latter's phone. She hesitated at first but when her glances landed on the contact name that she saw on the screen, her shaking hands held Mason's phone and opened the message. 

Mason's phone: 
: Mason? I'm already here sa xx restaurant. Pwede bang bilisan mo na dyan? You can't keep the baby waiting, nagugutom na kami pareho. 

She felt her tears pouring from her eyes because of all the thoughts that she has on her mind right now. She can't believe that the two people whom she trusted so much can break her apart so suddenly. 

Nahihirapan na siyang huminga ngunit pinili niyang siguraduhin kung totoo ba ang nakikita ng mga mata niya. She checked the contact's details especially the contact photo. 

And without a doubt, it was her close friend. 

Ainsley.