Living With My Future-Ex °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

Chapter 9: Night Ride

Ashton

Nang magising ako sa kalagitnaan ng gabi na wala si Rylai sa tabi, agad na napabangon ako at lumabas ng kwarto. When I found her squatting down the staircase, I heaved a sigh of relief. Yet my heart was torn when I eyed the necklace she has on her hand.

He was gone. It's sixteen years now. How could this world be so unfair? Wala na ang kaibigan ko pero siya parin ang nakaukopa sa puso ng babaeng mahal ko. Mas masakit lang talaga dahil kahit walang kalaban-laban ang kaagaw mo, hindi ka parin nananalo.

I was about to go back to the room when I heard knocks and bellowing voice outside the house. Agad na napatayo si Rylai samantalang nagmamadali naman akong tumakbo pababa.

"Manong, ano pong problema?"namimiyok ang boses na tanong ni Rylai sa guwardiya.

"Eh. Ano... Ah... Ma'am."utal niya sabay kamot. "Hindi po ako pwedeng magkamali. Ang anak niyo po, lumabas at sumakay ng kotse. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya dumaan at nakalabas siya—"

"Nakita mo ba kung sino ang kasama niya?"natatarantang tanong ni Rylai rito.

"Hindi nga po. Huli na kasi nang marinig ko ang boses nilang nag-uusap. Pagbukas ko ng gate, nakaalis na sila."sagot ni Mang Julian.

Nang hindi na nagsalita at nagtanong pa si Rylai, tinanguan ko si Mang Julian para iwan na kami.

"Ashton, ano? Ano'ng gagawin natin?"she turned to me afterwards. "Nakikinig ka ba? For Heaven's sake, it's our daughter! Miracle's out the house in the middle of the night! Aren't we supposed to do something?"she blared at me this time.

Instead of answering, I pulled her to my arms to embrace her.

"You've been so trying, baby. Set her free for a while. I knew our daughter. You might not trust her but I do. Tomorrow morning, she'll be back here—"

"Ashton, hindi ako makakatulog nang wala sa bahay ang anak ko."

"Ayokong sabihin na mali ka, Lai. Pero naiintindihan ko ang nararamdaman ng anak natin kaya siya nagkakaganito, nasasakal siya. Can you rest yourself even just for tonight?"

"What? Are you serious right now, Ashton? There is no rest or resignation in being a mother—"

"I'm not telling you to quit being one, honey. Rest from being so panicky all the time. Yes, Miracle is always our baby but honey, she's growing up."I explained myself and she slumped herself down the couch leisurely.

She wept silently and my heart was torn to pieces watching her. So I went to her, took her hands and kissed them.

"Okay, we'll find our daughter. Stop crying now, please."I whispered while I hugged her.

" Thank you, penguin."she replied making me smile.

"I love you."I muttered and kissed her on the lips. "Come on, let's go."

After putting on our jackets, we went down the road to find Miracle. But honestly, I know we won't be able to find her but I still gave in to Rylai's request because I planned to let her become herself which she has forgotten for a long time.

"Hold tight, honey."I warned when I decided to speed up.

The motorbike blared loudly down the street, screaming to me how much it missed the road like how I do. For sixteen years, Rylai and even I, honestly, forgot being ourselves at some point.

"Aren't you afraid, honey?"she suddenly asked after the long minutes of silence.

"What do you mean?"

"Because I am... I am afraid, Ash... too afraid to ride on this bike again."

Because of what she stated, I opted to pull over. Hindi rin siya nagreklamo; tahimik siyang bumaba matapos kong patayin ang engine ng motorbike. There was nothing between us aside from the deafening silence of the night. Even the crickets and other night creatures were too afraid to make a noise and spoil the serenity of the moment.

"It's his anniversary today, Ash."Rylai dared to break the silence.

I was too pained to say a word.

"Pinilit kong makalimot, Ashton. Pero..."she halted as she began sobbing. "...sa tuwing dumadating ang araw na 'to, naalala ko ang huling pagkakataon na nakita ko siya. Hindi ko maalis-alis sa isip ko—"

"Nasasaktan ako, Lai."I cut her off making her look up to me. "Is it selfish of me to ask you to stop from breaking me? Let it be enough, please. I'm here, Lai. I'm here but you're making me feel like I'm not—"

"Ash, that's not true—"

"No. No, baby."I firmly stated while I shook my head repetitively. "Bakit siya parin ang nakikita mo kahit wala na siya at ako 'yong nandito? Napapaisip ako Lai... napapahiling minsan... na sana ako nalang 'yong nawala."

"Ash—"

"Kasi ako naman talaga dapat 'yong nawala di ba?"

Hindi ko napigilan ang emosyon ko. I've been suppressing this because I tried to move on and just forget. But everytime I see her like this, I tend to remember instead of forgetting and back from the start, I blame myself again.

"Ashton, no. Will you stop—"

"Will you, Lai? Hindi ko hiniling sa'yo sa loob ng mga nagdaang taon kasi ayokong maging makasarili. Pero ang sakit na eh, kami ng anak mo ang nandito. Pwede bang ibigay mo sa'min ng buo ang puso mo?"

I heard no answer but I knew one thing, the night witnessed us both crying while we're in each other's arms.

"I'm sorry, baby—"

"No. Tama ka, Ashton. Tama ka na dapat tama na. Kung hindi titigil sa kakaasa ang puso kong magbabalik siya, then I'll have to kill my heart so that this hope I'm clinging to will fade away. I'm sorry that I haven't been the one I was supposed to be in your life. I'm sorry for being the reason of your pain."she said apologetically as she held my face. "Nakikita ko lahat. Nararamdaman ko. Alam kong ikaw 'yong hindi ako kailanman iniwan at sinukuan. Sadyang pinapalabo lang ng sakit at ng mga masamang ala-ala ang lahat kaya sa halip na makita kita, nabulag ako. Give me a chance, penguin. Let me fix everything. But let me start with my heart first."

While a smile slowly formed in my lips, a couple of tears ran down my cheeks. With a grateful heart, I nodded at her statement.

"I love you, Lalai. I love you so much."I whispered as I enclosed her in my arms.

Man, let me fully take care of her and love her. Please set her free.

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Author's Corner:

Taaadaaaa! Hanggang Book 2, martyr-martyran ang role ni Papa Ash! Hahaha