Ruthless

CHAPTER 28

I don’t know what hit me when I heard the word “regret.” It was like all the effort I’d spent pulling myself together today melted away with just that one word.

"Regret, huh?" I whispered, barely audible—but Clyde heard it. Dahilan para kaagad siyang mapatigil.

"What do you mean by that, Fren?" he asked, nakatalikod pa rin siya sa'kin.

I set the paper bag down slowly, carefully. "I don’t regret it, Clyde."

He turned to me, brows furrowed, confused. "Anong sinasabi mo?" Tanong niya pa.

"I mean," I said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes, "that I don't regret being with you last night, not even a bit."

He said nothing, but I could see something flicker in his eyes—a hesitation, maybe guilt, or something else I couldn't name.

"But do you know what I do regret?" I asked quietly.

Clyde stayed silent, his gaze steady but his jaw tight, like he wanted to say something but held back.

"I regret loving you."

His jaw clenched even harder, the frustration evident. I knew he wanted to respond, but he kept it in.

"Look," I said, my voice soft but unyielding, "if you regret it so much, then just leave. I’ll tell our parents we’re done. It’s fine. Kung gusto mo umalis bukas, go lang. "

Clyde stepped closer, his footsteps heavy with purpose. For a second, I thought he’d grab me—maybe try to stop me—but he stopped just short, a breath away.

"Stop saying things you don’t mean, Fren," he said, his voice low.

And something inside me snapped.

"Oh, so now I can't say what I want?" My voice rose, sharp and bitter. "You said plenty last night, didn’t you? That it’s all just a mistake. That we should just forget everything, right?"

"Fren—"

"No, Clyde!" I shouted, the anger and frustration I'd buried for so long finally spilling out. "Can’t you see? Your words always break me!"

He froze, visibly stunned by my words. He looked at me, confused, like he didn’t even realize what he’d done.

"I’ve tried, Clyde. I’ve tried so damn hard to make sense of this marriage, to understand you," I said, my voice shaking. "But to you? None of it mattered. It was nothing."

He took a step closer, his expression softening as if he wanted to comfort me. "Fren—"

"Don’t," I whispered, cutting him off. "You don’t love me, Clyde. I know that. I’ve always known that. So, please... just go. Stop pretending you care. It’ll be easier for both of us."

Nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong sala, tanging ang tunog lang ng orasan ang bumubuhay sa ingay ng paligid.

I thought he would leave, thought he’d finally walk away like I told him to—but instead, he stepped even closer.

"Listen—" I immediately cut him.

"No." Inilagay ko ang kamay ko sa braso niya para pigilan siya sa paglapit sa'kin. "You listen, Clyde. Don’t come near me unless you mean it."

He stared into my eyes, searching for something—maybe a glimmer of the girl I used to be. But there was nothing left to find.

He took a step backwards. He turned around and walked toward the stairs. The sound of his door closing upstairs echoed through the quiet house.