Behind Her Innocence (Hughes Series)

Chapter 33: Rekindled

Gwen's POV

"Ate? Napadalaw ka? Nag-away ba kayo ni Kuya Justine kaya ka nandito?"

Nagtataka lang kasi ako because she wouldn't come here often simula nung ikasal sila ni kuya. Unless pag may party o kung
may kailangan siya kay mommy at dad. She and Kuya Justine were busy building their marriage life.

"Grabe away agad? Hindi ba pwedeng na miss ko lang kayo?"

Napailing akong natawa. "Nahawaan kana ni kuya ng pagkapalabiro, ate."

Ate Genie sat next to me. Napatingin siya sa paligid bago nagtanong, "Nasaan si mommy?"

"She went out with dad."

Ate nodded. "Good."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Why would she like it if our parents were not here? Hindi naman ganyan si ate eh.

"Ano bang problema, ate?"

She looked at me like she was studying my face. She uttered words without breaking contact with my eyes. "Ikaw talaga ang pinunta ko dito."

"Me? Bakit?"

I didn't remember that I owed her something or kung may dapat ba kaming pinag-usapan.

"It's about Aaron." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I hadn't hear anything about that guy since that day we met in the plane and in the hotel. "We met yesterday."

So buhay parin pala siya. I thought he was going to take things seriously. I knew it na hindi niya kayang gawin yun. After all, he was a man who feared for his life.

"He said he loves you so much, kayo ni Rosetta. He asked for my help but I refused. I told him that I don't want to go against your will and especially dad's will. Ayoko maipit sa gitna. He said he understood my decision. But you know what? I could see that he was serious about it. He seemed so different from the last time I saw him at the party. Mas mature na siya ngayon at mas confident in a good way. I feel like he knows what he's doing now. He's a changed man, Gwen."

"A-Ano naman sakin, ate? Isa pa, I already knew that he changed. Nakikita ko sa TV at newspapers ang lahat ng mga achievements niya. Natauhan lang yun kaya naging ganito na siya. Good for him that he is successful now dahil may direksyon na din sa wakas ang buhay niya."

Ate sighed. "Ayoko makialam sainyo but think about this... He changed for both you and Rosetta. He wants both of you back. He even apologized to me kahit wala naman siyang kasalanan sa akin. He's putting his pride down. He is far from the Aaron that I used to know. Hindi ko nga makita ang sinasabi ni daddy na mayabang and so full of himself nung mag-usap kaming dalawa kahapon. There was no trace of immaturity."

Natahimik ako. I was glad to know that he changed. But sad to say, only feelings and people could change but not the memories. He left a big wound in my heart and I would always remember it. Halos lahat nalang ay nasubukan ko na para kalimutan iyon pero nanjan parin eh. Even Rosetta couldn't do anything for me to forget the wound. I hated myself for being like this. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang pwede kong gawin.

"Mahal mo pa ba siya?"

Yun ang tanong na nagpatigil sa akin. I averted my eyes away from my sister.

"Gwen, simple lang yung tanong ko."

Napatikhim ako. "Syempre hindi na, ate. Matagal na kaming naghiwalay kaya matagal ko narin siyang kinalimutan. Tanging si Rosetta nalang ang namamagitan samin."

Ate Genie laughed. "Bakit ang defensive mo? Ang dami mong sagot ah. Hindi kapa makatingin sa akin ng diretso. Alam ko naman na minsan ay iba ang sinasabi ng isip sa laman ng puso."