He Hates Me

Epilogue

(Vance's POV)

Love is a feeling everyone should avoid. It's like a poison that spreads on a person's system and causes that person to live with pain forever.

Bata pa lang ako, iyan na ang nakatatak sa isipan ko.

"Victorio, hindi! Wag mo kaming iwan! Hindi! Hindi.. "

I saw my mother agonizing for a lost love in my own eyes. Dahan-dahan kong inayos ang mga unan na inihagis ni Mama at itinabi ang mga bote ng alak.

"Masaya ka sakin, diba? Naalala mo ba ang sabi mo sakin na kahit anong mangyari, ako ang pipiliin mo dahil ako lamang ang pangarap at kasiyahan mo. P-Pero bakit ngayon.. "

Empty words. Broken promises. Change of feelings. One heart in pain. Because the other left.

"Ma.. tigil na please. Iniwan ka na niya. At hindi na siya babalik pa." Sabi ko sakanya at yinakap siya.

She cried in my shoulders. Gusto kong itatak sa isip niya ang katotohanan. Masakit man pero iyan ang totoo. Iniwan na siya ng lalakeng minsang nangako sa kanyang sasamahan siya habambuhay.

"Anak.. ang sakit magmahal. Ayokong maramdaman mo ang sakit na ito."

I gave her an assuring smile.

"Wag kang mag-alala, Ma. Hindi ako magmamahal."

I won't let someone gave the opportunity to break me into pieces. To turn me into a wreck. Like what my father did to my mother.

I was only seven years old when my Papa left us. My mother and my father once had a strong love. Magkasintahan pa lang sila ay tutol na ang parents ni Papa sa pag-iibigan nila ni Mama. My mother was just an average girl but father came from a rich family. But it didn't stop the love they both have. Pinili ni Papa si Mama at nagsama sila nang walang kakilala nila ang nakakaalam kung nasaan sila. Hindi sila nagpakasal pero nagbunga ang pag-iibigan nila. And that is me. At first, they live a happy life kasama ako. Pero kalaunan, nagkalabuan na. And the worst thing happened. Natunton sila ng pamilya ni Papa. Until.. bumalik nga si Papa sakanila para pamahalaan ang kompanya nila at iniwan niya kami. At hindi na siya kailanman nagpakita. And every single day, my mom was grieving. Hanggang naging twelve years old nalang ako, hindi parin siya tumitigil sa pag-iyak hanggang ngayon. It's been five years but her pain was still excruciating. So I cursed to the world that I'll never love someone.

At least that's what I know.

It was my first year of junior high school when I saw her.

"Bitch! Ilang days lang kayo? I can't believe this is your first time."

Nakaupo ako sa isang upuan nang may apat na babae ang pumasok sa classroom. Isang tingin mo pa lang sakanila, malalaman mo nang mga mayayaman.

"And the last. Pero walang kami, bitch." Sagot ng isa kaya nagtawanan sila.

I looked at the girl. She flipped her hair and put on a sarcastic smile. At hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko matanggal ang titig sakanya.

"Oh. I know that. Okay, so ilang days mo lang siya naging fling, perhaps?"

"Four days? At least naging sweet ako for four days sakanya. I'm not a sweet girl, we all know that. But I can't deny that those sweet lies ay parang totoo talaga."

Napailing nalang ako. Playgirl.

Umupo silang apat sa seat na nasa harap ko. The girl who had a fling for four days roamed her eyes around the room. And when her eyes reached me, I can't help but to stare at her, too. Her stare is very hypnotizing. There is something at the way she stares. Like there's a mystery behind those eyes. Umiwas siya ng tingin. Tumikhim nalang din ako and stared at her back. Hindi na siya lumingon for the whole day. Well, that's better.