Better Paradise

Chapter 51

MEGAN

After 2 weeks..

I couldn't make it to Tadhana's funeral because Mommy suddenly took charge of our passports and documents.

It was a complete surprise when Mommy called us and informed us that we had to leave for the States immediately. They said Miracle was searching for us and that they needed our help in our company there.

Now, here I am, unsure of how to break the news to Niccolo that we have to fly to the States on Saturday.

In the past two weeks, we've been swamped with school activities as the break approaches. Consequently, our entire group of friends hasn't had much time to get together. Each of us has been caught up with our own tasks and responsibilities.

"Megs, have you told them yet?" Ate asked me. I was currently at the mansion, organizing my clothes here, and by Friday, I'll be sorting my clothes in the condo.

"Not yet. What about you? Have you told Gab?" I inquired while continuing to arrange my belongings.

"I don't know how to tell him, Megs. I know he'll be furious with me," Ate replied with a hint of sadness, perching herself on the edge of my bed. I turned my gaze towards her.

"Why did our departure have to be moved up?" I let out a deep sigh and seated myself beside her.

"Perhaps we can consider this as something we're doing for Miracle," she suggested. "By the way, do our friends still have no idea that Miracle is in the States?"

"Actually, last week, I accidentally bumped into Kian, and he inquired about Miracle, so I decided to tell him the truth and advised him to keep it confidential. Only he and Cathy know," I explained to Ate.

"When do you plan on telling Niccolo? He needs to know, Megs," Ate insisted, prompting me to nod in agreement.

"Alright, Ate, I have to go. I still need to take care of the paperwork for my coffee shop, which I'll temporarily entrust to Cathy," I informed Ate as I rose from my seat and placed my suitcase by the side.

It's already Wednesday, and we have a mere two days left to bid farewell to our friends. I have only two days remaining to spend time with Niccolo.

After attending to the necessary paperwork for my coffee shop, I invited Niccolo to go to a park. Initially, he seemed puzzled by my sudden invitation, but he quickly agreed.

"You're going to see Niccolo later, right? Perhaps this is the right moment to tell him. It would be even more painful if he finds out on the day of our departure," Ate suggested just as I was about to leave the room. I paused and glanced back at her.

"I don't know, Ate. Whatever happens, I don't think I can bring myself to tell him that I'm leaving without any certainty of returning," I replied with a bitter smile. With that, I turned away, leaving the room and the house to attend to the tasks that awaited me.

KIAN

Wednesday has arrived, and yet Megan's words from last Friday about Miracle being in the States with their parents still haunt my thoughts. How can I possibly confess my feelings to her when she's no longer here?

And to make matters worse, I can't believe what I'm hearing from Ryle right now. He's confronting Lily.

We had all gathered together, except for Megan, who had mentioned that she had something important to attend to.

"Lily, why didn't you tell me that you're Gine?" Ryle's voice was filled with sadness as he questioned her.

"I didn't tell you because it didn't seem relevant anymore. I thought I would only embarrass myself if I suddenly appeared in front of you and said, 'Hello, Ryle, I'm Gine, your childhood friend.' You might have just laughed at me," Lily replied sarcastically, a hint of bitterness in her tone.

"Why would I do that? Damn it, I've been searching for you for so long. Since the day I first returned to the Philippines, you were the one I wanted to see, but you weren't in your old place anymore," Ryle expressed his frustration towards Lily.

They continued arguing back and forth, while the rest of us watched and waited anxiously to hear what they had to say.

But I'm still grappling with confusion. Does this mean that Ryle was Lily's first love, and that's why she couldn't love me when we were together? Is that how it works? This whole situation feels absurd.

"Why are you angry? Is it because I didn't tell you? Well, it doesn't matter anymore because during that time, what mattered to you was Megan, my friend..." Lily's voice quivered with tears as she spoke. "...when I noticed that you were growing closer to each other, I didn't even attempt to tell you that I'm Gine. What would have been the point? You had fallen for each other, my friend and me, and there was no certainty about how you would react if you found out that I'm Gine, your childhood friend..." Lily's tears continued to flow, and Cathy and Reika immediately stepped in to comfort her. "...because I'm just your childhood friend, where do I even fit in your life?" Lily added, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and resignation.

"But Lily, you're mistaken! Why would you think that way?" Ryle questioned her, his confusion evident.

"I'm mistaken? Yes, I'm terribly mistaken in thinking that I still have feelings for you, even now. And I'm terribly mistaken for causing harm to someone because of my damn love for you," Lily burst out, her words catching me off guard and freezing me in place. I couldn't help but stare at her, trying to process the intensity of her emotions.

"Do you mean... in our relationship, you never really loved me? What the hell?" I blurted out to Lily, surprising Cathy, Reika, Ryle, and Camile, who turned to look at me in astonishment due to my sudden outburst. "...oh, now you're looking. Yes, Lily and I were secretly together. Initially, I understood that she wasn't ready to tell you, but this is the real reason. From the very beginning, you never truly loved me, which is why it was so easy for you to let go of me," I confessed, my voice trembling as I wiped away the tears streaming down my face.

Feeling utterly lost and perplexed, I turned my back on all of them, leaving them to sort out their own conflicts.

"Kian," I heard Jesswelie calling my name, but I ignored her and continued walking away from wherever we were, consumed by a mix of emotions and seeking solace in solitude.