In the Shadow of Diamond (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

Epilogue

I'm not the affectionate type. Never have been, never will be.

There's something about being too available that kills the thrill. The moment a man becomes too present, too soft, too eager to please, it's over. Women say they want affection, attention, consistency. Maybe they do. But only in small, calculated doses. Give them too much, and they recoil. It's instinct.

They don't chase the man who's always there. They chase the one they're unsure about. The one who doesn't text back right away. The one whose silence makes them overthink. The one who never begs, never clings, never lowers himself for anyone.

I've seen it happen too many times. The nice guy, the affectionate guy, slowly becoming invisible while she starts looking elsewhere. That's not me. I don't beg for love. I don't play the fool for affection.

I hold my ground. Stay in control. Because in this game, the one who cares less, wins.

"You rehearsed that?" tanong ko nang bigla siyang mag-aya ng hiwalayan mula sa kabilang linya.

Kasalukuyan akong nasa meeting nang tumawag siya. She hadn't called during a meeting in ages. I knew something was wrong.

"I haven't had a real conversation with you in weeks!"

I clenched my fist under the table, but I didn't raise my voice.

"I told you," I said. "This quarter's been—"

"Don't," putol niya. "Don't give me another speech about investors or expansion plans or whatever numbers you've been chasing. You barely look at me anymore. I'm just someone who exists in your background, Cronus!"

Hindi ko maintindihan, sapat na bang dahilan 'yon para lokohin ako? Sapat na bang dahilan 'yon para iwan niya?

"And your solution to that," I said slowly, "was to sleep with that fucking bastard?"

I heard the sharp intake of her breath.

"You ignored me," she said. "I felt invisible. Levi saw me—"

"He saw a crack in my armor and used you to dig deeper." I said coldly. "And you let him."

I know that Levi Chua is just using her for his own selfish desires. He only wants what I have. High school pa lang kami, nakikipagkumpetensya na siya sa akin. Wala nga akong pakialam sa kaniya, kahit pa magkakaaway ang pamilya namin. Pero ibang usapan na 'to.

"You were never there! I waited for nights you promised to come home early. I sat through dinners alone. I didn't want your money, I wanted you. But you were always out chasing more, more things that didn't involve me!"

"I wasn't chasing 'things,' Renae," bumaba ang boses ko. "I was building something, I was building us. While you were too busy counting how many times I missed dinner, I was making sure you'd never have to worry about a thing for the rest of your life."

"I'm done!"

"Renae..." tawag ko pero hindi siya sumagot.

Naririnig ko ang tunog ng busina mula sa sasakyan. Kumunot ang noo ko, nahihimagahan sa mga nangyayari.

"Itutuloy mo talaga ang binabalak mo? Aalis ka para lang pumunta sa lalaking 'yon?"

"Wala kang pakialam! Tapos na tayo, Cronus!"

"Renae, let's talk. Why are you—"

I heard a horn blaring, tires screeching and a crash. I sat up straight, every muscle in my body going rigid. Napatingin ang mga kasama ko sa loob ng silid. Hindi na ako nakapagsalita dahil mabilis akong lumabas doon.