Tides of Betrayal (Casa del Pueblo Series #1)

Kabanata thirty-eight

Kabanata thirty-eight

An awkward silence lingered for several minutes until Issa finally cleared her throat and looked up at me. "How have you been, Elle?"

Huminga ako nang malalim, bago siya sinagot. "It's been two years, Issa... and I'm coping. It hasn't been easy, but I'm finding my way."

Marahan siyang tumango, ibinaba ang kanyang tingin sa kanyang mga kamay na nakapatong sa mesa. "Elle, I... I wanted to see you today because I need to apologize. For everything I said to you back then. I was young, immature. I was scared... scared that I'd lose everyone, that I'd lose Apollo too." nanginig ang boses niya, "He's been like a brother to me for as long as I can remember. And the truth—what happened... We hid it because my family pressured us, threatened us. I was terrified."

Huminto siya, sumulyap sa akin with a look that was equal parts sorrow and earnestness. "But through all of it, Elle... Apollo loved you. More than anyone."

I swallowed, my throat tight. Nagpatuloy si Issa, mas mahina na ang boses ngayon. "He would do anything for you. Even when you were in the hospital... when everything felt like it was falling apart, he never abandoned you. He would come to see you, you know. Only when you were asleep, though. He said he couldn't bear to see you that way, to see you hurting."

Nanlabo ang mga mata ko sa mga luhang aking pinipigilan. "I thought he left your family. He told me..."

Tumango si Issa, punong pag-unawa ang kanyang ekspresyon. "Umalis siya, Elle. He walked away, even though he had nothing... no money, nowhere to go. He left because he couldn't just stand by and watch my family hurt you. We kept in touch, Elle. Nag-alala ako sa kanya, pero wala siyang tinanggap na tulong mula sa akin."

Bahagya siyang huminto, bahagyang nabasag ang sariling boses. "You were always his priority. He'd do anything to protect you, even if it meant losing everything else."

Pinunasan ko ang luhang kumawala sa mata ko. Issa's face softened with empathy, though her own eyes were glistening, her words faltering as she tried to continue.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, Elle," bulong niya, nabasag ang boses. "For everything my family did. For the horrible things they put you through, even those awful messages... I swear, I never knew it was them until it was too late. I was so lost in my own fears and worries that I let their influence cloud what I knew was right."

Bahagyang nanginig ang mga kamay ni Issa habang marahang hinawakan ang mga kamay ko. "I know I can't undo the past, and I understand kung hindi mo na ako mapapatawad, Elle." 

My gaze softened, and after a moment, I gave Issa's hands a comforting squeeze. "Issa... we were both young. We both made mistakes. But maybe... maybe it's time to let go of what's been holding us back." my voice was warm, genuine, filled with a compassion that reached deep into Issa's heart. "What happened... it was painful, but we're both here now. And that's what matters."

Tumulo ang mga luha ni Issa, nalukot ang kanyang mukha habang siya ay nagpakawala ng isang mahinang hininga. Nabigla ako ng bahagya siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin para balutin ako nang mahigpit. I closed my eyes, returning the hug, letting the weight of old hurt melt away in the warmth of my friend's arms. "Na-miss ko kayo, Elle." aniya sa naginginig na boses.

As we pulled back, I felt a strange sense of peace washing over me... a lightness I hadn't felt in years. The past was still there, but somehow, it no longer held the same power. We had both found a way to make peace with it, to leave it behind.

Nakatayo ako ngayon sa harap ng puntod ni Mommy, my heart light as I stared at the headstone engraved with my mother's name. Ang dapyo ng hangin ay banayad, dinadala ang amoy ng mga bulaklak na nasa paligid. Sa ilalim ng dapithapon na araw, ang mga anino ay sumasayaw sa ibabaw ng marmol na lapida, tila nagsasayaw ang alaala ng nakaraan.