I fell in love

Chapter 40

This is the last chapter. Thank you for joining the journey of Mariz and Althea's love story. I hope you'll support my next story after this. Epilogue will be posted soon.
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"We'll just talk to him. Kung hindi ka pa ready, walang problema." Althea looked at me with questions in her eyes. Parang may mga gusto pa siyang sabihin ngunit pinipili niya ang mga salita niya.

It's a gloomy afternoon when Althea received a message from Luke asking if it's possible to talk to the both of us.

Hindi sinabi kung ano ang pag uusapan at hindi nag banggit ng iba pang detalye. Si Althea ang pumili ng coffee shop na pag kikitaan naming tatlo.

"We... we never had the chance to talk things out, Althea. I don't know how to... uh, basta," I said as if it will change the fact that I cheated on Luke with his bestfriend.

"Pwede naman tayong tumanggi, just tell me if you're not yet ready." She kissed my hand as she said that.

I'm not going to lie about it, paminsan-minsan siyang pumapasok sa isip ko. 

I've been thinking about seeing Luke again. Really thinking about it. And the truth is, I'm ashamed.

I hurt him.

I cheated, and no matter how I try to justify what happened in my head, I know I broke something that can't be fixed.

That guilt doesn't just fade. It stays with me. It makes it hard to look at myself sometimes, let alone at our memories.

But now he's back from America, and he wants to meet. He asked if I could see him and his best friend, like it's just a simple catch-up.

 But we both know it's more than that.

This is a chance. A chance to finally say the things I should have said before. A chance to apologize with no excuses, no drama, just honesty. A chance to close this chapter for good.

I owe that to him. I owe that to Althea too. We all deserve to move forward without the ghost of our past. 

So even if I'm scared, even if I'm ashamed of the way things ended, I'm going. Because facing it, no matter how hard, is the right thing to do.

"We'll talk to him.." mahina kong sambit. Hindi naman mawawala ang problema kung iiwasan mo. Mas dadami lang dahil hinayaan mong hindi matapos.

Ilan pang pag buga ng malalalim na hinga, naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Althea.

It's been two years and it was a hell of a ride. Hindi naging ganon kadali. Althea shoots bigger projects now and she's happier than ever.

I met Althea's family last year when we went to United States for a magazine shoot. They were so nice and they treated me as their own family. Ganoon rin si Althea sa ilang pag balik namin sa mga magulang ko.

Agad na kumalabog ang tibok ng puso ko at alam kong hindi 'yon normal.

Luke went inside the coffee shop we're in. Ni hindi siya nagtagal sa pag hanap dahil nasa dulo kami ni Althea at wala gaanong tao. Lalo na sa pwesto namin.

He smiled at me when he met my gaze.

Tumayo ako at ganoon din si Althea. Nang mas lumapit si Luke, nag papanic na ang nerves ko. Bumeso siya sa aming dalawa at ngumiti. Althea and I sat and Luke did the same afterwards.

Good for 3 minutes na walang nagsalita. Nakahawak ang kamay ni Althea sa akin sa ilalim ng mesa.

"So," panimula ni Luke bago ngumiti. Its was a genuine smile. "How are you, two?" His voice was so light that it felt like I didn't do anything horrible from the past.