Love, Lies and Alibis (Henares Series #1)

Prologue

Beginning

You know what makes betrayal very painful?

It's not on how it takes form. Not on why you were betrayed. It's in who betrayed you.

I closed my eyes to feel the coolness of the wind brushing against my cheeks. I can clearly hear the waves lapping against the ship in the middle of the night. Huminga ako ng malalim para pagaanin ang namimigat kong kalooban.

The pains inflicted by those we love cuts deeper and hurts the most. Aside from the stabbing pain in the chest, it also felt like you were slapped hard.

Twice. On the face.

Trying to knock sense into you that the people you trusted and loved with all your fucked up heart and soul didn't loved you just as much.

Dahil sa reyalidad ay wala palang ganuon. Hindi pala kailanman magiging pantay ang pag ibig ng isang tao para sa iba.

Maswerte ka kung mas matimbang ang pagmamahal nila para sa iyo. Pero kung hindi, ikaw ang lugi.

I learned this the hard way.

Minulat ko ang mata at sumalubong sa akin ang walang hanggang itim na karagatan. Dotted with lights of the boats from afar.

Salungat sa mapayapang tanawin ang nadarama ko. At singdilim naman ng gabing iyon ang aking isip.

"Margo." Tawag sa akin ng malamig na baritono mula sa loob ng cabin. "Pumasok ka na. Malamig diyan."

It's frightening to think how a single, minimal mistake can ruin ones entire life. Sa maling liko ng manibela, sa bahagyang diin ng silinyador. You'll end up rolling down a stiff slope.

Puno ng sugat, lasug-lasog at higit sa lahat, walang memorya. I'm still lucky, though. Memorya lang ang nawala. I survived the car crash.

"Margo." Tawag uli.

"Susunod na ako." Malamig kong tugon.

Gusto kong iumpog ang ulo sa pader mailabas lang ng utak ang mga alaalang naikubli. If only it's that easy.

Pero ganito nga talaga siguro ang buhay. I need to fall down. I must lose some battles for me to know who's with me 'til the end. Who will stay and support me all the way and who will leave.

I shivered as salty breeze blew my hair. I rubbed my arms to ease the coldness.

Mula sa likod, tinaklob ni Voyd ang makapal niyang jacket. Bumuntong hininga ako habang bumabalot sa akin ang pamilyar niyang amoy.

"Let's—" napapitlag ako dahil sa mainit niyang hininga sa aking taenga.

He noticed my reaction and sighed. Hindi ko siya nilingon pero alam kong pinanonood niya ako.

I couldn't help myself feel uncomfortable whenever he's around. I would instinctively flinch whenever he touches me.

"Let's head inside. It's freezing here."

He shoved my wheelchair to our cabin and I didn't protest anymore. Nilipad muli ng malamig na simoy ang aking buhok bago niya sinara ang pinto.

Pagkapasok ay tanaw ko ang umuusok pang tasa sa ibabaw ng side table, gawing kanan ng aking hinihigaan.

Walang sabi sabi na sinikop niya ako mula roon upang ilipat sa kama.

"You should sleep." He murmured.