The Path of Longing 🔞 (BINI MACOLET)

CHAPTER 29: Warmth, once again

Jaziel

Once Selena informed me that she and Malory already came back here in Manila, I excitedly arranged a plan for us to meet and catch up. I've missed them both. Especially, Selena. Our label wasn't defined yet but I made certain moves, letting her know that I'm really into her. 

This plan of catching up has other reasons though. I was able to bump into Maverick the other day sa mall. Her existence with Ainsley and a baby popped a lot of questions in my mind dahil ang alam ko ay si Mason and nakabuntis kay Ainsley. 

I had no plans of entertaining them until Maverick and Ainsley pleaded to have a little of my time para maipaliwanag ang lahat. 

That afternoon, I was able to discover everything. My anger towards Mason was pointless and changed into sympathy. Ilang beses palang sinubukan ni Maverick na puntahan sila Malory sa Nueva Vizcaya noon but she would always be rejected along with Mason and Gab. Ainsley also opened up about how guilty she felt dahil alam niyang lubos siyang pinagkakatiwalaan ni Malory. She's aware that in Malory's eyes, she's nothing but a friend turned to traitor.

Hindi ko gustong idamay ang sarili ko sa gulo pero alam ko na deserve ni Mason mapakinggan. She may have caused Malory great pain but she knows that Mason was also suffering in the process. Kaya nang mabalitaan niya ang pagbabalik ng dalawa, agad niya itong inaya na kumain sa labas para ipaalam ang lahat tutal humingi rin naman sa kanya ng tulong si Maverick. 


I waved my arm towards Selena, letting them know where I am seated. They immediately came towards the table and Selena placed a quick but sweet kiss on my cheeks which made me smile uncontrollably. I wrapped my arms on her waist, pulling her closer for a hug. 

"Ayan ba pa-welcome mo sakin, Jaz? Ang sakit sa mata ha" Malory teasingly said as she rolled her eyes. Agad ko rin siyang niyakap at umupo na rin kami. 

We continued to catch up and I noticed that Malory changed a lot. Medyo pumayat ito at halata ang eye bags sa ilalim ng maganda niyang mata but her undeniable beauty remained. 

Once I felt the perfect timing to open up about the revelations, I quickly grabbed the opportunity and looked at Malory in all seriousness. 

"Actually, I have other plans din kung bakit ko kayo inaya ngayon. I have something to tell, especially sayo, Mal." I wiped my mouth with my table napkin before beginning to speak. As I was about to open my mouth, Selena abruptly stopped what I was about to say.

"If this is about Mason, please stop. Alam mo naman na sensitive parin si Malory dyan." Selena sternly said which made me stop for awhile dahil medyo nakaramdam ako ng takot mula sa mga titig nito na parang gusto akong sampalin.

"No. I can listen to it. Baka importante. Go on, Jaz." 

When I got the queue, I wasted no time and went straight to the point. 

"Hindi ka niloko ni Mason. May nagawa siyang mali by not immediately telling you kung ano talagang meron. Hindi siya ang nakabuntis kay Ainsley noon. It was Maverick. Mason only protected Maverick and prioritized the safety of Ainsley along with their child." Malory looked confused and dismayed because of what I revealed. Pinaulanan ako ng sunod-sunod na tanong mula sa dalawa which I willingly answered based on what Maverick told me. 

As our discussion went on, Malory began to cry. Luckily, I rented the whole place as I wanted it to be private for us. Alam ko rin kasi na may possibility na maiyak si Malory and a place where no one, beside me and Selena, is the perfect place if ever Malory becomes vulnerable. 

After calming down, naghiwalay na rin kami dahil gusto na raw makapagpahinga ni Malory and to give herself time to process everything. 


Malory

Sobra akong nanghina dahil sa katotohanan na sinabi ni Jaziel kanina. Years had passed at ngayon ko lang nalaman lahat. I can't help but to feel guilty dahil hindi ko hinayaan si Mason na ipaliwanag ang lahat. If only I had given her the chance to explain, it wouldn't lead us to suffer in the battles na sana noon pa ay naipanalo na namin. 

Gustong-gusto ko na siyang puntahan para yakapin at isantabi ang mga taon na nasayang dahil sa mga bagay na hindi namin naiayos. Pero napangunahan ako ng matinding takot. The fear of the possibilities that she may have lost feelings for me. Na sumuko na siya sa kakasubok na magpaliwanag. 

I buried my face on my pillow, letting out all the tears and frustrations that have consumed me. I spent the entire day isolating myself and dwelling on the tears that never bothered to stop. I can feel a great feeling of regret as I kept on blaming myself for never letting Mason to explain. 


Night time has came at nakakaramdam man ako ng gutom ay wala rin naman akong gana kumain. I just curled myself on the bed, preventing my tears from falling again dahil mahapdi na ang mga mata ko. 

I was startled when the doorbell rang. I quickly checked my phone to see kung nag-text ba si Selena na pupunta siya sa unit nito. She only expected it to be Selena tutal ito lang naman ang may alam kung saan siya lumipat. 

With no hesitation, Malory opened the door revealing the person that she longed to see the most. 

Her swelling eyes met the person's depressed and longing gaze. Malory was left in awe, no words coming out of her mouth as she was too surprised dahil sa hinaba-haba ng panahon, nangyayari na ang pangarap niya na sana ay magkita na sila ulit. 

The person's pair of eyes just stared into Malory's soul as if trying to compensate for the lost time that she only got to satisfy herself with the latter's pictures.

"Ready to hear me out?"

Malory wasted no time and closed the gap between them. She quickly reached for the person's figure and hugged its body tightly, trying to absorb the longingness that emits from its figure. She felt her body being hugged back tightly as both of them began to cry. 




"N-nico.. sorry for not hearing you out. Sorry dahil hindi kita inintindi. Sorry kasi lumay--" Malory wasn't able to finish her sentence when she felt a pair of lips being clashed with her own. Mason claimed her lips once again, dwelling herself on the warmth that  she was deprived of. Their kisses was full of longing as both of them tried to savor each other's presence through the kiss that they shared. Malory didn't even noticed that her door was already locked until she felt her back pressed against her bed.