Miss Independent

Chapter 30

Gianna's POV

I didn't know whether to tell Tito David about what happened or not. Pero kahit papaano, nagpapasalamat ako sa nangyari. It helped me make up my mind about not marrying Ryan.

Ayaw ko na. I went there to compromise, even to concede. Papayag na sana ako. Turns out it just reinforced my doubt on his feelings. Siguro totoo ngang ako ang gusto niya. Ang mahal niya. But Michelle is so hung up to the point of obsession. She's irrational about it. Ayaw ko nang patulan.

Nakatunganga lang akong nakatitig sa labas mula sa bintana. Umuwi na si Tito kanikanina lang. Di ko na siya naabutan sa tagal kong gumising. Mabuti na lang rin siguro yun. There would be no questions.

Bigla akong nakarinig ng ingay sa labas. The guards on the garden suddenly looked worried. May nagsisisigaw ng kung ano sa labas ng kwarto ko. "Putangina!!! Wag niyo siyang itago sa akin. Alam kong nandyan lang siya!"

Here we go again. Just two nights ago we were doing the nasty. Now, probably two armed men are trying to get him out of the house.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto. "Bitawan niyo siya. Mag-uusap lang kami," sabi ko sa mga guards.

Ryan's POV

I was expecting we'd go to her room. Pero sa library kami pumasok. I was impressed by the floor to ceiling shelves filled with books.

Umupo lang si Gianna sa parang receiving area. Sumunod na lang ako sa at pumwesto sa harap niya. Huminga siya ng malalim at nag-iwas ng tingin. "I can't do this anymore Ry. Pagod na ako. Sa tuwing parang okay na ang lahat, bumababalik si Michelle. It's neither our faults pero nakakapagod na."

Tumayo ako at tumabi sa kanya. I held her shoulders and faced her to me. "Gi, please, I swear, huli na yung kanina. She's out of our lives, I promise."

"That's not the point exactly Ry. Pumunta ako kanina para pumayag na sana. I was getting used to the idea that I was marrying you. Kahit bata pa tayo. But seeing how she held on to you, it made me realize na di ko kayang mang-agaw. Kahit sabihin mo sa aking ayaw mo sa kanya, it doesn't change the fact that somehow, una ka naging kanya. At kahit anong pilit natin, hindi ka pa niya napapakawalan."

I tried damned hard not to interrupt her. But if the future with the love of your life was on the line, it was killing me to keep shut. "Gi, I'm at the point where I really don't care about her anymore. She cost me too much already. She almost cost me you. Mamatay man siya sa harap ko, wala na talaga akong pakialam."

"We both know that's a lie Ry. Besides, pagod na rin ako sa pangingialam ng mga ng mga tao sa paligid namin. Nasasaktan din ako sa mga pinagsasasabi nila. It may not seem obvious but I'm hurting too. Pero yung sakit lang ni Michelle ang nakikita nila. Sawang sawa na ako sa kakairap sa akin ng classmates namin. Sawa na rin ako sa bulongbulungan nila tungkol sa akin." Dun ba tumulo ang luha niya. She always seems strong nobody thinks she's capable of hurting. Pinapalabas niya na di siya nasasaktan but inside she's dying. "It's like just when happiness is within reach, someone takes it away. Kung kelan pwede na tayo, may hahadlang pa rin. May dahilan pa rin ba't di pwede. And I can't settle with almost or somehow Ry. We tried but it just didn't work."

"I honestly don't know what to do with your classmates pero uunahin mo ba talaga sila kesa sa atin? You know I love you and I'd do anything for you. Pero di ko na alam anong gagawin ko. Utang na loob Gianna, wag mo naman akong bitawan nang ganun ganon na lang."

She held my face and carressed it lovingly. Parang sinasaulo niya ang bawat detalye ng mukha ko. Na parang di na niya ako makikita ulit. "I love you Ry but I just can't do this right now. Ayusin muna natin anc lahat. Do something about Michelle's obsession about you. And If three or four years from now, we still feel the same at okay na ang lahat, baka pwede na. Pwede na nating ituloy to."

She kissed me on the lips firmly and I held her nape to keep her still. I was trying to memorise the feel of her lips on mine. Matagal tagal pa bago mauulit to. And I swear the moment I taste her lips again, I'm not letting her go again.

Author's note:

Ang gulo nilang dalawa no? Kasing gulo ng utak ko ngayon dahil sa lintek na hangover. This is sort of the last chapter. Epilogue na sunof at iilang special chapters. Hahaha