UNEXPECTED EXCHANGE (completed)

CHAPTER 9

Bella's POV.

"That's our last conversation," he said, at ako hindi ko alam pero awang-awa ako sa kanya, people meant to do that kaya nilang ipag palit ang isang bagay kung saan hindi na sila masaya and just to find that happiness to others.

"It's been 3 years but I don't know ramdam ko pa rin ang sakit." bigla may kumirot sa puso ko, habang tinititigan ko siya nakatingin lang siya sa baba at naluluha. "do you still love her?"

Nagulat siya sa tanong ko at napatitig sakin. "no. no." he said. "maybe the pain is still there but the love I don't think so."

Tumingin siya sa malayo. "that's why I didn't call you Bella like everyone does because I don't wanna feel that feeling again. That's why I always called you your second name."

I looked at him, I just couldn't imagine this guy had passed meron siyang maamong mukha matalino, mayaman pano niya nagawang iwan to? "can I ask?" he looked at me and said. "yeah."

"What is the reason why she left you?" he looked at me and smiled. "did she cheat on you?" umiling siya. "no, actually she's caring, loving, understanding, she's beautiful and I think halos lahat nasa kanya na."

"Bakit ka pa rin niya hiniwalayan?" he looked at me with his teary eye. "Kasi hindi ko pinaglaban ang anak namin." I was shocked and froze at what he just said, I covered my hand to my mouth.

"Nagulat ka no, I was too young at that moment. I was afraid of judgment and what my parents gonna say to me. Kaya sapilitan kong pinainom ng pangpalaglag si Bella, she didn't know about that and alam kong hindi niya ako mapapatawad so she went to U.S." Nakikita ko ang tuloy-tuloy na pagagos ng kanyang luha.

"After months naka hanap siya nang lalaki nagpapasaya sa kanya, na nagpapalimot ng napagdaanan niya, so I don't have a choice to set her free."

Humahagulgol na siya nang pagiyak hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko and I just held his hand and hugged him, and I wiped his tears.

--

After several hours hindi ko alam kung paano kami nakaalis sa park nayun sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Hinayaan ko nalang muna siyang makapag isip-isip sinamahan kolang siya dito sa loob ng sasakyan, medyo maayos narin siya hindi na siya umiiyak. "let's go." he said. "ok kana ba?"

"Yeah." and he smiled, nasa kotse kami medyo gabi na kaya he said na ehahatid niya na daw ako. "you know what, it's ok to cry sometimes." bigla siyang napatingin sakin. "sorry."

"No. you don't have to, sabi nga nila healthy ang pagiyak kasi it relieves all your pain and stress." he looks at me and smiles. "by the way thank you nga pala sinamahan moko sa kadramahan ko."

"That's ok and besides I don't have a choice kinaladkad moko eh." we laugh. Nagtanong ako uli. "alam ba nila Lance at Zach to?" nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang naka focus siya sa daan.

"Hindi ikaw lang ang nakakaalam nito." he glances at me. "really?"

"Yeah, ngayon kolang din nakilala ang mga yun. Mag best friend yung dalawang yun at nakilala ko si Zach sa isang bar sa BGC tinulungan niya ako nung time na may nangbugbog sakin." I'm just listening sa lahat ng ikinikweto niya.

"Simula nun pinakilala niya ako sa best friend niya at ayun nag naman click kaming tatlo kaya naging matalik kaming magkaibigan."

"I should say sorry to Jm I think?" I look at him. "Of course you must, you have to." He's just nodding. "Yeah, tomorrow. It's not in my nature to always say sorry but because you said so."