SELENE [BOOK 2]

CHAPTER 37

He was staring at my face while standing in front of me. He let out a heavy sigh. "Are you waiting for Steve?" he asked gently.

I nodded. Hinangin ang buhok ko at tinatakpan nito ang mukha ko.

Nilagay ko ito sa likod ng tenga ko. Hindi nagsalita si Nico. Nang makitang wala na siyang balak magsalita pa, ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa harapan kung saan tanaw namin ang payapang dagat at magagandang tanawin mula rito.

I felt Nico move. He stood next to me and rested his elbows on the railings. Like me, admiring the beauty of this island.

"Thank you for this... You made my son happy..." I thanked him without looking at him.

Naramdaman kong bumaling ang ulo nito sa akin. "Of course, I'll do anything for him. He's my son. His happiness is my happiness too." Nico said with a smile. "Anyways, how's life when I was gone in your life, Selene?" he asked.

Hindi ako sumagot agad.

How's my life? I can't help but reminisce about everything. "My life becomes better, and it gives me peace," I answered.

I heard him sigh. "I don't know if I should be happy hearing that from you or if I should be hurt..." Nico said in a low voice.

I looked his way. Our gazes locked. The pain I could read in his eyes startled me, but it vanished right away. He turned his head away, his jaw tightened.

"How about you?" I asked almost a whisper. "How's life so far?" I asked him the same question he asked me.

"My life?" he uttered. I can hear bitterness in his voice. "I don't know... Your question is very simple, yet I can't answer directly..."

I stared at his side view. I can't see his expression properly. The only thing I can see is his jaw clenching and his nose and slightly furrowed brows. Hinahangin ang buhok niya, pero hindi gaya ng sa akin na halos matakpan ang mukha ko. His hair looked soft as it was being blown by the wind.

"Riley..." I carefully said. "She fooled you. How are you cooping up with that?"

No matter how mad I was with Nico before, I never thought of being happy with him being fooled by anyone. I mean, no one deserves it. We all deserve to receive the love in the world.

By looking at the new Nico now, it feels so new to see emotions in his eyes. He is not even making an effort to hide the sadness in his eyes, unlike before when it was difficult to read any emotion in them.

"Honestly, it didn't shock me. Una pa lang I already feel something unexplainable about her, but I didn't give much attention since all I want is... A woman who I can try to love and change. But yeah, it didn't turn out good. Maybe karma hit me?" he let out a chuckle.

Hindi naman ako nakapagsalita agad. I let out a heavy sigh. "Makakahanap ka rin ng babaeng magmamahal sa iyo ng lubosan... Iyong hindi ka lolokohin at iiwan, Nico. Iyong babaeng tanggap iyong totoong ikaw," puno ng sinseridad na sabi ko.

I wish both of us happines. He may be my first but we're not meant to last and end up each other. Kung para talaga kayong dalawa sa isa't isa kayo talaga, pero kung ang tadhana na mismo ang mag didiktang hindi kayo para sa huli, wala tayong magagawa kundi tanggapin iyon.

There's nothing permanent in this world but change itself only.

Umayos ito ng tayo at kung kanina ay buong atensyon niya nasa harapan niya lang, ngayon ay humarap ito sa akin. Nakatagilid na ito ngayon sa railings.

"You think so?" he softly asked me.

I nodded. "Of course, Nico." I stopped and smiled. "Your first relationship, second, third, may not be good, but we don't know; God has a plan for why everything happens, he won't just let us all suffer without reason. Maybe in the fourth time around... you will finally find the love you have been longing for..."