You Were Never Mine

Prologue

(Year 2016)

"Love, may nakita akong hand written letter na naka-display sa museum nung nag-tour kami sa France. Napansin ko lang, kasi hindi ba France 'yon, but then, nakaka-amaze kung bakit may letter na tagalog there. May Iñigo doon sa mismong tula, kaya binasa ko siya. Kaso ang sakit nung tula. Grabe." Yvette smiled bittely as she talks about what happened to their France short-trip before their college graduation.

It's a gift for her.

TODAY is Yvette and Nate's graduation day. It is the happiest day for the both of them, because of course... THEY ARE FINALLY GRADUATING.

Sabay na silang bubuo ng pangarap nila na pinlano na nila sa loob ng apat na taong magkasama sila.

Yvette is smiling the whole time. Simula ng ceremony hanggang matapos ito, she was just smiling happily until...

"Yvette, Love, mahal kita nang sobra..." Iñigo stared intently at Yvette, so Yvette smiled sweetly at tumingkayad, so that she can kiss Iñigo's lips.

The kiss lasted for seconds, ngunit pinutol ito ni Iñigo at tumalikod kay Yvette na para bang pinagsisisihan niyang ginawa niya iyon. Agad na napa-isip si Yvette ng mga dahilan, pero pinigilan niya. She can't ruin her perfect day with the perfect man for her.

That was at least she believed in.

Yvette needs an answer from Iñigo kung bakit niya ginawa 'yon. It might sound nothing, but not for her. It's a big deal for Yvette to break the kiss and make her feel like she's the only one who wanted it. That's totally wrong for her. That's unfair.

"Love, what's wrong? Mabaho ba hininga ko? Are you tired? Gutom ka ba? We can eat somewhere siguro. I'll just tell mom that I won't be able to make it to our dinner. Hindi naman siguro siya magtataka, kasi alam nila aalis kayo ni Nanay Yolly, para mag celebrate. So what---"

"I'm sorry..." Iñigo said while staring at the floor.

"Love, If you are saying sorry, because of the situation na I'm gonna say no to our family dinner, then wala 'yon  sa akin..." Yvette is starting to worry about how Iñigo's behaving simula pa kagabi.

"I know. That's not it... I'm sorry, because—" Iñigo wasn't able to finish his sentence when Yvette talked back. Alam naman niya na hindi ang mga sinasabi niya ang dahilan, pero gusto niyang mapigilan si Iñigo sa mga sasabihin niya. Hindi niya kaya.

"You know? It's nothing. Maybe you're just tired, kaya you didn't want to kiss me---" umiling si Iñigo at tumitig sa mga mata ni Yvette.

Gustung gusto nang umiyak ni Yvette, ngunit pinipigilan niya. Ayaw niyang magmukhang kawawa sa harapan ni Ñigo. Hindi pwedex Hindi siya pwedeng magmukhang kawawa.

"I'm sorry. I-I can't do this set up anymore, Yvette." Malutong ang pagkasabi ng binata sa mga salitang 'yon, kaya parang isang bombang sumabog ito kay Yvette.

"Please don't joke around Iñigo. Gutom na ako..." Iñigo is crying and Yvette can't do anything, but to stare at him.

Nathan Iñigo Rios, the guy who never cries... cried.

She gets it. He's not joking about giving up with their set up.

Kanina niya pa alam na ganito ang kahahantungan ng lahat, pero hindi niya pinansin. Hindi dahil wala siyang alam, kung hindi ayaw niyang ma-absorb ng utak niya.