Unchosen [Baguio Series #2]

47

47:

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong umalis ng unit. Baka kasi magpunta na naman si Maverick. Hindi pa ako handang makita ulit ang katulad ng kagabi.

Pagkalabas ko ng unit ko ay napatalon ako sa gulat nang makita ang nakasandal sa gilid ng pintuan ko.

The fuck?! Ano bang ginagawa nito rito nang ganito kaaga?!

"Uh, g-good morning," I greeted Maverick as I looked away.

"Good morning."

Tumingin ako sa kan'ya at nakitang hindi naman na siya mukhang lasing at mukha namang wala na siyang hang over...

"May lakad ka?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako. "Lalabas kami ng kaibigan ko."

He smirked. "Kaibigan mo rin ako pero bakit hindi ka sumasama sa aking lumabas?"

I smiled at him. "Puno ang schedule ko," ni-lock ko na ang unit. "Sige na, aalis na ako."

Lalampasan ko na sana siya pero hinila niya ang braso ko at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. Bigla ay pakiramdam ko, naubusan ako ng hininga at nagmamadali ang puso ko sa pagtibok. Damn, the effect of him!

"I really missed you," he heaved a sigh as he hugged me tighter. "Tori, let's start over... please. I know that you still love me too. and if I am mistaken...please, Tori. Love me again... please..."

I gulped as he begged for me again. My weakness is indeed Maverick's begging for my love. Nararamdaman ko na naman ang pag-init ng sulok ng mga mata ko. Siya lang talaga ang may kakayahang gumawa sa akin nito.

"Mav... l-let go. May lakad ako," I said, trying to escape from his hug which I never want to do in the first place. "Maverick..."

He sighed. "Tori... I love you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not choosing you before. I know that I told you this last night, but I am really, really sorry for hurting you. Come back to me now, please... I promise to always choose you in all of my minute and seconds. Please, Tori... I love you..."

I gulped before talking.

"Why would you say sorry for something you did so right?" I asked. "What you did years ago is the best decision for you. There's nothing to be sorry in that part. That's what I learned in loving you. While people come to Baguio for peace of mind and healing, I learned in Baguio, Maverick."

Kumalas ako sa yakap at hinarap siya.

"I learned that loving yourself more than anyone else is the best and healthiest form of your love, especially on our age back then. We were young and naïve back then. We enjoyed our time with each other, studying, walking at the street, making love, everything... we were enjoying.

"But of course, I am not blind with my mistakes, and I know that I hurt you and your pride, and I perfectly understand your decision for choosing yourself over me. Kasi, kung ako ang nasa sitwasiyon mo, I would probably do the same."

I sighed as I held my tears from falling.

"Don't be so sorry for the right things that you did. Don't be so sorry about that. It is never wrong to love yourself more than you could ever love me. And thank you for loving me the right and healthy way. That's what I learned—to love myself above all."

I pursed my lips as I smiled at him, before turning around. I was ready to walk away from him when he started talking again.

"But I am ready to love you the unhealthy way. I am ready to love you more than anyone else, Tori."