I fell in love

Chapter 8

"Really?" Tanong ni Luke sa akin. Bakas pa ang pagkagulat sa kaniyang mukha.

Pinag usapan namin ang possible niyang pag alis ng bansa.

Luke was right. It felt like it was just yesterday when I was crying, begging him to stay, not ready to let him go.

But now, something in me had shifted.

I wasn’t holding on the same way anymore.

This time, I said yes to him leaving. And it came from a place of peace.

And I am fully aware on how wrong it is. But I am looking forward to see him go.

Nag usap kaming dalawa, he wants me to be aware that he will try his best to be faithful and not hurt me intentionally.

Noon, halos mag makaawa ako sa kanya na wag niya akong iwan. Kahit hindi pa naman kami umaabot sa isang taon noon.

"Halos iyakan mo nga ako noon, Love. How can you say that it's fine now?" Muli niyang tanong sa akin nang hindi ako sumagot sa kaniya.

I didn’t want to admit it at first, not even to myself.

But the truth crept in slowly, quietly, until I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I felt free when Luke wasn’t around.

Like something heavy had been lifted off my chest. Like I could breathe deeper.

He never said it outright, but being with him always came with this invisible leash, something that kept me in place, kept me small, kept me careful.

I tried not to think about Althea as I processed it all.

I told myself this wasn't about her. This wasn’t about what could happen between us in the quiet.

This was about me. My freedom. My time. My life without someone measuring my every step.

I pushed the thought of her out as gently as I could. I folded her into the corners of my mind, promising myself I’d figure that part out later.

For now, all I could focus on was this unfamiliar but welcome taste of having myself back.

Luke would be gone. And maybe, for once, I would learn who I really was without him.

Kanina pa ako hindi makalabas dito sa office ko. Puro lang ako pag sulyap sa mga papeles sa lamesa ko pero wala naman akong ginagalaw. Pinaglalaruan ko lang yung ballpen sa kamay ko.

"Bukas yan." Sagot ko sa kung sinumang nasa pinto.

"Hey." Si Jane.

"May lakad ka?" Napansin ko kasi yung suot niya.

She's wearing a black fitted dress na hanggang kalahati lang ng hita niya ang haba. Naka stilettos din siya na kulay pula.

"Yup. I have a date." She leaned in to give me a kiss on my cheek.

"Umuwi ka na. You look tired. Mag a-alas siyete na, Mariz, wala ka pa yatang kain." She was right when she said that.

Kanina pa ako walang kain. Hindi rin naman ako nakakadama ng gutom.

"I'm fine. Tatapusin ko lang itong huling babasahin ko. Gusto kasi ni mommy mag tayo ng bagong branch sa Quezon. Pag aaralan ko muna yung location."

"No. Uuwi ka na. Ihahatid kita. Ako na ang bahala diyan bukas. Wag mo masyadong pinapagod ang katawan mo." Pag tutol niya.

Madalas sa mga normal na araw, ako ang nasusunod sa aming dalawa. Pero sa ganitong bagay, hindi siya nagpapatalo.

"Alright. Hintayin mo ako sa labas. Mag aayos lang ako." Tumayo na ako bitbit yung handbag ko sa restroom.