My Moonlight and Fire (Published)

Chapter 1.2

Mahihinang katok sa pinto ang pumukaw sa kanyang pagmumuni. Maya-maya ay tuluyang bumukas iyon. Iniluwa ng pinto ang kanyang tiyahin, si Carolyn Burr, ang nakatatandang kapatid ng kanyang ina na nagkaasawa ng isa ring Amerikano at permanenteng nanirahan dito sa New Jersey.

"Mike wants to see you, Cassandra, mahinahong wika ng kanyang butihing tiyahin"

A deep sigh escaped from her mouth. She no longer expect Mike Driscol to come. Noong isang linggo pa niya tinapos ang relasyon nila ng binata. Hindi ito pumayag pero pinanindigan niya ang desisyon. Hindi dahil sa wala na siyang pagtingin para rito kundi dahil sa palagay niya ay wala nang patutunguhan ang kanilang relasyon.

Mike disliked her idea of going to the Philippines to find her family and to exact her revenge. Ayon dito, sa isang alagad ng batas na katulad nila, hindi dapat isinasama ang sariling problema at emosyon sa trabaho. Kung meron daw nararapat at may tungkulin na durugin ang Orion Triangle, iyon ay walang iba kundi ang gobyerno at awtoridad ng Pilipinas at hindi siya.

Hindi dahil sa hindi maunawain si Mike. Maliban sa kanyang tiyahin, si Mike ang ikalawang tao na tanging nakakaunawa sa kanyang mga depresyon at mood swings lalo na noong mga panahong nababalutan ng kalungkutan ang kanyang katauhan. High school sweethearts sila. Alam na alam ni Mike ang hirap na kanyang pinagdaanan bilang isang bipolar patient. Mike had been very supportive and understanding to her but when she revealed her plan of revenge, hindi nito nagustuhan iyon. Hindi siya maunawaan ni Mike at dahil doon ay kinailangan niyang tapusin ang ilang taon nilang relasyon.

Pinilit niyang pinatatag ang sarili. She was hurting, yes. She loved him not only because he was the only one man who could accept her but because he was very good to her. Iginalang siya nito sa buong panahon ng kanilang relasyon. He never took advantage. Isang katangian na bihirang lalaki na lang ang nagtataglay lalo na sa isang kanluraning bansa na katulad ng Amerika.

But she had to make a choice. She had been waiting for this chance to track down Salvador La Russo. Kapag pinalampas niya ang pagkakataong ito, baka wala nang sumunod. Kaya kung kinakailangang isakripisyo niya ang sariling pag-ibig at kaligayahan ay gagawin niya, maging ang sariling buhay ay hindi na mahalaga sa kanya ngayon.

Nang makababa ng hagdan ay nakita niya ang binata na nakaupo sa sofa. Nakatungo ito, halata ang kalungkutan sa anyo. She summoned her inner strength. Naaawa siya rito at nasasaktan siya.

He hastily stood upon seeing her. He was a looker. With his American features and a posture that spoke of authority, a lot of women were surely desiring him. He was a member of International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol. With their knowledge and skills to combat the criminals, their tandem could have been very ideal but their principles and priorities were poles apart. At ang mga ito ang maglalayo sa kanila sa isa't isa.

"Casey," he said in a husky voice. "I'm sorry for not understanding you these past few days. I know this is the reason why you suddenly ended our relationship. But this time, I no longer want to hinder your plan but please, don't break me up," pagsusumamo nito.

"Mike..." she couldn't find a word to say.

"Don't be too harsh to me, babe. Don't hurt me like this. You're killing me." He held her in her shoulders.

"Mike," at last she managed to open her mouth to talk. "I'm breaking up with you because I'm not sure if I can return to you. This mission can be very dangerous."

"That's the main reason why I'm stopping you. But I changed my mind. If stopping you may mean losing you, then you are free to go, sweetheart. I'm willing to wait. Just promise me that you will return to me."

"I don't know how long it will take, Mike." Her heart started to melt. "I don't want to give you a false hope."

"It doesn't matter, babe. I'm just here. Everything will be alright. We will still see each other." Then he pressed her against his chest, hugged her tight as if he couldn't let her go.

She just bit her lips. Tears started to peer on the corner of her eyes.

"Mike..." She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes. Ngunit sa pagpikit ng kanyang mga mata ay dalawang nilalang ang nakita niya. Ang kanyang ina at kapatid na tila kapwa naghihintay sa kanya.

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ARA