Escaping the Darkness

Kabanata 40

Kabanata 40

I parked my car in a restaurant away from the city. Nasa mataas na lugar kami at ngayon lang ako nakapunta dito. Well, si Carliyah ang pumili nito, sinundan ko lang.

We choose the table which is secluded at tanging ang view lang ang makikita. We waited for our food to be served.

"Happy Birthday, Kat," she said in the middle of our dinner.

She then handed me a pink small box with a white ribbon on it.

Wala akong ideya kung ano ito kaya agad kong binuksan and there I found a cartier white gold bangle bracelet with it's... screw?

Hindi ko mapigilang mapahanga sa ganda nito.

"It's your favorite brand."

"Yeah."

I really liked it. No. I love it.

"I'll... I'll put it on you," aniya at kinuha ang bangle at screw nito saka tumayo.

Pinagmasdan ko siyang mabuti habang nilalagay niya ito sa wrist ko. She seems tensed and really nervous. She's even biting her lips na para bang hirap na hirap siya dito.

Years have passed and you're still the same. Pure.

"There..." aniya nang matapos.

"It's pretty," sabi ko habang pinagmamasdan ito.

"I bought that in Paris, two years ago. Nang malaman ko kay Tita na tapos na ang residency mo... I wanted to give you that as a gift that time... Kaso, I don't know how. Lalo pa't nasa US ka."

Tiningnan ko lang siya at hindi na nagsalita.

Sa totoo lang, when I was in US, I got a her a gift too. Every year . One for her birthday, and for holidays.

A gold necklace with a heart design on it. Dahil alam kong magca-cardio siya. A medical pen set. A pair of pearl earrings. Pinagawa ko pa iyon sa isang sikat na pagawaan sa US. And a sculptured metal desk plate with her name on it.

Dr. Carliyah Grace R. Velasco

Like her, hindi ko rin alam kung paano ibigay ang lahat sa kaniya ang mga iyon dahil bukod sa malayo ako, hindi pa kami ayos noong panahong iyon.

"I'm sorry..." aniya.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya.

"I'm so sorry."

"F-For what?" tanong ko.

"For everything."

"Carliyah... It's all in the past."

"Even so. Even so, Katana. I am still very sorry for everything."

"It's okay, I forgive you."

Totoo.

Noon pa man, pinatawad ko na siya. Pinatawad ko na silang lahat. Nagpatawad ako kahit wala akong narinig na sorry o kahit walang humingi ng kapatawaran sa kanila.

I forgave them many years ago.

Umiling siya.

"You forgave me but I know deep inside of you wanted an apology. I know in your heart that you need explanations. That's why here I am now. Gagawin ang lahat mapatawad mo lang ako para magkaayos na tayo."

Napayuko ako.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari? Ba't bigla mo akong iniwasan?" sabi ko habang ibinabalik ang tingin sa kaniya.

"Galit ka eh," malungkot na aniya.

"I was not. I was just... dissapointed? And it's normal."

"And I'm stupid," she added.