Loving my Ex

Chapter 29: Truth

POV ni Paris

"Mam, you have three appointments today. A lunch meeting with the banquet manager, 2pm with the housekeeping and dinner meeting with Mr. Tolentino."

I frowned when I heard the last part. "I don't remember setting an appointment with him." I said.

"He just called this morning mam."

"Okay. Thank you."

Huminga ko ng malalim paglabas ni Margaux.

Ano kayang iniisip ng lalaking yon? I just do hope na business matters ang paguusapan namin. Dahil kung hindi, ay nako! Kukotosan ko talaga sya!

Di pa ko nakakarecover sa "Paris, I'm sorry" nya e.

Hay. Ang tagal na non. Mga bata pa kami non. Move on move on din pag may time. Siguro nga dapat ko na syang mapatawad. Para wala na kong iniisip.

Si Lucas. Naalala ko si Lucas. Hindi dapat malaman ni Tristan ang tungkol sa kanya. Ayoko. Natatakot ako na baka ilayo nya sakin ang anak ko. Baka kunin nya sakin si Lucas. Kaya mas mabuti nang wala syang alam.

Malapit nang maglunch kaya naman nagayos na ko. Right after the meeting with Mr. Gomez, pumunta na agad ako kay Mr. Hans.

By, 4pm, tapos na lahat ng meeting ko. Nakaupo lang ako sa couch sa office ko, nakasandal ang ulo sa sandalan at nakapikit nang magvibrate ang phone na hawak ko.

Message. Unknown number.

Wear something casual. 7pm. I'll fetch you at your house.

- Tristan

My jaw clenched. Bakit kailangang casual? Di ba dapat formal? Meeting to. Hindi date!

Tumayo na ko at nagready para umuwi.

Be professional Paris. Wag mong personalin. Aja!

Paguwi ko, nagpahinga lang ako sandali at naligo na.

I picked a simple yellow dress and put a light make up. Quarter to seven nang matapos ako sa pagaayos.

Maya maya pa, nakarinig nko ng busina mula sa labas.

"Baby, I'll be going. Bye." i kissed Lucas on his forehead.

"Bye mom. Take care."

He's so sweet. I smiled.

Paglabas ko, nakita ko syang nakasandal sa kotse nya.

Kung noon siguro, kikiligin pa ko sa itsura nya. He was wearing a black button up shirt, black pants and loafers. He looks as gorgeous as ever.

Pero wala e, masya do na kong matanda para kiligin sa kanya, at isa pa, mas kinakabahan ako kesa sa kinikilig.

Pumasok ako sa sasakyan nang pagbuksan nya ko ng pinto. Umikot din sya para makapunta sa driver's seat.

Tahimik kami buong byahe. I didn't dare talk. Ang awkward! Sana pala nagkita na lang kami at hindi na nya ko sinundo.

We stopped at a resto. Again, pinagbuksan nya ko ng pinto and we headed inside.

Mukang may reservation na sya because the assistant lead us to a table with a "Reserved" sign on it.

Bwisit talaga. Parang date to e. Hindi meeting. Pagkaalis ni kuya, at habang tumitingin sya sa menu, nagsalita na ko. "Mr. Tolentino, anong paguusapan natin?" I asked.

"Paris, wala tayo sa hotel. Drop the formalities please." he said with that oh-so-dashing smile.

"But we are on a meeting." katwiran ko.

"Who says it's a meeting? It's a date." he grinned.

Di ko mapigilan. Huminga ako ng malalim. "Tristan. Busy akong tao. Marami akong inaasikaso. Pagod ako buong araw. Kung ikaw, marami ka nang pera at okay lang na magsayang ka ng oras mo, ako hindi. My time is precious. Please don't waste it with this nonsense." I said. Trying to calm myself.

"Paris, gusto lang naman kitang makausap. I want us to start all over again. Please. Ayusin na natin lahat. I am so sorry for what I have done." he tried to reach for my hand on the table pero agad ko tong iniwas.

"Okay, you're forgiven. May I leave now?"

"No." He answered.

"Please?" I begged.

"Didn't you hear me? I want us to start again. At hindi tayo makakapagumpisa ulit kung paplastikin mo yung pagpapatawad mo."

"Are you saying na plastik ako?"

"Paris, I know it's difficult. But please, nagsisisi na talaga ko. I missed you."

"May magbabago ba kapag nagsisi ka? Mawawala ba yung sakit ng ginawa mo? Mawawala ba yung katotohanang iniwan mo ko? Nagpromise ka sakin Tristan! Nagpromise ka na hinding hindi mo ko iiwan! Hindi mo ko susukuan. Pero anong ginawa mo? Iniwan mo ko! Sinukuan mo ko. Napagod ka din sakin." Tears are freely flowing. Umiiyak na naman ako! I thougt I'm over with all the crying.

"I'm sorry. Please. Let me explain. That was the last thing I can do back then. A was afraid. Afraid that something bad will happen to you. That's why I called mom. I'm so sorry." His voice is already cracking.

"You could have just let me die! At least alam ko, hindi mo ko iniwan. Dahil nung iniwan mo ko, doble, no, tripleng sakit yung naramdaman ko! Daig ko pang namatay." I was still sobbing. I can't help but cry. It's still so painful.

"Pano naman ako, Paris? Palagay mo ba hahayaan kong mawala ka? Mas okay na sakin na malayo sayo, at least alam ko andyan ka lang. Buhay ka at humihinga. At least alam ko, may pagasa pang makasama ulit kita. Kaya nga nagsikap ako e. Para pagharap ko ulit sayo, mas maayos na tao na ko."

I can't speak. Hindi ko na alam. Gusto ko pa ding magalit. Pero sa mga sinasabi nya, nanghihina ako. Somehow parang wala akong karapatang magalit pero galit ako. All this time, ako lang naman ang iniisip nya. Ah, basta! All I did was cry. Until I felt him hug me.

"Sssshhh. Baby, don't cry. Andito na ko. Di na ulit kita iiwan."

And with that, I cried even more.

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AN: toot toot toot.

Walang AN.