BORROWED TIME

30

"What's this?!" I said as I hastily showed her an article in the internet about her and another guy.

"Bea, wala yan, okay?!" she couldn't make any eye contact with me.

"Wala?! What the heck, Kianna! You and that Espejo, holding each other's hands publicly and you're telling me that it was nothing?!" I fumed with anger.

"Bea--"

"A lot of people know that we are in a relationship. But why do they keep on shipping you with that guy?!"

She breathed heavily before she spoke.

"Do you know why I'm with that guy?!"

I waited for her to continue her statement.

"Because my family wants him for me, okay?!"

I froze for a while when I heard what she said.

"A-ano? Bu--"

"Yes, Bea. They wanted Marck for me."

"But Kianna we are in a relationship. And tito Earl and tita Bhaby know it."

"Yes! They know it! But it doesn't mean they fully agree with it! They want me to marry him, Bea."

"Ano bang... But your whole family knows me and they treat me well. They even welcomed me in your family the first time you introduced me to them."

"Well, siguro nung una, oo. They like you Bea. Every one in my family likes you. But they just like you, as YOU." I was confused on her last line.

"But they don't like you for me."

And my whole world fully stopped.

"W-wha-t?..." I felt my knees weakened.

"Bea, they treat you well, they treat you right. But did you ever thought what they were saying about you when you're not around? Bea, they don't want me to be stucked in a relationship like this. With you. They are not homophobic. But they wanted me to have a family. And I won't have it, if I choose you." she looked away from me after saying those words.

"But you don't care about it, do you?" I asked her as I tried to prevent myself from crying.

She didn't answered my question.

"I-I'll fight for us, Kianns. As long as you'll fight for us too. You promised you won't leave me. And until now, I'm still holding unto it. We've been together for three years now. Ngayon mo pa ba iisipin ang sasabihing ng iba?" I wiped my tears though it keeps on flowing.

She too, started to cry.

"Whatever your family would say against me, you know I don't care about it. Because I only care about you, about us. It doesn't matter if they don't want me for you. As long as we'll fight for what we have, we can surpass this, right?"

She didn't even utter a word.

"Why aren't you answering me?! Kianna, you promised me that you won't leave me! Tuparin mo naman sana yon!" I shouted which made her startle.

"Kianna sumagot ka!" I said as I let my self fully cry because I am feeling something I am afraid to feel in this relationship.

"I'm... I'm so-sorry Bea..." she covered her mouth to lessen the sound of her cries but I still hear it.

"A-an-anong sorry? W-what d-do you mean?"

Oh, I know what she means. But I am just afraid to hear it directly from her.