The Biggest Secret In Our Past (bini series)

SUFFER

{DO I DESERVE ALL THIS PAIN??}

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The air inside the apartment was thick with memories, a fragrant blend of nostalgia and sorrow.  The scent of Aiah's perfume, the faint aroma of her favorite coffee, the lingering echo of her laughter, all enveloped Maui in a bittersweet embrace.  Every corner, every wall, every piece of furniture, whispered tales of their shared past, a testament to the love they had shared, the joy they had experienced, the dreams they had dreamed.

Maui stood frozen, her eyes scanning the familiar space, her heart filled with a mixture of longing and pain.  The apartment, once a haven of love and laughter, now felt like a tomb, a silent reminder of their loss.  She felt a wave of sadness wash over her, a deep ache in her chest, a yearning for the warmth of Aiah's presence.

Colet closed the door behind her, her hand resting gently on her back, her presence a silent comfort, a beacon of support.  "Bunso, okay ka lang po ba?" she whispered, her voice filled with concern, her words a gentle reassurance.

Maui didn't answer.  She remained rooted in place, her eyes fixed on the living room, where they had spent countless hours laughing, talking, dreaming.  Her tears flowed freely now, a silent testament to the pain she had endured, the love she had lost.

Suddenly, a chorus of voices broke the silence.  "Maui!"  "Oh my God, Maui!"  "You're okay!"

Maui turned, her eyes widening in surprise.  Her sisters, Sheena, Gwen, Jhoanna, Stacey, Chie, Deej, and Ysabel, stood in the doorway, their faces a mixture of shock and relief.  They had spent weeks worrying about Maui, wondering where she was, fearing the worst.

They rushed towards her, their arms outstretched, their hearts filled with love and concern.  But Colet, sensing her fragility, stepped forward, her hand reaching out to stop them.

"bebi, kamusta ka po?" Sheena cried, her voice choked with emotion.  "Oh, Maui, we missed you so much!"

Maui looked at them, her eyes filled with sadness, her heart overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions.  She couldn't speak, couldn't articulate the pain that consumed her.  She simply collapsed to the floor, her body wracked with sobs, her grief a tangible presence in the room.

Colet knelt beside her, her arms wrapping around Maui, her love a silent comfort, her presence a beacon of strength.  "Bunso, it's okay," she whispered, her voice filled with concern.  "Okay lang po umiyak.  Andito lang kami basta sabihin mo lang ako at ilaabas na kita dito."

She felt her body trembling, her sobs tearing through her, her grief a palpable weight in the room.  She knew that she needed time, that she needed to process her pain, that she needed to grieve.  She wouldn't rush her, wouldn't pressure her, wouldn't try to fix her.  She would simply be there for her, to hold her, to comfort her, to remind her that she was loved.

"Bunso, gusto mo na ba umalis?" Colet asked gently, her voice filled with concern.  "Okay ka lang ba?  Wag mo pong pilitin ung sarili mo, bunso.  Puwede naman po tayo bumalik sa mga susunod pa po na araw."

Maui shook her head, her voice muffled by her sobs.  "I can do it, Ate Colet," she said, her voice raspy with emotion.  "I just need to... I need to..."

She struggled to find the words, her pain too overwhelming, her grief too intense.  She pushed herself to her feet, her body trembling, her eyes filled with tears.  Colet reached out, her hand gently resting on her back, her presence a silent comfort, a beacon of support.