When Heartbeat Stops [COMPLETED]

Chapter 25

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"Did you wait for me so long?", I asked her before sitting down infront of them. I glanced at the kid and saw familiar traits...from my father.

"Hindi naman", she replied. "Pasensiya ka na, mukhang naistorbo pa kita", she apologized. "Behave ka lang Palm", she said to her child.

"Anak niyo ni papa?", I directly asked. The kid looked at me and smiled brightly.

Yumuko si Percy. "Si Palm, anak namin...ng papa mo", she replied. Napapikit ako, nagsisimula na naman ang pagsikip ng dibdib ko.

Hanggang kailan ako masasaktan?

"Bakit mo 'ko gusto makausap?", I asked.

"Gusto ko humingi ng tawad dahil nasira ko ang pamilya niyo", she answered.

"Sana humingi ka rin ng tawad sa nanay ko", I fired. I need to calm my system down. I don't want to be harsh. I should respect her.

"Pasensya na talaga", she said.

I pursed my lips. "Huwag mo paiiyakin si papa...", I told her. Please don't cry, Anasthasia. "...dahil pinili ka niya kesa sa amin na nauna".

I heard her sobs. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko nang makita ko na naiiyak rin ang anak niya dahil nakikita nito na humihikbi ang nanay niya.

"I'm very sorry", she said.

I stood up. "Ibigay mo sana ang mga bagay na hindi namin naibigay sa kaniya", I requested and leave.

The rain started pouring. Great, I don't have an umbrella at malayo pa ang sakayan. I want to go home. I felt exhausted at dumadagdag ang ulan sa kalungkutan na nararamdaman ko. Usually, rain calms my system but not today.

Naramdaman ko na may tumabi sa akin. I continue wiping my blouse dahil basa ng ulan. Aish, wrong-timing ng ulan. Napatingin ako sa taas dahil hindi na ako nababasa at nakita ko ang payong na pumipigil para mabasa ako.

I looked at someone beside me. Its Francine. She smiled a little at me. "Let's go?", she asked. We walked side by side dahil nakikisilong lang naman ako. "Let's have a drink", she told me at hinila ako sa isang restaurant.

"I don't drink", I said when she handed me a glass of alcohol. She was amazed. "What?", I asked.

"Seryoso? Hindi ka umiinom ng alak?", she asked. I nodded as response. "Buti natagalan ka ni Erri..."

I raised a brow. "Excuse me?".

"Sige, daan ka na", she joked. Ugh! Pilosopo.

"Kamag-anak mo si Aristotle?", I asked her.

Her forehead creased then drank her drink. "Hindi. Bakit?".

"Philosopher ka kasi", I answered.

She frowned. "Nag-joke ka?", she teased. I rolled my eyes and heard she chuckled. "Mahilig kasi uminom si Dionne tsaka yung mga ex niya mahilig uminom kaya medyo nagulat lang ako na hindi ka umiinom", she said.

"Bakit mo ba 'ko hinila rito?", I asked. I badly want to go home.

"Gusto ko lang kausapin ka", she answered in a serious tone. "Mahal na mahal ka talaga ng bestfriend ko", she said. "Tingnan mo, ilang taon kami magkasama, ilang taon akong nasa tabi niya tapos ang ending mapupunta siya sa iba", she added.