I'm so sorry for the typos and grammatical errors. Thank you!
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1997
"Leena, ano ba? Hindi ka talaga titigil, 'no? Tignan mo, may pasa ka nanaman sa braso mo." Rhye's voice rose up, forehead frowning.
Leena looked away, feeling embarrassed. "Fine, I'm sorry... I-"
"Ano nanamang dahilan?" The younger woman crossed her arms, raising her brows. "Hindi ba nag-usap na tayo about sa pakikipag-away mo at si Jerry pa talaga ang nakaaway mo, huh?"
Leena stole a quick glance at Rhye, then quickly looked away. Everything felt different between them, and the air was thick with tension. Leena could sense the distance that the argument had created, and she wondered if things would ever be the same again. "I'm sorry.. hindi na mauulit. I promise."
Rhye let out a deep sigh before standing up and heading towards the fridge to grab an ice pack. Leena couldn't help but smile at her beloved, silently admiring her every move but a pang of sadness washed over her as she remembered something. When Rhye approached, Leena looked down and felt a soft touch on her hand as Rhye gently placed the ice pack on her arm.
The older woman took a deep sigh, still holding her girlfriend's hand on the ice pack. "I'm sorry, Rhye.."
"You always say that."
"I know.." Leena removed her hand on Rhye's.
"W-What now? Hindi ka talaga magsasabi?"
A thin line formed on Leena's lips. "I.. I heard you and.. and Jerry last week sa tapat ng library."
The younger woman's eyes widened, dropping the ice pack beside her. "Leena.."
"I'm sorry, Rhye. I know that guy likes you at ayaw niya saakin para sa'yo." Leena laughed a bit then shook her head. "Alam ko rin lahat ng mga sinasabi niya tungkol saakin.. I know some of them are true, but kailangan niya pa ba talaga sabihin 'yon sa'yo.. and you just let him say that?"
"Leena, that's not-"
"You told him you wanted to break up with me."
Silence.
"Leena.."
"Is that what you really want, Rhye?"
"Leena.. I-"
The older woman's lower lip quivered as a tear escaped from her eye. She whispered an apology, her voice quaking with remorse. "You should've told me," she said softly, wishing Rhye had opened up about her fears and insecurities. The guilt weighed heavily on Leena, and she silently reprimanded herself for not realizing her girlfriend's anxieties.
"I love you, Leena. A-Ano bang sinasabi mo?"
"Pero ayaw mo na sa relasyon natin, 'di ba? Ganoon ba, Rhye?" Leena closed her eyes, didn't want to see her girlfriend. "T-This is all my fault."
Rhye's heart ached as she yearned to envelop Leena in a comforting embrace, but she knew that physical contact might only worsen her girlfriend's injury. Instead, Rhye's hands trembled as she kept them at her sides, clenching and unclenching with the urge to hold Leena close.
"I'm sorry.."
After that day, it seemed that life continued on for Rhye and Leena, each finding happiness in their own way. Rhye tied the knot with her new partner in 2004, starting a family and creating a future together. On the other hand, Leena found love and started a family of her own in 2009, embarking on her family's life journey.
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- aehneri: this was a lame update but this chapter was actually inspired by my mother and her former lover's story back in the 90s :) hehe.
