One of Your Fans (Completed)

Chapter 24

Zaki's POV

"Fourth floor. Thanks."

Andito ako ngayon sa tinutuluyang hotel ni Tanya. And I'm here to talk with her. Hindi naging maganda 'yung huling usap namen kaya binigyan ko muna siya ng time magpalamig. And now, we really have to talk.

"Tanya." She let me in.

"If you are here to talk about getting a divorce, the answer is no. We are not getting a divorce. I will not sign the papers."

"Pero Tanya. You know this marriage isn't working. And will not gonna work."

"Kung hinayaan mo lang 'yung sarili mong mahalin mo din ako! Kung hinayaan mo lang maramdaman 'yung pagmamahal ko! Kung hinayaan mo lang 'yung sarili mong lumaya sa bullshit na pagmamahal na 'yan kay Chandi! This marriage could've worked!"

"You know I can't do that. Simula't sapul Tanya alam mo namang pinagkasundo lang tayo ng magulang naten di ba. This relationship doesn't involve love but business."

"Zaki, natutunan kitang mahalin. Zaki, mahal na mahal kita."

"Why... Why me?"

Napatingin siya sa mga kamay niya. "You..." Her voice broke. "You could be every girl's dream, Zaki. Not just because of the beautiful appearance, talent and wealth. Zaki... I see what any man doesn't have." She puts her hand on my chest. "Eto 'yun. 'Yung paraan mo ng pagmamahal kay Chandi. That is every girl's dream, Zaki. And you have it. I wanted to be that lucky girl. I badly want it. Akin na lang 'yung pagmamahal na 'yan. Sakin mo na lang ilaan."

Tanya... Yes she's a beautiful and intelligent woman. Could also be every man's dream. But there's is only one woman who did caught my heart. Tanya grew up in a broken family. She did have relationships before we got married. But I don't know what happened in her past relationships. Who could have know if this woman had been hurt many times? Maybe she did. But I am not that man. I'm not that man that can give her the unconditional love she needs.

"I'm sorry. Pero, Tanya. You... I... This..."

"Wala ba talaga?" She look at me now. There are tears on her eyes. "Wala ba talaga akong puwang diyan?"

I look at her. I can't answer her question. Masasaktan ka lang Tanya sa isasagot ko.

"Kelan ako makakaramdam ng pagmamahal na galing sa taong tulad mo? Inggit na inggit ako kay Chandi. Sana... ako na lang siya." She ran outside her hotel room. Tanya! Saan pupunta 'yun!?

She took the stairs. "Tanya!" She rans faster. "Wait! Tanya!"

Bigla siyang sumakay sa kotse niya. Kakabukas ko pa lang ng passenger's seat ng pinatakbo niya agad 'yung sasakyan. I ran faster para mahabol 'yung sasakyan. Fortunately nakabukas 'yung passenger seat and I managed to hop in. "Tanya! What do you think you are doing!? Slow down the car!"

"No! This could be the only way!"

"What only way!? This could be the only way to end a life, Tanya!"

"This is the only way, Zaki. Kapag ba naaksidente ako, kapag ba na-coma ako, mamahalin mo na ako?"

"Tanya. What are you talking about!? Slow down the car! Let's talk about this. Okay?"

She speeds up the car. God. I feel like flying. Napahawak na ko sa upuan ko. "Tanya! Please. Don't do this. Tanya, I am not the only man. Madami. Nagkalat. You just haven't found him yet. Kase nilaan mo 'yung panahon mo sa thought na ako 'yun. Kinulong mo 'yung sarili mo sa maling pananaw. Please. Tanya, the caaaaaar!" I reached for the wheel. "The breeeaaak!"

*eeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkk*

Shit. Shit. Shit. This could have been the last night of my life. God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I looked at her. "Tanya. Don't try to end your life like this. It's not worth it."

A long silence creeps between us. Tanya please. Don't do this. You don't know what you are doing. Hindi ako deserving sa pagmamahal mo. Hindi deserving na tutuldukan mo lang ang buhay mo dahil saken. Dahil gusto mo lang makuha 'yung pagmamahal na hindi ko kayang ibigay sayo.

"I'm really that desperate, huh? I'm really that stupid. I am really pathetic. Chandi's right." She touched my cheeks. "I love you, Zaki. Love you enough to let you go."

***********

"Ready to go?" I checked my seat number.

"Ready." Tanya smiled at me. "I'll just go to the restroom."

"Best, come back soon. Okay?" Niyakap ako ni Cheska.

"I will. It will be just a few weeks. I'll just make things right."

"Good. And best, the offer, 'wag kang magdadalawang isip dun."

"Sige. Nakabalik na naman ako dito that time eh."

"'Wag mong bibiguin 'yung couple na kumuha sayo ah! Hangang hanga sila sa photography mo  sa magazine."

"Sure. Sure."

I waved Cheche goodbye. We're off to New York to make things right.