Flashback
Mason can't fully function because of the surge of nervousness running all over her body. Today was their fourth day on Japan and she plans to allot this day for her romantic plan. That is to finally ask Malory to become hers officially. She carefully planned everything, from how they will travel to the event's place, the food to be offered, how the place will be set up, until her plans of serenading Malory. That's what made her busy almost all day. She wanted everything to be perfect because it is Malory after all.
When she was about to contact the jewelry store where she planned to pick up a bracelet as a gift for Malory, her phone was bombarded with texts from Maverick. At first, she thought that is was not something alarming.
Nang basahin niya ang mga mensahe nito, naramdaman niya ang matinding pangangalangan ng kaibigan niya. Maverick hinted about the cause of urgency and Mason was able to grasp just how serious the situation was.
All she could think about was her plans. Her plans that will already be useless minutes from now."Hindi ko kaya harapin mag-isa sa ngayon to, Mason. Please help me on this one. Tutulungan kita aminin lahat kay Malory just please... help me with our baby. I can't afford to lose them."
"Bakit naman kasi ngayon pa? I got everything planned already for us only to be ruined by this. Kahit ako hindi handa, alam mo yan."
"I need to settle things first bago sabihin to sa parents ko. They will not be happy about this kaya please? Help me for the sake of the baby. Hindi ko rin naman ginustong mangyari to pero dahil nandito na, it would be a shame kung tatakasan ko yung responsibility."
"Tangina hindi ko na alam!"
Maverick kneeled infront of Mason, misery plastered all over her face. This was her last resort to not lose Ainsley and their baby.
"Alam mo naman eh. Mom and Dad will never be in favor of my relationship with Ainsley. Kung sasabihin ko sa kanila na nabuntis ko siya, baka paggising ko bukas nasa US na naman ako at ikulong nila doon just like what they did to me when they found out about my fling years ago." The red haired girl reached for Mason's hand trying to convince her close friend. She knows that she's asking for too much lalo na't nakataya ang relasyon nito kay Malory.
Mason can only grip her hair, tugged between her relationship with Malory and lending out a help to her great friend. She leveled herself and forced Maverick to stand up as she sighed.
"What about Ainsley? Alam ba ng parents niya? How did they react?"
"She told them and they were so disappointed at her. Gusto nilang palayasin si Ainsley because she didn't told them kung sinong nakabuntis sa kanya. She knew that I wasn't ready yet at alam niyang nakataya ang kalayaan ko kung may ibang makakaalam na ako ang nakabuntis sa kanya. I've put her through so much, Mason. Kaya nagmamakaawa ako, for us and for the baby. Gago ako, oo. Pero I'll never leave my responsibility with her." Maverick began to cry as she explained. Mason was able to see, for the first time, just how her friend wanted to protect Ainsley so much.
"I have to settle things first. I need to fix my bank details dahil may access ang family ko ron. I needed to withdraw everything and transfer it to Gab's account bago kami umalis ng bansa ni Ainsley. Tulungan mo lang akong akuin muna sa parents ni Ainsley so they wouldn't kick her out. Hindi pa siya pwedeng makaalis sa kanila because they abuse her sister too. Pag ayos na lahat and all we have to do is leave, ako mismo ang kakausap kay Malory about everything. I'll fix things for you."
Mason will definitely feel guilty if she decides to just leave the room and turn her back against her friend. She just nodded her head, mind full of fear with Maverick's last sentence. Because what if once everything's settled, Malory isn't willing to listen to it anymore? That no words will be enough for Malory to accept her again?
Everything went as planned. Inako ni Mason angpagbubuntis ni Ainsley. They even had to stay in the same place to ensure thelatter's safety, especially the nurturing life inside her. Kailangan gawin anglahat nang ito dahil sa mga kayang gawin ng pamilya ni Maverick. They we'reagainst Maverick's relationship with anyone dahil may gusto silang ipagkasundorito. All for their family business which Maverick, along with Mason and Gab donot approve of. They threatened that if Maverick will have any romanticrelationship besides Deena, a girl who came from a wealthy family, sapilitannilang ibabalik si Maverick sa US katulad ng ginawa nila dati kung saankinulong nila ito sa isa sa mga house property nila at itinago lahat ng papelesnito para hindi makatakas at makalipad paalis ng bansa.
On those times, Gabrielle and Mason we're still in school which means they donot have the capability to protect and help Maverick yet. Maverick only got herfreedom once again when she desperately agreed to obey all of her parent's planfor her, especially their agreement on the marriage between Maverick and Deena.
Hence, with the threat of history repeating itself, Mason agreed to be a partof Maverick and Ainsley's escape plan. She became selfless and selfish at thesame time. She wanted to just ran away from their plan especially on thosetimes that she needed Malory the most. She felt guilty because she knows thatthe girl she love was hurting the most.
Maverick and Ainsley's escape plan went smooth. Maverick's parents tried to interfere after discovering how their daughter was able to escape and leave the country. That's where Gabrielle and Mason stepped up. Both CEO's was the major shareholder of the Lim Family's company. They threatened to pull out their shares if they plan to interfere further. Maverick left her own company, meaning that it was subjected to collapse anytime soon dahil walang ibang magma-manage rito. With one company on the line, Maverick's parents we're forced to fully accept and understand their daughter. Even if it was already late. Dahil kung noong una palang ay naging mabuti na silang magulang. Wala na sanang madadamay pang iba. Hindi na sana madadamay ang relasyon ni Mason at Malory.
When things we're already sailing smoothly on Maverick's life, she attempted to go back in the Philippines para tuparin na ang pangako niya kay Mason. That was to reach out to Malory para sabihin ang lahat. To fix things between her selfless friend and Malory. Hindi nga lang ito natuloy dahil naging maselan ang pagbubuntis ni Ainsley. Wala ring pwedeng magbantay kay Ainsley kung iiwanan ito ni Maverick. Mason understood the situation. Hindi siya nagsayang ng oras para subukang kausapin si Malory. Pinahalughog niya ang buong Pilipinas para hanapin si Malory. Even on other countries, there were no traces of her. Selena also went missing, making her assume that maybe the both of them are staying together and their existence being hard to locate was due to Selena's father who protects them. Mason learned that Selena's family has an investigation firm and that was probably the reason kung bakit hindi siya makakalap nang impormasyon tungkol sa dalawa.
Sinubukan niyang ituon ang atensyon sa pabagsak niyang kumpanya. She tried everything to make it stable kahit mismong buhay niya ay hindi niya maayos. Without Malory beside her, everything just became dull and lifeless, including her soul.
Two years had passed. All she could do was to wait for their paths to cross again and make their stars align once again.
End of flashback
Present
Mason
I'm still in my office. I'm trying to gain back the shares that was lost in the past two years. Luckily, some of the major investors still remained and trusted me making my company recover from financial losses na muntik na sanang maging dahilan para mawala ang mga pinaghirapan ko.
When the clocked striked at 11pm, I decided to call it a day. I went back to my routine of working from 6am until 11pm to distract myself from the loss of Malory. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko parin nakakalimutan ang presensya niya. Everything becomes a blur whenever I remembered the things that have happened to us.
The throat burning liquor travelled down on my system almost every night. It served as my escape everytime I get to feel just how heavy it is for me. I always found myself sitting on the balcony, staring on the night sky as I let the gentle breeze touch my skin. Ever since Malory disappeared on my life, all I felt was coldness. Any source of heat would not replace her warmth that once protected my inner peace.
Gabi-gabi ay tinitignan ko ang mga larawan ni Malory na nanatili sa cellphone ko. I can only satisfy myself with her pictures showing her alluring features, captivating eyes, and beaming smiles. As I stare into every pictures, I'd always end up crying, feeling the intense pain of suffering.
When will we meet again, love? When will you give me the chance to explain?
Para akong nauupos na kandila habang tumatagal ang panahon na hindi ko nakakausap si Malory. It's as if my whole life depends on whether she'll come back to me or not. I'll even accept it kung magiging magkaibigan or acquaintances nalang kami. At least, I'll get to be with her again kahit hindi na bilang magkasintahan.AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Press 1 kung gusto niyo na silang magkita. Naaawa na rin ako rito kay Mason eh HAHAHA. How are you liking the story so far? Thank you for sticking around!
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The Path of Longing 🔞 (BINI MACOLET)
RomanceWhen Malory had the chance to meet her greatest childhood friend, Mason, again after a long time, all she's hoping for is that the latter still remembers her promise to Malory 18 years ago. DISCLAIMER: The story written is purely a work of fiction...