Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Sixty

60.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry but I don't," more tears fell from my eyes. "I don't."

I was about to step down and leave when Elijah made me turn to face him again and he held my hand with both of his. To my surprise, he removed both the engagement and wedding ring out of my finger and he kissed the back of my hand.

"You may run away now," he gave me a faint smile.

I nodded repeatedly before running out of the church. The guests— specifically my family and friends, got startled because of the sudden scene that I made but I chose to ignore it.

I went inside of the bridal car which took me here. This is also supposed to be the car that Elijah and I will be using after the wedding. But since there's no more wedding, then I guess I could no longer consider this as a bridal car even though it's white and I'm driving it while wearing a wedding gown.

From the rear-view mirror, I could see a lot of people having their eyes on my direction, including my parents and brothers. I stepped on the gas for the car to go fast so they won't be able to catch up if ever they think about following me.

I let my own hands steer the wheel without any knowledge of where will I be going. I just found myself along the path heading towards the estates where Xerxes lives. I couldn't stop crying because of the mixed emotions I'm feeling as of now. One of those is fear.

Fear that I might be late or that I could no longer be accepted… that I could no longer put things back.

Pagkarating ko ay bumaba na ako ng sasakyan at nag-doorbell na sa may gate. I kept on pushing the button but he's not coming out. The gate wasn't locked so that's where I decided to enter and when I reached the door, I knocked repeatedly until I drained my whole energy. Still, no one opened the door. Pinihit ko ang doorknob at nang mapagtantong bukas rin iyon ay pumasok na ako.

Hindi kaya nilooban ang bahay?

The first floor was empty. Yet, all lights were on. Maging iyong nasa taas na mga ilaw napansin ko ring bukas. I know he's just here. I searched for him around the first floor and when I couldn't find him, that's where I decided to to check upstairs.

My heart was pounding so fast as my distance to the door of his room gets smaller and smaller. When I held the doorknob, my hand started shaking after realizing that the door is locked so I have to knock to know if he is really in there.

I gave the door a small knock but no one answered. Sinundan ko muli iyon pero wala pa rin. Nagsimula nang pumatak muli ang mga luha ko at umaasa na sa susunod ko muling katok, bubukas na ang pintuan.

One last knock. Still no response. I was about to turn my back when the door finally opened.

"I told you to fucking leave, De Chavez—" He stopped talking when he found out that it wasn't Rengell who's outside his room. His lips parted after seeing me. And so did mine, I didn't expect to see him looking like this...

His eyes were red and swollen, it seems like he spent all of his time crying and not sleeping. On his left hand is a bottle of liquor and the surrounding of his room is as messy as his hair right now.

He slowly lifted up his right hand. It was shaking when he moved it towards me to cup my cheek. "Arleigne…" he whispered my name. He placed the bottle of liquor on the table near him and used his left hand to cup my other cheek.