Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Forty-One - Ang Sagot sa Pakiusap

"YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS to watch the person you love change into a different person."

"You wouldn't want to know too, how it feels to be ruined, like what my mother did to your mother... And what you did to me." Napatakip si Stacey ng bibig dahil aksidenteng kumawala ang isang hikbi mula sa mga labi nito kasabay ng mayamang pagdaus dos ng mga luha pababa sa mga pisngi. She sniffed and uncovered her mouth to talk. "You ruined me."

The very moment she said that, Renante felt something broke inside him. His chest was hurting while tears rimmed his eyes.

"Stacey," he reached for her arm. He wanted to check if she was still standing in front of him. Tears were already clouding his eyes, he could not see her clearly just like how she could not see and understand what his heart really beats for.

Lalo siyang nasaktan nang mapapiksi ito sa tangka niyang paghawak sa braso nito. It was as if, her first instinct was to run away from him. He was left with no choice but to withdraw his hand!

Napakasakit na ayaw na rin nito magpahawak man lang sa kanya. He would beg if he had to, just to touch her... just to make her stay!

"Stacey, I'm sorry at nagpabulag ako sa galit ko. Sorry, Stacey dahil sinaktan kita. Sorry dahil ikaw ang pinagbalingan ko ng galit. I am really sorry for what I did. Kaya nga kita hinanap. Kaya nga kita hinabol. Kaya nga ginawa ko ang lahat para makabawi sa'yo. Pinagsisisihan ko ang mga ginawa ko, Stacey. I kept it a secret from you, dahil ayokong mawala ka sa akin. But I am truly regretting everything that I did to hurt you."

Then, be held her both arms and bent his knees just to see her eyes because she already hung down her head. Nasilip niya ang patuloy na pagbagsak ng mga luha nito at nang mahigpit nitong ikuyom ang mga kamao, roon siya natakot.

"Stacey," makaawa niya. "Please, say you're going to forgive me."

Ito na nga ba ang ikinatatakot niya! Once Stacey finds out about this, she would surely run away from him!

Halos mamatay siya sa paghihintay sa sagot nito, ni hindi niya namalayang bumuhos na ang kanyang mga luha. Muli lang siyang nakahinga nang magtaas ito ng mga kamay para punasan ang sariling mukha. Natatarantang inangat niya ang isang kamay at tinulungan ito magpunas ng luha . Stacey's lips still quivered as she sniffed and spoke in a shaky voice.

"I need to use...the rest room."

Napilitan siyang pakawalan ito dahil umatras ito palayo sa kanya. Stacey made a quick turn and headed to the restroom near the dining room.

Renante remained standing still, alone in that veranda with the background of his mother's hanging plants. Saglit siyang natulala roon bago napansin na panay ang tulo ng kanyang mga luha. Mabilis niyang inangat ang kwelyuhan ng suot na scoop shirt para punasan ang kanyang mukha.

Nagtagal pa siya roon at nang mahimasmasan ay bumalik na sa dining room.

Nasaktuhan niyang mag-isa roon ang nanay niyang si Luz. Pabalik na sana ito sa kusina nang matunugan ang kanyang pagdating kaya pumihit paharap sa kanyang direksiyon. Her lips slightly dropped open upon seeing him.

"Are you alright?" May pag-aalala sa boses nito, but she still looked calm and composed while her eyes were studying him.

He just walked toward the dining table.

"Where's Stacey?" dagdag katanungan nito.

Renante lifelessly pulled a chair for himself. Pagkatapos, imbes umupo ay hinarap muna niya ang ina na nakatayo sa daanan patungo sa kusina.

"I am not worried anymore," matamlay niyang wika, "if you tell Stacey about what you know about the two of us in the past, kasi alam na niya ang lahat."