Free From The Cage

Chapter 12

After 30 minutes of drive, we arrived at a restaurant near the beach. We went to the table that is reserved for us.

"In a few minutes, she'll be here, I'm excited for you to meet her, I'm sure you'll like her. " I smiled at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, don't worry about me. "

"Ice, what is it?" Why it's easy for him to read me, how I wish he could also notice the feelings I have for him.

"No need to worry, I just envy you, you can be with someone you love, unlike me, there's no chance for me to be together with someone I love, if there is."

"Ice, I'm sure, that guy will surely love you. You have a good heart. And I do hope, If time will come he learns to love you, you also love him the way he does."

"Yeah I hope so."

"Rav" I looked at the slim and beautiful girl that approached us. She has a natural curly hair that fits in to her heart shape face.

"You must be Amanda. Hi, I'm Ice." She looked shock upon looking at me.

"Oh my! I really wanted to meet you a long time ago. Rav tells me a lot of things about you."

"I hope he didn't talk bad things about me. "
Rav acts like he was hurt from my statement.

"No need to worry, he talks good things about you, and as I can see, you really are great." She smile sincerely. " And just call me Mandy. Who is friends with Rav is also my friends."

"Okay Mandy."

"Like I told you, you'll like her Ice." Pabulong na sabi ni Rav. I just nod at him and smile.

We started eating and most of time they include me in their conversation.

I actually wanted to go home already and cry but Mandy don't deserve that kind of treatment from me. She's a very charming girl and I can see how great she is.

Maybe, I'm in pain right now, but I'm genuinely happy for the both of them. I'm glad to see the man I love happy with another girl even if it's not me. From all the pain he got through by loving the wrong person before, he deserves the love and happiness he have right now. If loving means to let someone you love be happy, even if it's with another, then, I will let him be with her, and i will let him go.

After eating, we still continue with our conversation, and I think he will use the time to ask her to be his girlfriend. I don't want to see the next heartbreaking scene for me, so I will leave the remaining time for them.

"Uuwi kana Ice?"

"Yes, I want to give time for the both of you and my mom is still waiting for me because we need to talk about something important."

"Hatid na kita sa labas." Offer ni Rav

"No need, just do what you need to do." And I tried to give him a smile.

"Okay, please take care, okay? Call or text me if you home, okay?" I nodded at him.

Then I looked at Mandy.

"It's nice to meet you Mandy, I hope that we could see each other more in the future."

"It's actually nice to meet you too, Ice. Maybe we could hang out sometimes. Take care." Then she kissed my cheeks.

I went outside. Because the place has a glass wall, I still watch them here outside while hiding on the wall. By this time, I could really tell that Mandy finally agreed to be his girlfriend.

Tears finally rolled down to my cheeks.
' I'm really happy for you, Rav'

'One day, I'll get over you, and we could really go back to the times like what we were before.'

I turned my back and ride on the taxi.

I cried hard on the taxi, I don't think I can still talk to my mom in this state, so I called Cris.

"Ice?"

"Cris"

"Ice, are you crying? Are you okay? What happened? Where are you?" She asked hysterically.

"Can I stay at your place tonight?"

"Ofcourse, where are you?"

"I'm on my way, just wait for me. " Then I turn off the call.

I continue to cry while looking at the window.

Luckily, I texted mom a while ago that I will stay the night at Cris' place. I just text her that we can talk tomorrow, hopefully I will be okay tomorrow.

Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko bago ako kumatok.

"Ice? Anong nangyari?" Cris asked me worriedly.

"Don't worry about me. Let's talk tomorrow. I'm so tired right now. I went to her guest room and lie down on the bed."

"Ice?"

"Please Cris, I'm tired. I want to rest. "

"Okay, let's talk tomorrow. Sleep na."

Tanghali na nang gumising ako and as i looked at myself in the mirror, I know I looked horrible. Kaya naligo muna ko at nag ayos ng sarili ko bago lumabas sa guest room. I saw Cris preparing on the dining table.

"Mabuti gising ka na, kain ka muna."

"Okay, thank you Cris. Sorry for making you worry yesterday."

"Kumain ka muna."

After we ate our lunch, nagpumilit akong maghugas ng plato kaya si Cris ay nasa sala at nanonood ng Netflix.

I know she's also curious why I look like that yesterday. Tama na yung umiyak ako kahapon, I don't want to make them worry again.

"Oh Ice? Tapos ka na? Halika nood muna tayo. " Tumabi ako sa kanya at tahimik na nakikinig sa pinapanood namin.

"Yesterday night," Cris looked at me realizing that i'm now opening to her.

"I decided to tell Rav how I really feel. If he loves me then, I'll make everything to be with him. Even if it takes to fight with my mom, but you know what happened? I was about to say what I feel but he told me that he'll going to ask the woman he love to be his girl." I paused for a while to stop my tears from falling but I know I fail. This heartbreak really made me cry hard. "Cris, I'm so tired of everything, I'm tired of doing things that they expect me to do. I want to be happy Cris. Without anyone who'll order me of what to do. I want to do everything that makes me happy, but when the time I realize to do that, bakit ganun? Why can't be that time be with me?" Hindi ko napigilan ang luha ko. Hinayaan ko na lang tumulo ito hanggang sa mapagod na ang mga matang ito na lumuha.

"Ice." She embraced me to comfort me.

"Ice, I'm happy that you finally realize to do the things that makes you happy. But, maybe, Rav is not really for you."

"If i confess earlier, would you think things happen this way?"

"We never know Ice, maybe no, maybe yes. But the important thing is you learn from this Ice."

I let go of her embrace and give her a smile.

"Thank you, Cris. This will be the last time I'll cry for him, so don't worry about me."

"Ice, if you really want to cry, just cry, you don't have to forbid yourself. Just always remember we'll be here for you. Okay?"

"Thanks Cris." Then I hug her again.