DE LOUGHREY [TDH - III]

Chapter 30

ADA MARGARETTE

Papunta ako ngayon sa kwarto ni Iain dahil may pag-uusapan daw kaming mahalaga. Nang makapasok sa kwarto ay sinara ko ito ng bahagya at tinanaw si Iain na ngayo'y nage-empake ng mga gamit.

"You're here." aniya.

"Oo. Ang sabi may pag-uusapan daw tayo, ano ba yon?" tanong ko at tumayo sa gilid niya.

"I'm flying to Switzerland. I'll permanently settle there and you..." he stopped for a moment and stared at me. "You'll live here permanently as well, I got your life covered and please don't make me hear disagreements." he said.

Natulala ako sa sinabi niya at hindi man lang nakagalaw. Eto na yon. Matutupad na ang promise ni Iain na pagtapos kong grumaduate ay  lalayo na siya.

"This is the only thing I could give you. House, money, stable, and a peaceful life... Like what I promised you." he stood up and leved his head on my forehead and gave me kisses.

He caressed my cheeks and slightly formed a smile on his lips.

"Someday soon, I hope we'll meet somewhere..." he opened up. "And I hope by that time you're gonna be mine without hesitations."

He was busy arranging his clothes in his suitcase and didn't looked at me. I froze and was puzzled. I felt like I was in a maze and I couldn't find an escape.

"Hindi ka na babalik?" the only question I asked. It was not enough, I could've asked better things or even asked him not to go.

"Darling, you're way better without me. I respect your decisions and I have to live my own life too. Like the usual things before we met?" he answered.

"Salamat sa lahat." hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang mga nasasabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang mas binibigyan ko pa ng mga reason si Iain para umalis.

"You're most welcome, Ada." his voice changed and quickly softened.

My heart started to ache like crazy, it was being crushed to pieces but I knew I shouldn't let him know that I want him near me. This is what's best for us and we've talked about this before.

I gathered all the courage to walk away from him now and forced myself to walk right to the door while my tears clouded my vision.

I heard him close his suitcase and let out a deep sigh.

"Please sleep here in my room after I go. I want you to still remember me and our memories here." he said and walked in my direction. He was behind me, I could feel his heavy breaths.

"Sige." tipid kong sambit.

Binuksan ko na ang pinto at lumabas. Naninikip ang dibdib ko sa lungkot. Nakayuko nalang ako para hindi niya makita ang mukha ko dahil sa mga luhang patuloy na dumadaloy sa mukha ko. Kulang nalang ay humagulgol ako sa iyak, pero alam kong hindi ko dapat iyon gawin.

"I'll miss you." aniya. "I'll always think of you."

Lahat ng mga sinasabi niya ay gusto kong tumbasan, lahat ng iyon ay bumabaon sa puso ko.

"Every inch of you still lingers in my system because you are, by far, the most important thing I wanna cherish forever." he remarked. "But I know that I can't."

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa kanya pero sa loob ko ay gusto ko nang umiyak at yumakap sa kanya. Alam ko rin na bata pa ako, sobrang bata ko pa para sa ganito pero hindi ko mapigilan na hindi masaktan dahil napamahal na rin siya sakin.

"I'll go now." aniya. "Take care... and... I love you." he hugged me so tight that I wished it stayed forever. I hugged him back like he was a teddy bear. We stayed in that moment for minutes, but he distanced himself after and smiled bitterly.

Tinahak na niya ang elevator at bumaba. Naiwan lang ako sa taas at hindi ko na napigilan ang mapaupo sa sahig at umiyak ng umiyak.

Alam ko rin na magsisisi ako at magtitiis ako ng mahabang panahon, pero kung ito ang dapat na mangyari ay tatanggapin ko.