The Path of Longing 🔞 (BINI MACOLET)

CHAPTER 37: Is this the end?

Mason felt like there was a stone in her throat that's stopping her to speak. She knew that she could reason out. She could just explain para maayos na muli ang lahat but when she saw how ruined Malory's state was as she asked about the conversation that she saw on the CEO's laptop, parang naubusan siya hininga at salita para magpaliwanag. 

"Bakit hindi ka makapagsalita? Was everything true? Did the both of you had sex and you went home the next day sakin na parang walang nangyari? Tangina naman, Mason! You told me na kailangan nating maging honest sa isa't-isa pero ikaw pala ngayon tong may tinatago?!" Malory couldn't help but to let out all the frustration and pain that she was feeling, her voice already loud and hoarse. Pakiramdam niya ay ginagago siya ni Mason. Pero kahit anong nararamdaman niyang kirot ngayon ay alam niyang kailangan niyang malaman ang lahat mula sa bibig ng kasintahan dahil gusto niyang maliwanagan. 

Instead of explaining, Mason just ran her hands on her hair, gripping it tightly dahil nahihirapan siyang isiwalat ang lahat kay Malory. She didn't know the exact words to tell her. Mga salitang hindi magbibigay ng rason kay Malory para iwanan siya.

Malory just stood there waiting for the latter to explain. A few minutes passed and Mason was able to speak, her hands still trying to reach out for her lover only to be avoided. 

"U-uyab.. Let me explain please? Walang nangyari. Oo, pumunta ako. Nagkita kami. I just.. I-i just wanted to end things. Hindi ko sinabi sayo dahil ayoko na ng gulo. Natakot ako na kapag nalaman mo baka magkagulo na naman tayo kaya pinilit kong ayusin ng mag-isa. I'm sorry for not telling you." Mason struggled to speak but with how intense and hurt Malory's gaze towards her felt, she knew she had to speak anytime soon.

"Ayusin mag-isa? Partners tayo, Mason. I understand na that was your past but the least that you could do was to make me aware! Hindi mo ba naisip na kung malaman ko mula sa iba o ako mismo ang makaalam mas masasaktan ako at mas magkakagulo tayo?" 

"Pinagbigyan ko lang siya dahil kilala ko si Claire. Guguluhin niya tayo. Ilang buwan nalang ikakasal na tayo at alam kong gagawin niya ang lahat para sirain kung ano man ang meron tayo. S-she promised that she would stop kung kikitain ko siya. Please trust me, uyab.. I don't have other intentions on seeing her. Ayoko nalang sanang madamay ka pa." 

Malory fell onto her knees, her palms covering her eyes that was already red from crying so hard. She can't believe everything. Akala niya ay hindi na sila muling hahantong sa ganitong sitwasyon. She tried to justify every reasons that Mason unfolded but her thoughts were filled by the thought that the latter didn't even denied about having sex with Claire. 

Mason's tears was also falling from her eyes. Nasasaktan siyang makita ang epekto ng pagtago niya ng sekreto sa nobya niya. She can't help but feel guilty dahil alam niyang nagsinungaling siya. Akala niya ay kakayanin niyang ibaon nalang sa limot ang pagkikita nila ni Claire pero totoo nga namang walang lihim na hindi mabubunyag. 

The CEO knelt infront of Malory, hugging the latter's figure tightly ngunit tinutulak lamang siya nito papalayo. 

"Paano mo nagawang umuwi sakin kung nanggaling ka sa kama ng ibang babae? Ang kapal ng mukha mo! You.. out of all people know that I hate it when people cheats dahil ganon ang ginawa ni mommy kay daddy but you still did it. I fucking hate you." Malory, with all the energy left on her body quickly stood up and removed her engagement ring. She throwed it against the floor and left Mason's empty figure on the room. 

Mason was left staring at the ring that was now discarded on the cold ground. She reached for it and ran behind Malory. She quickly hugged the latter's back figure and trapped it on her embrace.

"U-uyab, we didn't had sex. Kung ano mang naiisip mo, hindi yun nangyari. I went there para makausap siya ng maayos. For us to have a better closure. I can swear on my father's grave that nothing happened between us. Just trust me on this one. Alam ko nagsinungaling ako sayo and I kept secrets. Gago ako sa part na yun and I'll do everything para mapatawad mo ko. Wag mo lang ako iiwan, please?" Mason waited for Malory's response but the latter just kept quiet. Only her sobs were heard. 


Flashback

Mason was able to drive herself to Cebu, heading towards the address that Claire gave. She feels guilty dahil nagsinungaling siya kay Malory but her pure intention was to end things better between her and Claire. Alam niyang ni-isang beses ay hindi niya binigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-usap sila nila Claire simula ng mahuli niya itong may katabing ibang babae sa sariling kama nila.

She knew that if she wanted to have a good start with Malory, she had to settle her past first. She knows how Claire's mind works. Kung sinabi nito na kaya niyang guluhin ang buhay ng magkasintahan, gagawin talaga nito ang lahat para lang mapabalik sa kanya si Mason. 

Mason arrived on a hotel and made her way towards the hotel room. She was welcomed by Claire, only wearing a bathrobe. God knows kung may suot pa ba siya sa loob o wala. 

"I knew you'd come, babe. I missed you." Claire attempted to hug Mason's figure only to be pushed by the latter. Walang ibang balak si Mason kundi ang kausapin ang dating nobya at ayusin ang dapat ayusin sa kanilang dalawa. 

Mason dragged Claire, pulling its hand to sit on the edge of the bed. Assuming Mason's gestures mistakenly, Claire removed her robe, exposing her bare body and quickly straddled Mason. 

As if a reflex, Mason quickly stood up and left Claire's disappointed figure on the bed. She reached for the discarded robe on the floor and handed it towards Claire habang nakatalikod. Hindi niya gusto kung ano man ang ginagawa ng dalaga at ayaw niya nang palalain pa ang kasalanan niya kay Malory. 

"Oh come on, babe. Alam kong kaya ka pumunta rito because you also wanted to do this. One last time and you'll never hear anything from me. Isn't that too tempting for you?" 

"Claire, the only reason why I agreed on seeing you was to end things between us. Alam kong I never gave you the reason to explain at yun lang ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito. I wanted to start a life with my fiancé. A new start na ayos na ang past ko and that includes you. Kaya please? I want things to be settled calmly and sincerely." 

Claire's emotion softened. Ito rin naman ang gusto niya. Ang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag. She knows how happy Mason already is but she can't deny that her feelings for the latter still remains. 

"That day where you caught me with Aris.. I was drugged. Remember nung nagpaalam ako sayo na magb-bar ako with the girls? I didn't know na may drugs involved. I declined dahil alam kong hindi mo magugustuhan. When I excused na uuwi na ako, pinigilan nila ako and promised na hindi nila ako pipilitin until Aris came in our table. Sabi niya ihahatid niya na raw ako dahil alam niyang busy ka para sunduin ako. I came with her pero before that she offered me to take a shot which I accepted as a thank you. Hindi ko alam na may drugs pala yun and she planned to take advantage on me. Nagising nalang ako nung dumating ka at nahuli mo kami. Mason, I'm really sorry. Nasaktan kita at ginawa ko lang lahat ng to para bigyan mo ko ng chance magpaliwanag. Umaasa ako na magkakabalikan pa tayo pag pinakinggan mo ako." 

Claire began to cry after confessing what actually happened that night. Mason was in a state of shock. She never thought that this was the actual reason. Akala niya ay talagang nag-cheat si Claire sa kanya. 

Mason sat beside Claire and wiped the latter's tear as she reached for its hands. 

"Sorry dahil hindi kita pinakinggan noon. Napuno kasi ako ng galit at sakit but I can never come back to you. Naiintindihan ko ang paliwanag mo pero hindi ko kayang iwanan si Malory. I love her so much. She's already a part of my life that I can never replace." 

"Alam ko, Mason. The moment I saw both of you at nakita ko kung gaano mo siya tignan, alam kong mas mahal mo siya higit pa sa pagmamahal na naramdaman mo sakin noon. I guess this is what I really needed, to be heard, para magsimulang tanggapin na wala na talaga." 

Both of them exchanged a warm smile, finally on a better end. They exchanged hugs bago magpaalam si Mason na luluwas na muli sa Manila. 


Present
"U-uyab, we didn't had sex. Kung ano mang naiisip mo, hindi yun nangyari. I went there para makausap siya ng maayos. For us to have a better closure. I can swear on my father's grave that nothing happened between us. Just trust me on this one. Alam ko nagsinungaling ako sayo and I kept secrets. Gago ako sa part na yun and I'll do everything para mapatawad mo ko. Wag mo lang ako iiwan, please?" Mason waited for Malory's response but the latter just kept quiet. Only her sobs were heard.

"I don't know, Mason.. If you lied to me ng isang beses.. how can I assure myself that you wouldn't lie about so many things? I wanted to trust you. To believe you. But I can't bring myself to do that. Give me time to think. Babalikan kita pag okay na ko at kaya na kitang pagkatiwalaan ulit."

With that, Malory removed Mason's arms that was hugging her tightly. Mason can only watch her fiancé's retreating figure, feeling a strong sense of defeat.