The Player Meets The Coach

Chapter 25

ETHAN

Nakatitig lang ako sa madilim na langit habang umiinom ng alak sa basong hawak ko. I feel lost in the dark sky and I can't find my way out.

The day I met Sapphire I knew that she's the one for me. I don't want to let her go. I can't let go the woman I love but how can I keep her with me if I can't even protect her?

I promised myself before that I will get her back the moment I had the power to do so. Sa mga taong nagdaan, I know I am capable of protecting her but I keep holding back.

I'm a coward. I can feel deep within my heart that Sapphire loves me, but I know that I don't deserve her. How can a bastard like me deserve such a good woman like her?

How can a cheater like me deserve her love and loyalty? My mom alone is not the reason why I broke up with her years ago. My guilt is killing me because I cheated on her. Dalawang linggo palang kami noon ni Sapphire at nagkayayaan kami nila Enrique na mag-inom dahil birthday niya.

I got drunk but I know what I was doing that time. I slept with a girl in a hotel. I have a choice not to cheat but I chose to cheat.

We all have choices in life and we all have to do is make careful choices. Don't trade your true happiness for things that can give you temporary happiness.

"Ethan, why are you still awake?" tanong sakin ni dad nang napadaan sa kinaroroonan ko

"Doing some brainstorming." tipid na sagot ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa madilim na kalangitan

Sa bahay ko na nakatira or more like natutulog si daddy mula nang mag-away sila ni mommy. I haven't heard anything from my mom since then. Ayaw naman nilang magsalita sa kung anong pinag-awayan nila.

"Are you regretting that you called off your wedding?" tanong ulit ni dad na nasa tabi ko na at matamang nakatingin sakin

"I regretted the day that I let her go six years ago." I taste the bitterness of my own words

It's been six years, huh. Ganitong buwan nang maghiwalay kami ni Sapphire noon.

"And you're doing the same mistake again." naiiling na sabi ni daddy

"My recent relationship with Sapphire isn't founded because of love. It was all because of the company and her revenge. Our relationship are full of pretentions and lies. We can't continue our relationship without trust." seryosong sabi ko kay dad at tinungga ang natitirang alak sa baso ko

"You're the one who broke that trust. You broke your trust in yourself. Hindi mo kayang ibigay ang buong tiwala mo sa iba dahil hindi mo rin kayang pagkatiwalaan ang sarili mo." makahulugang sabi ni daddy dahilan para mapatigil ako sa pagsalin ng alak sa baso ko

Maybe he's right. How can I trust myself if I chose to cheat even I love Sapphire? Enrique told me that if I really love her I will never think about cheating but I did.

"I love your mom so much. I love her to extent that I chose to be blind even I know that she's doing something bad behind my back. But that great love should be used in a good way, anak. This time, I chose to discipline your mom because I love her. Kung sana noon palang tinuruan ko na siya ng leksyon at inalam ang mga ginagawa niya, hindi sana kami hahantong sa ganito. Love is mysterious. It can make you a good or bad person. It's your choice to make." mahabang sabi ni dad bago niya ako tapikin sa balikat at tuluyang umalis

I feel something bad about this but I feel a little bit enlighten to know that my dad love my mom so much. Maybe mom did something terrible.

Wala ako sa mood na pumasok sa opisina kinabukasan. Hindi ko magawang ngumiti o tumango man lang sa mga taong nakakasalubong ko. Nagiging katulad na ba ako ni Enrique? Ugh!