THE LAW OF LOVING YOU °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

30. Lies

Serenity

"Ang daming pagkakataong pwede mong sabihin sa'kin ang totoo. But you chose to lie. When you left and I found out about it, I lost all the reason to find you. Why?" He smirks bitterly. "You're a stranger."

"Five."

Bumangon si Five at naglakad papunta sa balcony na konektado sa room namin. Sumunod agad ako sa kanya.

"I have so much plans for us back then, Serene. I want to formally meet your family because it's the right thing to do. Gusto kong pormal na ligawan ka. I want to be the man you deserve."

"Look Five, it doesn't matter anymore now. You are going to be married—"

"And I'm still broken." He cuts me off. "I loved you. I know I am hard to handle and I am sorry. I was jealous because why not? You are young and beautiful and I am just..." He sighs, not finishing his statement. "I loved you, Serenity. But you broke me. Part of me has gone with you when you left me."

"I'm sorry." Hindi siya kumibo. Nakatingin siya sa malayo. Hindi man hilam sa luha ang mga mata niya, naroon naman ang galit at lungkot... no, sakit at lungkot. "Mama Selena is the realest family I have, Five." I try to explain. Tears spurt out of my eyes as I remember how much that woman loved me with all my life. "And I don't want anyone to take that away from me. I don't want to be alone, Five. Si mama Selena at ang alaala niya, iyon nalang ang kasama ko upang huwag maramdamang mag-isa. Ayokong pati 'yon ay hindi na maging totoo."

"You still lied." Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon saka nagpunas ng pisnging basa ng luha. "Serene, you were not alone. I was there." His voice cracks when he utters the last statement. It's fcking breaking my heart. "And I would have still been here if you did not leave."

Siguro nauwi na sa kung saan ang usapan na 'yon. Mabuti nalang ay may tumawag sa kanya. Pumasok siya ulit sa kwarto at doon sinagot ang tawag. Hinayaan ko na muna siyang sagutin 'yon... Sigurado akong si Lyra ang kausap niya.

There, Siri. He is right. You were not alone. You were never alone three years ago. Seb was there. Your friends were there. Five was there with you...for you. Isn't it funny? Serenity, you hate all the lies you grew up with but you were actually made up of nothing else but lies. That explains it. That is exactly why you hate living your life and being yourself. You are a lie, Siri.

"Why are you up so early?" Five asks when he finds me at the hotel lobby gazing at the decorated paintings.

"Are you ready to go?" I ask instead, sounding as cheerful as I can muster. "Tara na para makabalik na tayo agad ng Maynila."

Hindi siya sumagot kaya nagpatiuna na akong maglakad papunta sa nakaparadang kotse. Hindi niya nga muna binuksan 'yon eh, nakipagtitigan lang siya sa'kin. Umiwas akonng tingin dahil una, kahinaan ko ang titig niya at pangalawa, naiiyak ako. Binabalot na naman ng kakaibang lungkot ang puso ko.

"I'm sorry." Sambit niyang nagpalingon sa'kin sa kanya. Ngumiti siya, dahilan upang makagat ko ang labi ko para huwag maiyak. Patakbong lumapit si Five sa'kin at niyakap ako. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong humagulhol. This is what I want to do last night—cry everything out. Yumakap ako ng mahigpit sa kanya habang pinapakawalan lahat ng luhang gustong makawala sa mga mata ko.

"Serenity. It still breaks my heart when you cry."

***

Isang resthouse ang pinuntahan namin ni Five. Doon nga namin nakilala si Stephanie, ang anak ng judge na pumirma sa marriage contract namin ni Five. Ang sabi ng babae, uuwi sa susunod na araw ang daddy niya. She asks us to stay while waiting but Five and I refuse the good offer. Pabalik na kami ng city non ni Five nang may madaanan kaming signage papunta sa isang resort.