Love in the Cold Wind

25

Chapter 25: MOM

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa akin nang lagpasan namin sila Adrian. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nandito siya sa Pilipinas. Kanina lang ay kausap ko siya.

"So, it's true." Adrian hold my left hand and stopped me. His touch send shivers down to my spine. Hinawakan naman ni Caleb ang kamay ni Adrian para tanggalin ito sa pagkahawak sa akin.

"Don't touch her," seryoso niyang sinabi.

Sa halip na bitawan ako ay hinatak pa ako ni Adrian sa tabi niya. Napa-aray ako dahil sa lakas nang pagkahila sa akin.

Jackson came in the scene. Pati siya ay nagulat na kaharap namin si Adrian. Emily is silently watching us. Caleb's aura became dark. He can punch Adrian anytime. But I can see that he's stopping himself.

"Kailangan nating mag-usap," sabi sa akin ni Adrian. Hinila niya ako palayo ngunit pumiglas ako sa kanya.

Malakas ang pagkasampal ko sa kanya. Matagal pa bago siya naka-recover sa sampal ko. Sa sobrang galit ko ay naiiyak na ako.

I can't believe that I loved this monster. I spent my four years with him. I don't want to regret it but he's gaving me reasons to.

"Pag-usapan ang alin? Tapos na tayo! Ayoko na kitang makita!" pasigaw kong sinabi.

Adrian gave me a sad look. "Magbabago na ako, Lauren. Ikaw 'yong mahal ko," halos magmakaawa niyang sinabi.

My old self would probably believe him. But I'm not the same person anymore. I've changed. I knew everything.

"You don't love me," sabi ko at binalingan si Emily na naiiyak sa gilid. Tila ba dismayado sa sinabi ni Adrian.

"And I don't love you, Adrian," I added. Nabigla siya roon at hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong braso. He looks miserable right now.

Umambang lalapit si Jackson at Caleb sa amin ngunit umiling ako. Hinarap ko si Adrian at pinunasan ang luhang tumulo sa aking mga mata.

"It's true. I almost killed myself because the pain was unbearable, Adrian." I showed him my scar that shocked him.

Umiling siya nang paulit-ulit. "I'm s-sorry," naiiyak niyang sinabi.

I smiled at him. "Let me go, Adrian. We both know that we're not good for each other. So please, let me go," sabi ko sa kanya.

Adrian can't stop his tears. He can't believe what I'm saying. He knows me, the old Lauren. He knows that I can't stand us being apart. He knows how much I loved him and how much I can put up just to understand him. But now, I'm different.

While loving him, I lost myself. I lost my self-respect. I valued him more than myself. I gave him everything that's why I'm left with nothing. He was my world and when he cheated on me, my world fell apart.

"I c-can't, Lauren. Please... just give me another chance," pagmamakaawa niya.

Pumikit ako at umiling. "I'm choosing myself this time." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at tinanggal ito sa braso ko. Hindi ko na siya tinignan at humakbang na palapit kela Caleb.

Nauna akong maglakad sa kanila palapit sa aming lamesa. Letisha is sitting on our table. Kumaway siya sa akin at ngumiti.

"Surprise!" Sa halip na ako ang masupresa, siya ang mas nagulat sa ayos ko. Tinignan niya agad sila Jackson.