Chasing Laurel

Chapter 30

Chapter 30
Done with the Chase

I smiled when I saw Tanya, Casper and Abby playing together with Tonton. They are playing on the shore beside the wide blue sea. Si Rian at Kuya ang nagbabantay sa kanila na tawang tawa dahil pinagkakampihan ng dalawang babae ang anak nilang pikon. Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. I will surely miss this. I will surely miss Sto. Domingo. My home for almost nine years.

I was busy watching them playing when I noticed Celeste on my side. She's wearing a yellow dress and she looked so carefree now. May mga iilan pang bakas ng sugat sa kaniyang katawan pero wala na ang mga sariwang sugat.

"Thank you and I am sorry, Avrielle. Thank you for saving us and I am sorry for all the things I've done to you"

I smiled as I turned my gaze on her. "I never hated you, Ate. Biktima ka rin. Biktima lang tayo ng ganid at inggit"

I wiped her tears. "Mahal na mahal ko si Carlos pero naiintindihan ko rin naman ang desisyon niya. He let us go because he doesn't want us to suffer the wrath of his family. Mahal niya si Abby kaya ay pinasama niya siya sa akin. Sobrang mahal ko siya. Sumaya ako sa kaniya pero pilit akong inaalis sa kasiyahan na iyon dahil sa mga magulang ko"

"I am sorry that you suffered hell too because of our father." I said my sympathy. "Nawalan ka ng anak at nawalan rin ako"

She looked at me with the shocked face.

"N-Nawalan?"

I nodded as tears shred from my eyes. "The day of your supposed marriage with Kaiden, nagkasigawan kami ni Kai. He looked so devastated before because of us. He was so livid. Iniwan niya ako dahil sa galit doon at nang makaalis siya ay doon na ako dinugo. Nawala iyong anak namin na hindi ko man lang alam na may tao na pala sa loob ko. Nawala ang panganay namin" she hugged me. We both cried in each others' warmth. We kept on saying sorry. We kept on saying our regrets but we all know that it will never change anything. We just need to accept, forgive and live again.

"I am sorry. I am sorry, Avrielle"

I withdrew from the hug. I dried my tears and she did too. I smiled as I reached her hand.

"I am not mad at you for having a child with Kai. Nasaktan oo pero wala akong maramdaman na galit, Ate. Hindi ako masaya na nawalan kayo ng anak. Sino bang ina ang gugustuhin iyon, diba?"

"I am sorry, Avrielle. Hindi man halata nila noon pero I was so devastated too when my child died. Sobrang nagalit ako sa sarili ko noon na dahil sa akin ay namatay siya pero mas nagalit ako kay Mommy. Nagawa ko lang ang mga iyon because of Mom. Mom is really an expert in manipulating someone. I feel so ashamed with Carlos and to you and Kaiden. Divorced na kami noon pero mahal pa rin namin ang isa't isa. Nagdivorce kami dahil sa mga magulang niya. They don't want to be associated with my parents anymore especially that news flashes about the inheritance and such. I made mistakes because of them but Carlos still accepted me. He understood me but Dad made a mistake again. He killed a Romualdez at iyon na iyong dulo ng lahat. Sinira ka ni Dad at sinira niya rin ako. Anong klaseng ama siya? Anong klaseng ama siya na hahayaan niyang masira ang mga anak niya na galing mismo sa kaniya dahil lang sa asawa niya?"

I held her hands tight. I bit my lips to stop myself from crying. Damn hormones.

"Let's live again, Ate. Let's live again because we both deserve it"

She nodded. "Let start again, Avrielle. From this day onwards, I'll be the sister that you deserve. Hindi na ako iyong bitch na Celeste sa iyo noon—well, just a little nalang"