"What are you doing here?" Pagalit niyang tanong nang matagpuan niya 'ko sa harap ng bahay niya.
Ilang linggo rin kaming hindi nagkita at nami-miss ko na siya. Tinitigan kong mabuti ang mukha niya. This might be the last time I can get this close to him.
Lumunok muna ako bago sagutin ang tanong niya, "Gusto ko lang sanang malaman kung . . . tayo pa ba?"
Kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko napigilin ang pamumuo ng mga luha sa aking mga mata.
"Alam kong kasalanan ko. Hindi ko dapat ginawa 'yun, kaya humihingi ako sa'yo ng tawad. Hindi mo ba ako kayang patawarin? Wala na ba 'kong pag-asa?" Tuluyan na 'kong naiyak nang muli kong makita ang disappointment sa mukha niya. Ilang beses na 'kong nag-sorry pero galit pa rin siya. Naiintindihan ko naman na malaki rin iyong naging kasalanan ko.
I got drunk and I kissed some other guy sa loob mismo ng sarili niyang night club. Ang tanga ko rin naman kasi.
Masakit pero tatanggapin ko na lang siguro. It was my fault anyway. Alam ko namang hindi madaling patawarin ang ganoong klase ng pagkakamali. At hindi rin iyon madaling kalimutan. Cheating pa rin iyon na maituturing.
Pinilit kong ngumiti at minasdan siyang muli.
"Gusto ko rin lang sanang magpasalamat. Sa lahat. Sa mga bagay na ipinaranas mo sa 'kin. You've been so good to me. You're the best thing that ever happened in my life. Salamat sa pagmamahal mo sa 'kin, kahit di ko naman deserved. Salamat sa pagkakataong binigay mo sa 'kin kahit na nalaman mo 'yung nakaraan ko. Thank you for taking me out on dates, for showing me what real respect was like, for the flowers and all the gifts . . . Higit sa lahat, thank you for treating me the way I needed and wanted to be treated. I've never felt so special to someone. Thank you for letting me experience all of those things. If . . . if this is the end, then, I sincerely wish you'll find happiness with someone who truly deserves you. I just wanted to see you one last time, so . . . Thank you. Bye."
Heated Deceptions: A Collaboration Novel written by heartlessnostalgia and HiroYuu101
How far would you go for the man you love to love you back? For Rylee, she would do anything--even lie about a pregnancy--for North Alvarado.
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Rylee Addison Sandoval's longtime crush on her brother's best friend, North Alvarado, isn't a secret. It's as embarrassing as they come, even pretending to get lost around the college department just to catch a glimpse of him. Everyone thinks it's unrequited, even Rylee herself, but one drunk night with North changes it all. Grabbing an opportunity to have him forever, Rylee tells everyone she's pregnant with his baby. North is willing to take responsibility for her and the child, but one problem: there is no child. How long can Rylee's deception last until North finally discovers the truth? And will love be enough for him to forgive her...or not?
DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish.
COVER DESIGN: Regina Dionela