The Inverse

- 1

PAT'S POV

"Pat. Answer me please. After all this time?"

"I'm sorry."

Lalo siyang umiyak. My heart is breaking, but facing the truth for both of us felt liberating. Napagod na akong makipagtaguan sa sarili ko. It was time that I face it. To bring things to light. I can tell that she was devastated. But she deserves to be happy too.

I don't know how many hours we were crying. Pero nakita ko na sumisilip na yung liwanag galing sa bintana. We sat there in the bedroom floor, with backs against the wall and with silence engulfing us. She was just staring at the floor. Tired from all the crying I guess. I took off our engagement ring and handed it to her.

"Sorry. I'm really sorry. You deserve someone better. Hindi ako. I would completely understand kung magagalit ka sa 'kin. I'm sorry. Minahal naman kita. And thank you for loving me more. Pero hindi ko kayang suklian yun. Hindi ko kayang pantayan yun. Not when -- " I hesitated.

"Not when you still love her."dagdag niya. I thought that she'd cry again. Pero she was just staring at the floor.

"I knew it from the start. After a year na hindi kayo nagkita, alam ko na. Cause you never even kiss me. Not even once. Not even to say goodbye or to say hello. Hell. You never even looked at me that way." I felt a tear run through my face. We just stared at the floor.

"Pat, will you be happier now?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya. Hindi ko alam. Wala naman atang reassurance na magiging mas masaya na ako sa kanya. All I know is, sa ngayon, she's all I want. I know it sounds cold, but wouldn't it be more cruel to stay in a relationship that you cannot fully give yourself? To lie to your partner everyday of a love that she thinks you both have?

"I guess." She nodded then she stood up tapos tinulungan niya rin akong tumayo. She then hugged me pero bumitaw din siya agad.

"Thank you Pat. For all these wonderful memories. I guess, it's good while it lasts. Pero, I am letting you go, as promised. It might take me a while to heal, but I know that you'd be happier and it is enough for me. Pero Pat, kung masaktan ka ulit, andito pa rin ako. Handa pa rin akong masaktan ulit para sayo. But please tell her to never let you go again."sabi niya. She forced a smile and she held my hand.

"Ihahatid na kita sa kanya."

"Hindi mo to kailangang gawin."

"No, but I have to. For myself."sabi niya. Then she led me through the door at papasok ng sasakyan.

We both went down and made our way to her place. She rang the doorbell. After a few tries, bumukas na yung pinto. She was a mess too. I guess we were all casualties in this heartbreak warfare. Pero nung nakita ko siya, I felt it. That familiar feeling. As if my heart was telling me that it has found its place.

"Anong ginagawa niyo dito?"tanong niya.

"She's yours."

"What?"

"She was never mine to keep anyway."