The Groom's One True Bride

Chapter 18

The stillness of the night was shattered by a loud screeching of the tires, and the neighbors' dogs barking.

Alyssa was already in bed, wasting the minutes, wasting the hours... Until she heard him call out her name.

"Alyssa! Alyssa!"

She closed her eyes.

She has given up the fight. She's tired. How stupid could she be in believing that he loved her? He likes them pretty! Flawless and fair-skinned.

And the worst part is, she has almost brought her own child to it's own doom. She couldn't forgive herself.

She couldn't forgive herself...

"Alyssa!"

She could hear her parents voices, reasoning out to Kiefer. That it's well into the night, that they all need rest and that they could always talk about it in the morning. But Kiefer doesn't seem to be easily persuaded this time.

"Alyssa!"

She just turned on her side. When before his voice could make her heart skip a beat, now, it does not evoke anything, except a dull lull.

"Alyssa! Makinig ka! I know you're still awake! Bukas pa ilaw mo! You never sleep with the lights on! "

She just hugged her pillow tight.

I miss you, Isaw.

"Alyssa!"

His voice is getting nearer. But she does not care.

"I'm sorry, okay? We don't deserve these... These heartaches, and all this shit. We've been stupid, and we're sorry... And I forgive you! And I forgive myself for being stupid! Idiotic and stupid!"

She closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

"Alyssa, I said I'm sorry! Magpakita ka naman! I just want to see you! I just want to see that you are okay now!"

She could hear her mother begging Kiefer to be a little more level-headed while her father is threatening him.

"Alyssa! Alyssa naman! I just want to be sure that you are okay! That you and Isaw are better here!"

She just turned on her other side, scratching her tummy gently. Humming herself to sleep.

"Alyssa! Alyssa please... Please don't let me say the words to you..."

She just kept on humming to herself.

"The last time I said I loved you was the time you left me. And... and I don't want that. I don't want to say the words... I'm afraid... Alam mo yun? Tangina..."

She could hear him sobbing.

"Alyssa..."

She just closed her eyes.

And for the first time in days, she could feel pain.

And she wept like she has never done before. She howled all her sorrows.

They all ran to her room. Her mom tried to comfort her, hugged her, tried to talk sense into her.

But the dam of her sorrows were broken, free to run and flow all over her senses.

And Kiefer was just at the door, watching her, while tears were also running down his face.

They are broken, yes.

Broken, but still hopeful.

He moved forward, and dropped to his knees. He reached for her face, and tried to wipe the tears. "I know... I know na nagkasakitan tayo... We never got to talk about all these...," his tears were running down, and he wiped them away with the back of his hand. "Hindi... Hindi ko na mababawi lahat ng ginawa ko... Lahat ng sinabi ko...," he whispered, "Pero takot ako... Takot ako na tomorrow, wala ka na naman. Takot ako... Na mag-isa ulit. Parang tanga."