Parted Ways

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

I saw how his lips parted and how the woman beside her turned out looking pale.

Tito William noticed my sudden reaction and so he turned on his back.

"Caden!" he shouted at his son.

Wala akong ibang nagawa kun'di ang ngumiti dahil ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko hindi ba? Ayan na nasa harap ko na, kailangan ko na lang tanggapin.

Hindi manlang ako binigyan ng tadhana kahit ng ilang oras para mag-isip, nandito ako hindi makagalaw dahil sobrang lakas ng sampal sa akin ng katotohanan.

Nanginginig ang aking mga labi habang mabagal akong naglalakad palapit sa kanila.

Every step, it feels like my heart is slowly shattering into pieces.

I thought it wouldn't hurt more but then it shattered into more little pieces, I stopped walking when he pulled Kara on his back, protecting her from me.

Tears escaped my eyes.

Kung akala mong sasaktan ko siya, nagkakamali ka mahal ko. Hindi ko kayang saktan ni isa sa mga taong mahal mo, ngunit kaya kong saktan at isakripisyo ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko alam kung mahal mo pa ba ako.

"Ma-hal," I greeted while smiling with my tears running down my cheeks. "Happy Anniversary."

Hinawakan ko ang kanang kamay niya habang ang isa niyang kamay ay naka-hawak kay Kara.

I held his hand like it was my last time holding him like this and kissed it on the top, I gave him my gift and then whispered. "Mahal, sana maging masaya ka."

Hindi ko na kailangang humingi ng eksplanasyon dahil sobrang linaw. He didn't talked. He didn't moved.

Should I expect anything from him when he is acting like this?

Pinunasan ko ang aking mga takas na luha sabay bitaw sa mga kamay niya.

I couldn't contain myself anymore so I just ran away without knowing where I was heading to.

Bakit? Bakit gano'n? Saan? Saan ba ako nagkulang?

Kahit sabihin kong hindi ko na kailangan ng eksplanasyon, isang tawag niya lang sa akin babalik naman ako eh.

Alam ko na may dahilan siya doon! Pero bakit? Bakit hindi manlang niya nagawang subukang hanapin at kausapin ako?

Is this the end of us? No! I don't want to end us!

Please Caden, makita lang kita ngayon na hinahanap mo ako, babalik ako mahal ko.

I stayed at this small hut at the center of the field but then again, there's no any trace of Caden arrived.

I cried and cried until I saw the sun that is already setting.

"Sana kasabay ng paglubog mo, makalimutan ko na rin na nasaktan ako ngayong araw na ito." I whispered as the sun was eaten by the darkness.

Kung hindi mo ako hahanapin ngayon, ako ang lalapit sa'yo, Caden.

Before I decided to go home, I promised myself that I would save our relationship even if it would cost me so much pain.

Upon opening our door, I ran to my mother and then cried my lungs out.

"Anak," I even heard her small sobs. "I'm so sorry."

"Why, M-mom?"

She took a deep sigh and said, "I knew about it and sorry for keeping this from you."

I stopped hugging her and I felt like I was poured on a bucket of cold water.

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayap sa aking ina. "A-ano pong sabi niyo?"