Piece by Piece

Chapter 24

"You see, your first love isn't the first person you give your heart to – it's the first one who breaks it." — Lang Leav

*Multimedia:
Little Do You Know
by Alex and Sierra

24

"So you were in New York?"

He asked her again when they were left inside the room by themselves. Her eyes that were pinned at the floor looked straight in his.

"Pag sinabi kong oo, may mababago ba?" She answered full of bitterness.

"You could've told me." Ramdam ang galit sa boses ni Vice.

"Hindi ko alam na mapapaaga yung punta mo sa Paris. Anyway, wag na nating pag-usapan yan Vice. Tapos na yun." She massaged her temple. Ramdam niya pa rin ang sakit ng ulo niya from last night. This was the worst hangover ever.

"When was this K?" Tanong muli ni Vice na parang hindi niya narinig si Karylle. Napabuntong hininga naman ang huli, she knows na hindi siya titigilan ni Vice not until she speaks.

"4 months after you left. Umuwi ka dito before nun pero hindi mo man lang ako pinuntahan. Tapos pagbalik mo sa New York, you never called me anymore. Halos mabaliw ako kakaisip kung anong nangyari sa'yo."

"You could've called me. You could've told me. Edi sana umuwi ako. Pinuntahan kita. Nag-usap tayo."

"That's the reason why I didn't tell you. Alam kong iiwanan mo ang trabaho mo para sa akin. Iiwanan mo nanaman ang trabaho mo dahil sa akin." Makahulugang sinabi ni Karylle, tinignan lang siya ni Vice as if proving he was guilty.

"I know why you're in Paris. I know that if you leave your work undone back there, like the last time you did, they will sue you na. Just like how all the companies you left hanging in the middle nung umuwi ka sa Pilipinas para samahan ako." Sabi ni Karylle.

"Why... how... who told you that?" He had a hard time finishing his sentence. Vhong. Of course si Vhong. Napakadaldal talaga. He thought.

"It doesn't matter how or who, Vice. Nung nalaman ko yun I just realized how much I don't deserve you. You gave up a lot for me and all I gave in return was pain and heartache. Kaya pagbalik ko nun sa Pilipinas, I stopped calling and messaging you anymore. Naisip ko kasi, kung gusto mong bumalik babalik ka naman eh pero kung hindi na, okay lang rin. Kahit miss na miss na miss na kita noon, hindi ko na pinilit na magkita at magkalapit tayo. Nawala na rin yung galit ko sa bigla mong pag-iwan sa akin kasi naisip ko that maybe that is for the better. Vice, you don't deserve to be included in my messed up life anymore." She said with no trace of tears.

"K." Vice was left speechless.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Karylle sa mga kamay ni Vice. They were bruised at may sugat pa.

"San galing to? Is this from last night?" She asked again. Vice didn't answer. Tumango lang ito at tinitigan ang mga kamay ni Karylle na dahan dahang hinihimas ang mga sugat niya sa kamay.

"You see this?" Turo ni Karylle sa mga kamay ni Vice. "This is what I'm talking about. It feels like I'm doing you no good. You deserve someone better, Vice. Maybe you really deserve someone else." Malungkot na tugon ni Karylle kay Vice atsaka siya tumayo para maghanap ng first aid kit nito sa banyo ni Vice.