Destined (Montenegro Series #1)

26

Matapos umalis ni Salem ay pinapasok ako kaagad nila Mommy sa bahay. I've been crying a lot and it is not healthy anymore. They tried to calm me down kaso the scene from last night keeps replaying in my mind.

"Kulang pa ang ginawa ko sa kanya, Dad. I maybe lalambot lambot but when it comes to Kiana baka mapatay ko ang lalaking yun." Kuya reason out after he was scolded by Dad.

"Still, son. Damages are being done sana hindi na lang natin pinalaki." Dad calmly said and Kuya just sighed.

"Are you feeling better?" he asks me and I didn't answer. Ano bang isasagot ko? Na okay ako? Eh hindi nga. I am far from being okay. I think I will never be okay. Minsan na nga lang umibig olats pa.

"Susundin ko lang ang mag-ina ko sa bahay then we will be here. Kiana knows about the situation and she is on board na mag-stay dito for the mean time." Kuya said habang kinukuha ang car keys niya.

"Be careful, Paolo." Mom reminded him and he nodded before going out of our house. "Iha, why don't you go up to your room at magpahinga? Everything is in chaos right now pero I know na mafifix niyo ang nangyari. Salem is a great man. He seems to be so in love with you because he tale risks into coming here."

"Kung mahal niya ako..." she shushed me.

"Don't jump into conclusion, anak. Hindi kita pinalaking ganyan. I know you are shocked. You are not thinking right when you decided last night pero simula ng ikasal kayo ni Salem. I know that he is a good man at hindi niya magagawa sayo yun. This is what you're going to do. You heal first, before healing what was needed to be healed. Therefore, no latter damages can be done. Okay?" she advises and I hugged her. Mom says the right words at the right time. I can always count on her.

I know deep inside me naniniwala na hindi magagawa ni Salem yun. Kung kay Salem man yung batang dinadala ni Imee, I can accept that. I will be glad kung magdidivorce kami para lang magkaroon ng maayos na pamilya ang bata. Alam kong all things will be settled soon and all my doubts will be cleared but right now, like my mom said, I need to heal.

Kinabukasan, kuya drop me off before going to our company. Nakita ko na ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Irish. Tinawagan ko siya kahapon para ipaalam ang nangyari. Gusto niyang sugurin si Imee at si Salem pero I stop her. Ayoko ng dumagdag pa siya.

"I will be fetching you mamaya. Maghintay ka sa tapat ng building niyo. On time ako palagi alam mo yan." Kuya reminded and I nodded. I kissed him goodbye at bumaba na.

Nang makaalis na si Kuya ay sinalubong ako ng yakap ni Irish at niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. Her hugs are the best.

"I needed that hug." I whispered and she hummed in response.

"I needed this hug too." she whispered back. Kumalas na ako sa yakapan namin at nakita kong malungkot din ang itsura niya.

"May nangyari din ba?" I asks and she shook her head.

"Something is off lang. Between Kian and I. I mean, lagi namang off kapag kaming dalawa." she smiled and I nodded. "Ikaw? Okay ka lang ba? No, scratch that. Okay ka na ba?"

"I need time to heal, Irish. Hindi naman basta basta yung nangyari. Basta ang goal ko ngayon ay ayusin yung sarili ko then maybe I'll find a time where I have enough courage to face Salem again. To rekindle what we have or something. After all, mahal ko parin naman siya and he is still my husband." sabi ko and she nodded.

"Pasok na tayo." she said and I nodded. Buong araw wala akong ibang inisip kundi ang pag-aaral ko. I distracted myself into focusing in my studies rather than the problem that I have. Sabay kaming bumaba ni Irish ng mag-lunch. A lot of my schoolmate is looking at something sa baba. Syempre, dahil dakilang tsismosa kami ni Irish ay nagmadali kaming bumaba. Only to find Salem holding a bouquet of red roses.