Never Promise Again

PROLOGUE

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Credits to the owner of the photo that I used for the book cover.

I'm sorry, but please bear in mind that there are typos and grammatical errors in this story. 

All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted or published in any forms or by any means without prior permission from the author. Please, obtain permission.

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"For almost a year I thought we were both in love."

I bit my lower lip to try of holding my tears, but I'm sure that it won't last long either dahil tu-tulo na rin ang mga luha ko.

"I thought you love me."

"I thought so too." He replied.

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at tumulo ang mga luha ko ruon. Ang sakit, sobra, lalo na ng marinig ko 'to sa kaniya. Huminga ako ng malalim bago muling binuksan ang aking mga mata at tumingin sa kaniya.

"Alam mo.. akala ko ikaw na. Akala ko tayong dalawa na talaga. Ang tanga ko pala." Nadurog ang aking boses sa huling salita ko.

Nanatili siyang tahimik at hindi umimik. He's just standing in front of me, looking at me emotionless, acting like he didn't even know me.

Tumawa ako ng mapait ka-sabay ng pag-tulo ng mga luha kong muli. Hindi ko kasi maintindihan. Iba na siya kung tumingin sa'kin. Iba na rin ang dating niya sa'kin. Iba na ang nararamdaman niya para sa'kin. Iba na siya. Ibang-iba na.

"Lux.. ano ba talagang nangyayari?" Naiiyak kong tanong sa kaniya.

Pakiusap sumagot ka. I will accept your answer no matter what it is. No matter how much the pain is, I will take it. I can take it.

Binalot ng katahimakan ang buong parke at wala ni isa sa'min ang nag-sasalita. Pareho lang kaming naka-tingin sa mga mata ng isa't-isa. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pa siya nagagawang tignan sa mga mata, but I really want an answer. I am determined to hear it from him. Frankly, no sugar coating.

"Hindi mo pa rin ba maintindihan, Naya?" He asked after a long silence, but the expression of his face did not change.

"Sa tingin mo mas pipiliin kong tanungin ka kung talagang naiintindihan ko na?" Tanong ko pabalik.

"Ipaliwanag mo. Sabihin mo!" I demanded while my tears are dripping down to my cheeks. "What happened? I really want to hear your answer, your excuses, if there's any because--"

"Because I don't love you anymore!"

My body froze when I heard what he said. He doesn't what? He doesn't love me anymore?

I wasn't fully prepared for this. I know I'm stupid, kahit alam kong masasaktan ako ay nag tapang-tapangan ako na kaya kong tanggapin lahat ng mga sasabihin niya. Iniisip ko na kaya ko pero hindi pala talaga. I'm really stupid, a hypocrite.

"That happened." He added and it sounded like it was not a big deal for him.

Pinunasan ko ang aking mga luha kahit na pakiramdam ko ay nanghihina na 'ko. Nakatingin pa rin ako sa kaniya at mas lalo lang akong nasasaktan. Bakit parang wala lang sa kaniya ang lahat ng 'to?

"I know that I'm stupid pero mas may ita-tanga pa pala ako, alam mo 'yun." I said after wiping my tears. Piling ko na-labas ko na lahat ng luha na meron ako.

"Naya, please.. stop acting like this." He begged.

I know. Acting like this will not change everything neither what he did just say. Mas nag-mumukha lang akong tanga.

"It hurts. A-ang hirap lang kasing tanggapin nito at mahirap din tanggapin na kalimutan na lang ang lahat. We were together, happy and along with the memories we'd shared were precious to me." Naalala ko tuloy ang nakaraan namin, ang lahat.

"Naya, remembering those moments will--"

"Yes, and I even remember your promises to me. None of them came true because those promises were all fake and lies."

His eyes got widen before he gulped. Mukhang nanunuyo ang kaniyang lalamunan. I'm just looking at him silently and after a few seconds he spoke.

"Well, I guess.. promises are really meant to be broken."

"And you proved it to me, because you always say promises that you couldn't keep."

"I know that very well." He said monotone.

"Then don't make a promise. Never promise again!"

Nag-igting ang kaniyang bagang at hindi umimik. I don't know why, but he seems defeated.

I smiled bitterly and just nodded. "I still love you."

"Naya--"

"But I don't want to love you anymore."

Sabi ko sa mahinang boses pero alam kong sapat na 'yun para marinig niya. Tama na. Ayoko na. Na-sabi ko na rin naman na ang kailangan kong sabihin. Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at tumalikod na 'ko at unti-unting humakbang pa-layo mula sa kaniya.

In every relationships especially in love there will always be promises that'll be vowed. I know how promises formed and destroyed at the same time and it was really painful.

Promises are meant to be broken? Then don't make a promise, never make a promise. That'll prevent the promises from getting broken and save the hearts from being shattered.