The Last Song

Chapter XXIV

Katie's POV

I made my way out to the mall, sobbing.

Hindi ko na alintana kung pinagtitinginan na ako ng mga tao.

Bakit di ko kayang kumanta sa harap ng maraming tao? Bakit kailangan kong matakot? Why I can't stop trembling?

I can't help but reminisce my bitter past.

For a long time, I have convinced myself I have buried those memories already.

But I was wrong after all this time.

Dahil nandun pa rin ang sakit at epekto, that wound was never healed.

Nandun ako sa garden area sa labas ng mall. I put my hand on one of the benches for support as my knees quiverred.

I hopelessly sat down on the bench.

I stopped crying already pero sumisinghot singhot pa rin ako.

God knows how much I wanted to get rid of this fear pero walang nangyayari. I even went to PAA but that too didn't help. Siguro hanggang dito lang talaga ako.

I felt someone's presence behind me. Nilingon ko yun at nakita ko si Cywen na matamang nakatitig sa'kin with a worried look in his face.

Sumunod pala siya sa'kin.

He took the space beside me.

He's just being silent, tila nakikiramdam kung kailan babasagin ang katahimikan.

Pasinghot singhot pa rin ako habang nakayuko at pinatid patid ang maliliit na bato gamit ang paa ko.

"Cywen"

"Katie"

Magkasabay naming wika.

Nagkatinginan kami but unlike before, we didn't smile.

"Ikaw na mauna" wika niya.

I nodded and let out a sigh. "Cywen, gusto kong magback-out sa performance" naiiyak kong wika sa kanya.

My heart is breaking right now. I feel like my dream has been slipping away right in front of me.

But I know, I can't do it anymore and I no longer want Cywen to be dragged into this mess.

He clenched his jaw and balled his fist.

Hindi niya ako sinagot.

Gusto kong maiyak ulit.

Perhaps, he realized that I am just a waste of his time.

Maiintindihan ko din naman siya.

"Cywen, I understand if you're mad at me right now for wasting your time and efforts. I really wanna do the performance...with you. But I just can't, I'm sorry." malungkot kong wika sa kanya.

He just look at me then stood up.

Gusto ko bumunghalit ng iyak.

Yun lang? Iiwan niya ako agad agad? Ni walang goodbye?

But to my utter shock, he held my hand and dragged me towards the parking lot. Binuksan niya ang passenger seat at sumakay ako agad doon.

Cywen looked so serious right now.

Pinaandar na niya yung kotse at hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta.

I didn't ask him where are we going....dahil gusto ko pa siyang makasama ng matagal for the last time.