A Setback Beauty

Kabanata 48: A HOLE IN HER HEART.

A Hole In Her Heart.

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"What do you need from me?"

Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong paghihintay sa gazeboo nila, narinig ko na ang boses ni Jiah likuran ko. I'm here at their family mansion and because her parents are in abroad siya lang ang nandito.

Tinanggal ko ang suot kong aviator at humarap sa kanya. "Let's talk," kaswal na saad ko nang magkaharap na kami na nagpataas sa kilay niya.

"I heard that you and your boyfriend have broken up. Tapos mo na bang gamitin ang tao kaya ka nakipag-break?"

Halos mabali ang frame ng hawak kong aviator nang humigpit ang paghawak ko rito.

Napansin 'yon ni Jiah dahilan para mapaismid siya. "Sabagay... diyan ka naman talaga magaling...ang manggamit ng tao. Like what you did to my brother..."

Hindi ko man gusto ang narinig ay nanatili akong kalmado. "Hindi ako nagpunta rito para makipagtalo sa'yo, Jiah. I'm here to settle everything for good."

I heard her caustic chuckle, but it didn't bother me in the least. Mataman ko lang siyang tiningnan. "I know I've already done this before...but I just want to apologize for everything I've done, especially for what happened to your brother. I'm so sorry for being the reason for his death. I know you may find it difficult to forgive me, but that's okay. I understand and I won't force you. I'm not angry at you either. It's fine if you still hate me, you have the right to feel that way. But..." I purposely paused.

Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ni Jiah. She was ready to say something, but I cut her off.

"I'm really hoping at some point you'll be able to forgive me, or at least lessen your hatred towards me. After all, you're the sister of the man I once loved."

"The man you loved?" she snorted. "You didn't love my brother, you just used him."

"Minahal ko ang Kuya mo. It's just that... I fell out of love."

Matalim na titig lang ang iginawad sa'kin ni Jiah, but I continued. Marami akong sinabi sa kanya kahit halata sa ekspresyon niya na hindi siya interesado sa mga 'yon, but it's alright...

Magaan na ang pakiramdam ko dahil kahit papano ay nasabi ko sa kanya...kahit alam kong hindi pa sapat ang mga sinabi ko para mapawi ang lungkot at sakit sa puso niya sa pagkawala ng Kuya niya.

If it isn't meant to happen now, I'm certain time will do the healing.

"What's that? Peace offering?" kunot-noong tanong sa'kin ni Jiah when I handed her a red velvet box.

"I wouldn't call it a peace offering, but you could say it's a gift from me," wika ko.

"Really?" she asked suspiciously, staring at the thing in my hand.