✔ The Casanova's Angel (Filipino Novel)

Kabanata 47

Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kelan pwede madurog ang puso. How much heart break can one person get before she gives up, before I give up? I think about everything I've been through. From getting my heart broken by my fiancé to getting up from a fall and then when I thought life is better, it lets me down again. Admittedly, It has been a tough tough year for me. I looked back to who I was before, the Angel who gave up easily. The Angel who didn't know what life has to offer after she lost the love of her life. The Angel who gave up on life.

And then I looked at who I am now. The Angel who has found her happiness again. The Angel who fights for who she is, for what she stands for. The Angel who will never give up. While looking at the white walls of the corridor, I finally found my peace. Hindi ko ineexpect na makakuha ng clarity in a place that is so traumatic for me. I lost my mom in the same place. I almost lost myself in the same place. And finally, I lost Nickko in the same place. But I know, I somehow know na I will fight for him. As long as I can. As long as Nickko accepts me to.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts and went back to the room. To his room. Pag pasok ko ay tumingin silang lahat saakin. And as usual, Amira and my aunt looked like they ate something sour. Funny how my presence affects them so much. I smiled at my friends - Trev, Chris and David. They welcomed me warmly just like before. And I knew, even if I lost so much, I gained a lot as well. For that, my heart burst in happiness.

I finally looked at Nickko. Amira was holding his hand. For what I have gathered, ang naalala ni Nic ngayon ay fiancé niya si Amira. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit sila naghiwalay nuon pero hindi na mahalaga ngayon yun. I don't know much about the details of his amnesia pero I'm certain of one thing. Even if the mind forgets, the heart remembers. And that's where I will be, in his heart. So I smiled at him.

"Nic. Ano nararamdaman mo?"

He looked at me with his eyebrows furrowing again. "Umm.."

"He's okay." Amira answered while holding his hand tighter. Tumingin siya saakin, "Let's talk outside, please." Tumingin siya pabalik kay Nickko at ngumiti sabay tumayo at sinenyasan niya ako para lumabas kasama siya.

"Wai.." Ang tutol ni David but I stopped him.

"It's okay. Sooner or later, we really need to talk." Tumingin ako kay Nic for the last time and smiled at him before going out to face my cousin.

She was waiting outside, nakasandal in finesse. Hindi ko alam kung pano niya nagagawa yun pero mayroon talaga siyang aura na parang nagiging sosyal ang lugar kapag andun siya, like everything she touches turns to gold. Maybe it's the way she moves, but whatever it is, I know why Nic fell for her at some point.

Tumingin siya saakin, eyeing me, and said, "Let's talk over coffee." She then started walking and so I followed.

We went quietly with both of us looking at the ground. Alam ko na pareho kami nagiisip kung ano ang mangyayari. I know for a fact that we are both fighting for the man we love and that's why even though my mind tells me to hate her, I just don't kasi alam ko rin naman na we all do stupid things when we're in love.

After going in the coffee shop, we ordered our drinks and sat quietly for a while. Pareho kami nakatingin sa mga kape namin as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I will tell him the truth." She started.

And I was shocked.

I looked at her with my eyes wide as saucers.

She smiled at me and said, "Alam ko galit ka sakin with how I'm behaving ever since I met you. It's just, I didn't know how to react." She pursed her lips and took a sip of the hot coffee. "Nic and I were arranged. It was for business and just like a drama series, I fell in love. But it was one sided. Nickko had someone he loved, I know that for a fact. But you see, Nic has been and always be someone of his word. If he promised one thing, he will do it. And so he didn't backed down. I was the one who broke it off. But you see, it was something I regretted in my life. Not giving Nic the time to adjust and fall in love on his own. I rushed, rushed things because of my love for him. I know it might be too late because you're with him but I feel like I was given a second chance to be with him. And so, even though I would tell him the truth, I will also fight for him. And I asked you to talk with me because I want you to know that I will fight for his love because I love him and also because I'm so sorry."

I looked at her dumbfounded and speechless. Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako or maappreciate ko ang pagiging honest niya saakin. For the first time, I see her in a different light. She's just like me. In love with the man who deserved it and so I smiled. "I understand. I feel the same way as you do. Hindi ko alam pero wala akong nararamdaman na galit sayo. I should be, I know that. But for the life of me, I don't know why I don't. I just know one thing, I would fight for him as well. It's because I love him as much as you do."