Come On, Make Me (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23

#COMM

Chapter 23

I felt guilty.

Really, really guilty.

I shouldn't have looked at Jasper while Aidan was pulling me away. I couldn't erase that look on his face—like I betrayed him. Like I should've done something...

Like I shouldn't have let Aidan whisk me away like that.

"Do you plan on getting smashed tonight?" Aidan asked while I was being handed another flute of champagne. He quickly snatched the glass from my hand.

"Aidan," I said, slightly irritated dahil kakatapos ko lang makausap si Abuela. She told me wasn't the biggest fan of what I chose to do. Kasi bakit nga ba naman, 'di ba? Addie and Santi are freaking business geniuses, Maven's doing very well in law school, Saint's... well, the entire family's happy with his girlfriend of choice. My other brothers, well, as long as they stay out of harm's way and then public eyes, wala namang problema sa kanila.

And then there's me.

And the pictures online of me wearing bikinis.

I felt like the freaking black sheep of the family.

Tapos... si Jasper.

"Come on, Maggie. You know it's never a good idea to get wasted during events like this," he calmly said even though I just snapped at him. "Besides, I heard your Abuelo's making an announcement tonight. You don't want to ruin that, right?"

I sighed. He was right. But of course, I couldn't think straight lalo na at naaalala ko talaga 'yung mukha ni Jasper kanina nung iniwan ko siya. It's really as if I just smacked a dagger right in his chest!

"Right," I replied.

"Let's get you some fresh air," Aidan said, holding the small of my back and guiding me upstairs. Pagdating namin sa balcony, napa-tingin ako sa langit. I smiled at the magnificent view. Well, at least I got this thing right.

I was quietly staring at the sky when I felt Aidan standing beside me. Naka-hawak din siya sa railing habang naka-tingin sa taas.

"My dad just asked me if I'm interested to help in the family business," he said.

"That's great, Aidan!" I said, looking at him and smiling. I knew that he wanted to be a part of it, but was just afraid to ask his father.

"Yeah... but saying yes means that I need to go back to France."

"Then go back," I quickly replied. There was a pang of pain in his eyes. I should've hesitated. The abruptness in my voice hurt him.

But what good would pretending that something would happen do to him? E wala na talaga.

"Is there... really nothing, Maggie?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes.

I looked back at him. I needed him to feel the sincerity in my voice. I needed him to realize that things... once broken, there's just no going back.

No matter how sorry you are.

Kapag sira na, sira na talaga.

"No," I said. "I'm sorry, Aidan. There's just nothing more I can offer..."

I said those words and looked at him. It killed me to hurt him like this, but there's no other way. He couldn't just continue hoping. Life goes on. Hurting is a part of living.

Life never stops when you get hurt.

You just have to be strong and embrace the pain.

Because it's true, you know? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.