Battle for Love

Chapter fourty

Ian's POV

We're currently having lunch at kasama ko si Lauren. I'm really thankful at ang pamilya nila ang nakakita saken nung mga panahong bumagsak ang eroplanong sinasakyan namen. I also found out that Lauren's parents are also on that plane but unfortunately they didn't survive. We're still lucky, kami ni Kath dahil nagawa naming makaligtas sa kamatayan. Nung mga oras din kasing 'yun ay kami ang unang nabigyan ng mga safety suits kaya buhay pa kami. Yung mga ibang pasahero kase ay di na nabigyan ng mga ganun kaya di na rin sila nakaligtas.

"What were you thinking? Mukhang ang lalim ah." Lauren kidded and I just chuckled. Hanggang ngayon ay di pa rin ako sinasagot ng matino ni Lauren kung bakit sinabi niyang girlfriend ko siya. Sa tuwing tinatanong ko siya she will just answered me that we're both compensated on this act.

Sumasang-ayon nalang ako sa ginagawa naming pagpapanggap para na rin kay Ara. I so love her that I don't want her to feel guilty just because she chose to be happy. If she's happy with Min, I will also be happy for her. Kahit mas masaya sana kung ako ang magiging dahilan ng mga ngiti niya. F*ck. I'm overthinking again.

"Babalik ka na ba talaga sa pamilya mo ngayon? Sayang naman, mag-isa na ulit ako." she asked and I chuckled. Naisip ko kasing magpakita na kina Mom ngayon. Na-miss ko na rin sila and I badly wants to be with them. Gusto ko ng balikan ang dati kong buhay dito sa Pilipinas. But I think, I have to do that without Ara on my side. Kailangan ko na rin sigurong sanayin ang sarili ko na wala siya. She's not for me, I guess.

"Dadalawin kita, wag kang mag-alala." I said and she just smiled. Ang alam ko may Lolo naman siya kaya hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit mas gusto niyang mag-isa sa dati nilang bahay.

"Ma'am Lauren, may gusto daw pong kumausap sa inyo." Manang Nora said as she approached us. Nakita ko namang kumunot ng bahagya ang noo ni Lauren which just means she's not expecting someone to visit her.

"Sino daw po?" she queried.

"Kath daw po ang pangalan."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Lauren and she eyed me as if asking if I know the reason why Kath is here. I just shrug. Hindi ko alam at hindi ko naman bahay 'to kaya imposibleng ako ang ipinunta niya dito. Shit! Don't tell me balak na naman nyang awayin si Lauren? Lauren doesn't deserve to be blamed. Wala naman kasi talaga siyang kasalan. At Kahit kasi hindi niya sabihin ay alam kong may mabigat din siyang pinagdadaanan at dumaragdag pa kami dun. She's still young and yet she managed to be strong.

"Let her in, Manang." Lauren said at nagmadali namang lumabas si Manang Nora para papasukin si Kath.

After a minute, I saw Kath walking towards us and her brows automatically furrowed as soon as she saw me.

"What are you doing here, Kath?" I asked and she rolled eyes.

"That's so rude of you, Ian. Di niyo man lang ba ako papaupuin?" she asked and Lauren offer the chair infront of us. "Okay. I came here to talk to you, Lauren. But since Ian is also here, I'm gonna talk to him first."

"Okay. Labas muna ako." Lauren said at akmang tatayo na siya ng pigilan naman siya ni Kath.

"No, Lauren. Maupo ka dyan." she commanded and Lauren don't have a choice but to go back to her seat. Nararamdaman kong medyo takot si Lauren kay Kath. Dahil na rin siguro 'yun sa panga'away ni Kath sakanya nung nagkita-kita kami sa Korea.

I looked at Kath who's currently looking at me straightly. "I'll get straight to the point Ian. Tutal nandito ka nalang din naman ay sasabihin kuna ang gusto kong sabihin mula pa nung nasa Korea tayo." she said and sighed first. "Itigil niyo na ang pagpapanggap niyo. Stop this crap you've started. Utang na loob naman Ian, wag mong sayangin ang ginawa kong pagsasakripisyo ng mahigit isang taon para lang patunayan sa mama mo na mahal ka ni Ara at di ka niya niloloko."