I Could Fall

Chapter Fifty

Dionne was still clinging to me as we rode the yacht. Ayaw niyang pumayag na iwan ako kaya isinama ko siya sa paghahanap kay Orion. I needed to talk to him.

Unfortunately, there was no Orion in sight. Sunod kong hinanap si Kuya Hadeon. He was sitting alone at the side, preoccupied with his phone.

"Kuya," I called. His head raised to my voice.

"Hi, Tito!" masiglang bati ni Dionne.

A big smile plastered on Kuya Hadeon's face. He reached for Dionne and placed her on his lap. He pressed a kiss on his cheek.

"Kuya, where's Orion?"

"Hindi sumabay," he answered and pressed a kiss on Dionne's cheek. He curiously raised a brow. "Why?"

My shoulders slumped in disappointment. I bit my lip. "I just need to talk to him."

My brother chuckled. "Goodluck to that." Kumunot ang noo ko. Umiling siya at matapos ay sumeryoso ang mukha. "Are you and Ali back together?"

I could feel my face heating by the second. "N-No, Kuya."

"You plan on getting back together with him?"

Hindi ako nakasagot at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Do you think it's smart? With your past and all? All wounds can heal overtime but no matter how faint, there will always be a mark. It might not hurt physically anymore, but memories can hurt, too," Kuya Hadeon said. My chest tightened painfully at his words.

"If you choose to be together again, you'd be constantly reminded of the past. Won't it be better for the two of you to just get a fresh start?"

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Tears built in my eyes. I tried my best to stop it from it falling.

"I love you and I just want you happy, Hyon. Maybe it's time to give your chance to be happy with someone else," he ended his speech.

A single tear rolled down my cheek. Agad ko 'yon pinunasan.

Dionne let out a small gasp. "Tita Hyon!" Kumawala siya mula kay Kuya at lumapit sa akin para yumakap sa binti ko. "Did Tito Hadeon make you cry? I will tell Daddy so he can tell Tito Ali!"

Iyak tawang niyakap ko si Dionne. "I'm okay."

"We're not bati, Tito!" she angrily said with her cute frown.

"What? Hindi ko naman siya inaway," natatawang angal ni Kuya Hadeon.

She ignored him and grabbed my hand, pulling me with her. "Let's go, Tita."

Dionne's cuteness wrapped on my sadness like a blanket. She brought me to her parents. Nagsumbong sa ginawa ng kanyang Tito. Pati ang ilang mga sinabi ni Kuya ay sinabi niya rin. Nagawa niyang tandaan 'yon.

"First of all, don't listen to your brother. He's an idiot," Kuya Xavi smugly said.

"X!" Tinampal ni Ate Lavie si Kuya sa tyan. Nakatawang sinalo ni Kuya Xavi ang kamay ni Ate.

"Ang ibig sabihin ng Kuya mo, 'wag kang makinig kay Hadeon o kahit sino." Ate Lavie glared at Kuya Xavi before looking at me again. "Do what will make you happy. It's your life. Alright, Hyon?"

Hindi na ako sumagot. Hindi na rin nila sinundan pa 'yon. They went back to their bubble while I just played a gaming app with Dionne hanggang sa nakatulog na ito at kinuha ni Kuya Xavi sa akin.

After the boat ride, van naman ang sinakyan namin pauwi. Another nearly three hours ride. Itinulog ko ang byahe na 'yon.

It was past lunch time when we reached Manila. Instead of heading to our own houses, we went to Mosaic Latin for lunch.