SEDUCING THE THORN °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

CHAPTER 32

Umuwi ako isang gabi na sinalubong ng mga nag-aalalang mga mukha nina mommy't daddy at ng mga kapatid ko. While listening to them, I've come to conclude that it's Gabriella that they're talking about. Napakuyom ako ng palad sa sobrang galit nang malaman ang buong kwento. No one deserves what happened to Gab. Nasa'n si kuya Uno nang mangyari 'yon?

Being the eldest among his other siblings, Uno openly confessed to me what really has happened. I've seen how much it devastated him. Tuwing umaga, parang ibang Uno ang nakikita namin sa bahay, probably the worse version of him. Kung tahimik siya no'n, mas tahimik siya ngayon. And eventually, after a few more months, he decided to pull out his share in the company and ventured on his own. Our parents, of course, were against it. Pero wala silang nagawa. Matalino si Uno. Hindi siya nagpapasindak sa kahit na sino. Kahit wala na siya sa bahay at madalang lang siyang umuwi, we secretly kept track of his whereabouts, of his life in general.

It took me a week to believe that he's changed himself differently after I've known that he's now into racing and some other dangerous stuff that he really is not into. Ako ang sakit sa ulo sa'ming magkapatid, siguro kami ni Six pero hindi si Uno. But...he is now. Iniisip ko nga parang gusto na niyang magpakamatay e. It's more like he's punishing himself for hurting the only woman he loves his so much. Worst scenario so far was during his surfing injury. That's just recently. Ang laki ng sugat niya no'n. Nahimatay nga si mommy nang malaman niya ang nangyari kay kuya. The time after that incident, he met another woman with the same name as Gabriella. To sum it all up, everything has changed in his life in a span of almost ten years. That means yes, it's already a decade since I was that broke stupid guy who fell in love once. Ngayon, kaya ko ng banggitin o pag-usapan si Brook ng hindi nalulungkot. We don't know how she's doing even until now because aside from the fact that during the previous years, I mastered the art of not caring about her anymore, we really just got no chance. Hindi rin kasi nagkaroon ng second chance si Bea at si Logan. Hindi namin alam kung nasa'n si Brook. The last thing we knew was after three years, someone sent me anonymously a photo of Brook and Jared. On the background was the Eifel Tower of Paris. Do'n ko na talaga sinimulang kalimutan ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

I can still remember how much I hated her that day. She looked happy in the picture. While I was just there alone with a broken and an angry heart, under the sad moon and the lonely stars.

And guess what? Bea was married five years ago and Logan is a fucked up loser until now. Haha. Cut the loser, maybe just fucked up. Pumunta siya sa kasal ni Bea which was so brave of him. Pumunta siya kahit hindi naman invited. Pinanood niya ang babaeng mahal niya na ikasal sa iba. In Logan's words, Bea looked really happy that day while his heart was torn to pieces in an unbearable pain.

Unlike the person I was before who coped up brokenness by breaking other's hearts, I no longer find interest in women. Don't get me wrong, I still get attracted at them but for as long as it's mainly just attraction, I don't pursue them or even take them to bed. I'm proud to say that I am a better man now. I am always the better man. Haha. But there was one girl five years ago. Naipakilala ko siya sa mga magulang ko. I was close to falling in love with her but I was too afraid so I let her go. Her name was Shiela. Nakakatawa nga e, I still stalk her on social media. Knowing she's still single, I'm happy. And that is one of the many things that kept me contented today. Kapag talaga umuwi 'yon ng Pinas, papakasalan ko na agad 'yon.

"Dos, you've given me your words for so many times. Ano ba? Mag-a-anniversary nalang 'tong kompanya, hindi mo parin matutupad ang ipinangako mong dadalaw ka rito." Reklamo ni Logan sa tonong nagtatampo.

"You're not the only one who runs a company, moron. Uno is really not interested anymore with going back to the company kaya ako nalang ang inaasahan ni dad at tito Noah. I really can't make time for now."