Don't Cry

014

She quickly walks towards me and wrapped me around her loving arms.

I couldn't move. I couldn't utter even a single word. I couldn't believe what is going on.

"I miss you. God knows how much I love you," she said while hugging me as tight as she can.

Nang makabitaw na siya sa yakap ay agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. "Ngayon na magkasama na tayong muli, I wouldn't let anyone take you away from me again. Not even Owen or Athena," naluluha niyang saad.

I looked at Lay with my inquisitive eyes. He smiled timidly at me and briefly nodded his head.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa babaeng nasa harapan ko ngayon. It looks like I am looking on a grown up version of me.

We really do look alike!

"A-ano pong nangyayari?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Hayaan mong ipaliwanag ko sa iyo," she said as she guided me for us to sit on the sofa.

Magkatabi kaming dalawa at nakahawak pa rin ang kanyang mga kamay sa akin. For the first time in my life, I felt the soft touch of a mother I long wished for.

"Your father and I were best friends back then. Naging magkaklase kami ng college. Parehas kami kumukuha ng kursong medtech ng panahong iyon. Hindi ko naman sinasadya but I fell in love with my best friend who only sees me just a friend. I loved him all my college years and beyond that. I loved him with all my heart pero hindi ko naman inakala na mahuhulog siya sa kakambal ko, na magmamahalan sila ni Athena.

"I was badly broken when I knew their love for each other. Sinubukan kong ibaling ang tingin ko sa iba. Sinubukan kong pigilan ang nararamdaman ko but it was of no use. Si Owen pa rin talaga ang sinisigaw ng puso ko. Siya pa rin ng panahong iyon at walang iba. Kaya nang mapag-alaman ko na ikakasal na sila ni Athena, my mind couldn't comprehend it. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I betrayed my own sister for the sake of love," she said as I can feel her hands trembling and tears were now falling from her luminous eyes.

I wanted to say something to comfort her but I don't know what words to say. For the reason that I, myself is also breaking from the inside.

"Sinaktan ko sila. Sinira ko ang relasyon nila. They almost cancel their wedding because of me... But their love for each other is stronger. Nang malaman ko na pinagbubuntis kita noon ay wala na akong balak sabihin sa kanila. I have done enough damage to their relationship. Masaya na ako kahit hindi man ako ang nakatuluyan ni Owen, ang mahalaga kasama kita, anak ko."

I tried so hard to not let my tears fall. Ayokong ipakita ko sa kanya na nasasaktan ako na naririnig ko ang kwento niya sa akin. I don't want to give her another pain by seeing my tears.

"However, fate played a game once more. Nalaman ni Owen na pinagbubuntis kita. He wants to take my child away from me when the time comes that I will give birth. Nagtago ako. Ayokong malayo sa'yo pero hindi niya ako tinigilan. Nang paggising ko pagkatapos kong ipinanganak ka, doon ko nalaman na kinuha ka na pala sa akin nang tuluyan ng iyong ama," she narrated as her tears cascades endlessly.

Hindi ko na rin napigilan ang sarili ko kundi ang umiyak habang nakikita ko siyang nagdudusa at naririnig ko ang trahedyang sinapit niya.

I hugged her tight, wanting to erase all the pain that she is feeling right now. "Tama na po. Ang mahalaga, magkasama na tayo ngayon," I said as I caressed her back and as I feel her warm tears touching my skin.

After a couple of minutes, inilayo niya akong muli sa kanya. She heaved a deep sigh before she continues on narrating again.

"Nasaktan ako nang lubusan nang mawala ka sa akin. I tried to commit on killing myself. Ano pa nga ba ang silbi ko kung kinuha na ang lahat sa akin? Pero... I always ended up failing. Pero nagbago bigla ang buhay ko nang maaksidente ako. Everyone thought I am dead pero hindi. Iniligtas ako ni Edward. He saved me from dying. And when I open my eyes, I didn't know who I am. I didn't  even know that I have a daughter waiting for me. I'm so sorry, Venice. I'm sorry at wala ako sa tabi mo habang lumalaki ka."