Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa

Kabanata 16 - Ang Pag-uusap nina Alena at Ybarro

When Ybarro saw Amihan kneeling on the ground with her eyes bloodshot, he felt a mix of emotions rush through his system. There was sadness, anger, worry and most especially guilt, for he knew that he was the main reason why Amihan and Alena were no longer in good terms.

As he rushed to Amihan's side and held her in his arms, he couldn't help but assure her that he was going to fix all of this, for he knew that it was his responsibility to do so. If he hadn't fallen for Amihan in the first place, there wouldn't be any conflict between the two sanggres, but Ybarro couldn't lie to himself. He couldn't pretend that Alena still had his heart, when he knew that it now belonged to her sister, Amihan.

As he journeyed to the river by Adamya, where he knew that Alena would be, Ybarro couldn't help but ponder on what he'd say to her, how he'd explain that if he had to choose between the both of them, he'd choose Amihan. 

Ybarro didn't want to break Alena's heart like this, but he knew that she deserved his honesty. After all, the prince of Sapiro did truly love her. 

"Alena," Ybarro said, upon seeing the sanggre sitting on a rock facing the river. 

As she heard her name, Alena turned to face Ybarro, her eyes just as bloodshot as Amihan's. 

"Anung ginagawa mo dito, Ybarro?" She asked angrily. "Ang lakas ng loob mong magpakita sa akin pagkatapos mo 'kong pagtaksilan!" She added. 

Despite Alena's anger, Ybarro continued to walk towards her. 

"Alena, makinig ka sa akin." He said. "Hindi ko naman sinasadyang mahulog ang aking loob kay Amihan. Sadyang napakarami lang ng aming pinagdaanan na magkasama kung kaya't hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili."

Suddenly, Alena stood up from the rock that she was sitting on and slapped her lover.

"Sa dinami-rami ng Engkantada dito sa mundo natin, bakit sa sarili ko pang kapatid, Ybarro? Bakit sa sarili ko pang kapatid!" She said, with tears flowing from her eyes. "Akala ko ba mahal mo ako? Paano mo nagawa sa akin 'to!"

"Sapagkat ang buong akala ko'y yumao ka na." Ybarro explained. "Alena, akala mo ba hindi nadurog ang puso ko nung natanggap ko ang balitang patay ka na? Akala mo ba naging madali para akin na tanggapin na wala ka na? Hindi!" He added.

"Sa tuwing naiisip ko ang lahat ng sakit na iyong dinanas ng dahil sa akin, hindi ko mapigilang magsisi sa pasya kong iwan ka. Hindi ko mapigilang magsisi sa pasya kong itago sa'yo ang tungkol kay Lira, ang anak naming dalawa ni Amihan."

"Nung mga panahon na 'yun, gulong gulo din ang aking isipan sapagkat hindi ko pa alam na ako pala ang nawawalang prinsipe ng Sapiro, kung kaya't sinunod ko nalang ang kagustuhan ni Amihan na layuan kayong magkapatid upang hindi na kayo mag-away pa."

"Alena," Ybarro said as he held both her hands. "Ayokong isipin mo na hindi kita minahal sapagkat alam ko, na ang lahat ng pinakita ko sa'yo noon, ay galing sa aking puso." He added. 

"Ngunit kailangan nating tanggapin, na may ibang plano para sa atin si Emre. Na maaaring hindi talaga tayo ang itinakda para sa isa't isa."

"Ssheda, Ybarro." Alena said as she tightened her grip on Ybarro's hands. She knew that she wasn't ready to let him go just yet. She loved him too much. 

"Wag kang magsalita ng ganyan. Kung minahal mo ko noon, sigurado akong kaya mo pa rin akong mahalin ngayon." She added. "Ybarro.. ayaw mo na ba talaga sa akin?"

Ybarro couldn't deny that he felt heartbroken upon seeing Alena's pleading eyes. There was a part of him that wanted to stay, to fall in love with her again, but if he tried, he would be betraying Amihan and he didn't want to hurt her at all. 

"Patawad, Alena. Patawad." was all Ybarro managed to say. "Ayokong saktan ka, pero ayoko ring magsinungaling sa'yo." He added. "Alam kong may Engkatadong nakalaan sa'yo, Alena, ngunit.. hindi ako 'yun."

Alena looked at him.

"Si Amihan na ba talaga ang laman ng puso mo?" She asked, despite dreading Ybarro's answer.

"Oo." He answered. "Ngunit ayokong pag-usapan ang tungkol sa aming dalawa, sapagkat ayoko ng madagdagan pa ang sakit na iyong nadarama."

Alena breathed heavily in reply. 

"Mahihirapan akong tanggapin ito, Ybarro, ngunit alam kong kailangan." She said. "Sa ngayon, aalis muna ako upang mahilom ang aking nasagutang puso." She added, and then she disappeared. 

Ybarro knew that he did the right thing by telling Alena about his relationship with Amihan, but he couldn't help but feel like such a bad person for hurting her like this. The prince of Sapiro just hoped that, someday, the sanggre would forgive him for inflicting such pain on her and that she'd find someone who would love her more than he ever did.