EMPIRE SERIES #3 (COMPLETED)
Serenity Rose had no choice except to return to Manila permanently. Her own mother drove her to leave LA due to their family business' never-ending issues, and she believes it is the only way for Serenity to stay out of...
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NO ONE dares speak between the three of us. We were sitting at a round table. Tahimik kaming tatlo na para bang pare-pareho kaming takot na magsalita. Bukod tanging si Evo lang ang masaya habang sarap na sarap sa pagkain ng strawberry ice cream niya.
Tia is Cynthia, Cash's ex-girlfriend, who Sir VM mentioned before at the anniversary party. She was Cash's first love.
Si Cash din kaya ang tatay ni Evo? That's a possibility... Does that mean Cash was Evo's father who gave Tia a huge sum of money kapalit na huwag na itong magpapakita ulit sakaniya?
But why the hell would Cash do that?! Why wouldn't he want his own child?! I don't understand... Para akong mababaliw sa mga naiisip ko.
My brain couldn't sink into what is happening right now. And I couldn't also deny the fact that my heart throbbed in pain if what I'm really thinking is right. Parang sarili kong utak mismo ang nagre-reject nang information na iyun. Para bang ayaw tanggapin ng sarili ko na may anak si Cash at Tia.
My best friend, who is like a sister to me, and the guy that I'm in love with have a son... and that pains me a lot.
Cash was sitting in front of me. Nakatulala lang siya habang titig na titig kay Evo, and his face is pale as white, as if he had just seen a ghost. Ganon din si Tia na nakaupo sa tabi ko. Tahimik din siya habang nakatulala sa kawalan.
I need to leave. I can't bear this kind of atmosphere.
It's suffocating me.
"I... I have to go," I finally said before I utterly lost my sanity here.
"Sera sandali lang," agad na hinawakan ni Tia ang kamay ko para pigilan ako sa pag-alis. I looked at her and saw pain in her eyes. Gusto kong maawa sakaniya pero hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko sakaniya.
I am not mad at her naman, I just really need to leave. Gusto ko munang mapag-isa.
"H-Hindi ko alam..." she said, her eyes starting to water. If I didn't know her, I might have pity for her, but I know that she's a strong woman and doesn't need my pity. I know she can handle whatever her issue is with Cash.
I put my hand on top of her, gently squeezing it so she could feel that I was not mad at her or anything. I pressed my lips together in a thin line.
"Let's just talk next time, hmm..." I muttered as I slowly slid her hand into mine.
Cash didn't say anything. I gave him one last look before I finally turned my back on them. I even heard Evo's calling me, but I just kept on walking farther away from them.
#
When I got back to the Empire, I carried my things back to my unit. I dropped my luggage bag on my carpeted floor before running to my room and flopping myself onto the bed.
I don't want to cry, but my stupid tears keep on flowing down my cheeks and my chest is tightening so that it makes me feel suffocated.
"Why does it have to be Tia? I really like her and she's like a sister to me na," I muttered to myself while wailing like a child.
