The Last Petal-COMPLETED (UNEDITED)

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

Grave

Nagusot ang ilong ko nang marinig ang tanong ni Race. Like seriously? Inaanyayahan niya akong kumain not thinking that his girlfriend was on his office, naghihintay na matapos siya.

I twisted my lips in the image I remember earlier.

“Uh... I have someone to eat with for lunch, Mr. Merande,” I use my formal tone, na ikina-ingos din nito. I look at my wristwatch bago nag-angat ulit ng tingin kay Race na matamang nakatitig lang sa akin.

“Anyway, I have to go, I don't want him to wait for long," tinanguhan ko pa ito bago dahan-dahang naglakad palabas ng pintuan. I glance at his direction bago tuluyang lumabas.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako nang tuluyan ng makalabas. Hindi ko alam na pinipigilan ko na pala ang paghinga ko kanina. I just feel it nang wala na sa harapan ko si Race. He is damn a breath stealer!

I went to my car which was parked beside the Mercedes-Benz G-class. I linger my vision to the whole parking lot and realized that I park my car in a private area, which is, itong Mercedes lang ang nakapark. Looks like this is a car of a VVIP huh.

Napaigtad ako dahil sa biglaang pagtunog nito. Masama na ang  tingin ko ngayon sa sasakyan, thinking that there must be someone inside, at naaliw ako nitong pagmasdan na namamangha sa mamahaling sasakyan nito!

But I was wrong. There is the owner, standing meter away from me, inserting his one left hand in his pocket, and the other one is holding the car's key. I feel so embarrass as Race scan my whole. With an irritating mode, I walk fast and go to my car, and open it immediately.

Gigil kong pinaandar ang sasakyan palayo dahil sa pagkapahiya. I can see my irritate reflection in the rear mirror, but disappear at the moment I remember how I plead to him before. Funny how we became like this, almost turn to strangers were we really are close to each other.

Remembering those memories prick my heart to the core. Kahit ilang beses ko pang paalalahanan ang sarili ko na hindi na kami babalik sa dating kami, but there's always part of me, hoping that somehow, we will.

I park my car near Cleo's grave. The gloomy day gives a pang of pain in me.

“How I wish you're still here with me,” I utter as I sat down to the Bermuda grass and place the fresh flower I bought on the top of Cleo's lapida.

Sweet memories cross on my mind as I stare the light of a candle that swaying because of the blowing wind.

“I'm sorry,” I whisper, tears formed in the corner of my eyes. Yon pa lang ang sinabi ko ay naiiyak na ako. Nasasaktan na ako ng todo.

“Y-You know that.... I love you, right?” patuloy kong pagka-usap sa puntod ni Cleo. Nagsimula na ring manginig ang labi ko at sumakit ang lalamunan ko dahil sa pagpipigil na umiyak.

“I-I'm sorry... I feel like... I'm cheating on you, hon... I don't know how to explain this to you...” I thrilled off, feeling so shy for whatever I have in mind. Ilang sandali pa akong napatulala at nakatitig sa lapida ni Cleo. Iniisip ko nang mabuti kong sasabihin ko ba ang nasa isip ko o hindi. Pero sa huli ay sinabi ko rin.

“I... still have a feelings for him...” tuluyan na akong napa-iyak dahil sa pag-amin ko, even though I know he has a girlfriend.

“I'm scared... I-I don't wanna replace you in my heart... Please, Hon,” I mumbled.

Ilang minuto akong nanatiling nakayuko, hinahayaan ang sariling umiyak. Dati pa man ay alam ko nang hindi ako magugustuhan ni Race. He loves my cousin before... and I don't know what happened between them at bakit wala na ang dalawa.

Isang malungkot na ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ko nang dumapo ang paningin ko sa bulaklak na dala ko kanina. The petals. I sigh and brush my hands to another. How I crazily believed in plucking the petals before.

I look once more to Cleo's grave before I blew a loud breath and stand.

“I will visit you again, Hon... I love you,” I whisper and start to walk away.

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𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒀𝒐𝒐𝒐🍀