For His Entertainment

Chapter Fifty-eight

Hi guys! I will be at the MIBF this September 15, 2019 2:30-4:00 pm at the Pop Fiction booth. Please bring your One Sinful Night books or buy at the booth! Excited to see you!

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"Don't you dare put this on me, Spencer! Ang kapal ng mukha mong sabihing ako ang may kasalanan nito!" Marahas kong pinunasan ang luha sa mga mata ko. Wala akong pakialam kung kalat kalat na lahat ng damit na iniimpake ko kanina. The same room we made love was now as messy as us. The same room where we would propose our love for each other was now nothing but tears and pain. "I wasn't the one who grew tired! Hindi ako iyong nagsawa! Hindi ako iyong nawalan ng oras! I wasn't the one who failed in being a partner!"

Tinulak-tulak ko siya. Gusto ko siyang masaktan. Gusto kong maramdaman niya ang sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon. I wanted him to know... to understand.

"Oh, really?" He scoffed, his eyes red from containing all the anger. Umigting ang panga niya but he can no longer threaten me. The pain is much greater than anything else right now - it was echoing from within.

Nagsimula muli akong pulutin lahat ng damit kong nakakalat, trying to put it inside the bag I've been holding. Hindi ko alam kung saan pa ako humuhugot ng lakas. I was drained, I was dehydrated, but my eyes kept on producing more tears. Pamaya-maya ay pinupunasan ko ang luha sa mga mata ko pero wala iyong naitutulong.

Natigilan ako nang may bigla siyang tinapon sa mga damit na inaayos ko. I clenched my jaw in frustration... in pain. It was the same diamond ring he used to propose to me inside this very room... at this very spot. It glimmered the same way it did that night, but tonight it wasn't magical... it was different. Natulala ako roon, katulad ng pagkakatulala ko noong unang beses ko iyong nakita.

"You were the one who grew tired of me, Aleandra Margarette," punong puno ng sama ng loob ang kan'yang boses. "The moment you said no, you know you ended us, too."

Kasabay non ay ang malalakas na yabag palabas at malakas na bagsak ng pinto.

He was gone... again. And that night, he didn't come back.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko habang mahigpit ang pagkakakapit ko sa mikropono na hawak ko. I was holding onto it for dear life. Kahit anong buntong hininga ko, napakabigat ng dibdib ko dahil sa halu-halong emosyong bitbit nito. They were all weighing me down and I was starting to feel nauseated. Parang sasabog sa dami ng gustong sabihin... sa dami ng gustong isigaw.

Rachelle, the host of the show looked at me and tried to give me a comforting smile, but it was a failed attempt. I was nervous even more.

"It's gonna be okay, Ally," she said, compassion and empathy evident on her voice. I knew she could be acting; she doesn't really feel that way. I know, because I am contending with everyone here. Nobody has ever heard my story. All they know is I'm a cheating bitch who decided to file a case against an injured man while he's still lying on his hospital bed.

Wala akong awa. Iyan ang sinasabi nila tungkol sa 'kin.

And yet, I had to extend the same courtesy towards her. "Thanks," I replied.

"We're live in 30 seconds," somebody announced and the countdown began. The make-up artists scurried away from the mini-stage. I shut my eyes tight to remember all the things I rehearsed. This is the time to speak up. I've been silenced for years, living inside the make-believe fear they brought into me. No more acting - just the genuine truth.

When they called that we were live, I opened my eyes only to see Rachelle's charming game face directed at the camera. There were no audience in our interview - thank God - but the moment the thought that I was being watched on national TV, not as the Ally the media has wanted me to be, but the real Aleandra - it gave a stale taste on my mouth.