Waiting Until Dawn (Bittersweet Series #1)

CHAPTER 33

Chapter 33

In our lives, we really can't do anything but to accept unexpected things. Kahit na masakit... kahit na nasira ka nang dahil doon.

I was oblivious of the things around me. Nito ko lang naisip na baka tama nga si Reese noon. Hindi ko matanggap ang rason niya no'n dahil umalis siya pagkatapos. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat intindihin o kung dapat ba akong maniwala sakaniya. I had doubts... because I was too broken to trust.

And now that he's in front of me, breaking down... hindi ko magawang gumalaw man lang.

"Remember when I told you that our company's slowly sinking?" Reese said without looking at me. "They were there. They offered their help, I was young and couldn't do anything but to follow what my parents were telling me. Olivia's family... they took advantage of us. We were helpless, hindi namin alam kung paano babangon ulit." Kumuyom ang kamao niya.

"Reese..." I whispered.

"Mom was so desperate. It's her parents who made our company successful and she couldn't bear seeing it slowly going down. It was her home... the memories she shared with her parents, naroon ang lahat ng 'yon kaya hindi niya mapakawalan." Natulala siya sa kung saan bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "I was begging her to let it go. She was desperate to bring it back and I was desperate to feel my mother's love. I was longing for her, but she loves the company more than she loves me..."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil naramdaman ko ang pagkirot ng puso ko. Naramdaman ko rin ang panginginig niya kaya tumingin akong muli sakaniya. He's still looking away. Kahit na hindi ko nakikita ang mga mata niya, alam kong matinding lungkot at sakit ang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

"When I grew up, I was told to marry Olivia. I love my mother so much, I couldn't say no to her. Akala ko no'n, kaya ganoon si Mommy ay dahil mahal na mahal niya ang kumpanya na kahit ako'y kaya niyang isakripisyo. I was late, Reign!" Malakas siyang humagulhol. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa 'kin. "It was late for me to realize that we were being manipulated... That my parents were being manipulated. For years, I thought Mom don't love me at all. I got mad at her, not knowing that she did that to save me..."

"My life was in danger and she sacrificed her freedom for me. Hindi ko matanggap, Reign, hindi ko matanggap h-hanggang ngayon. Kahit na ayaw ni Mommy, wala siyang magawa... W-Wala akong magawa!" He cried in my arms like a child. "I agreed to them. Pumayag akong sumunod sa lahat nang gusto ng mga Trevoz. Hindi ko kaya na nahihirapan 'yung nanay ko, Reign..."

Tumigil siya, pero ang pag-iyak niya ay hindi. 'Yung galit niya, sobrang ramdam ko. Hindi ko naisip na may pinagdadaanan siyang ganito. All I could think of was myself and all the things that had happened to me.

"When I was still young, I met this girl..." Natigilan ako sa narinig nang magsalita siyang muli. "She was crying when I saw her. I asked her what happened and she told me that her parents were fighting and she badly wants a brother... I find her cute and at the same time, I pity her." His gaze darted on me. "Since then, I always planned on how to make that girl smile. When I first saw her smile, she was glowing... She's so gorgeous I couldn't take my eyes off her."

Napasinghap ako sa narinig. He smiled at me, but his eyes were glistening because of the unshed tears. "This may sound ridiculous... but I found my first love at a young age."

Napapikit ako sa sinabi niya. I leaned my forehead on his chest as tears slowly fell from my eyes. "Please..." bulong ko.

"When I found out na aalis kami, I promised her and myself that I will find her. I promised her that it should be the two of us in the end. I saw her running... chasing me. I looked away because it hurts so badly..." He paused to sigh. "At a young age, I got my first heartbreak."