Countless Nights with Mayor | COMPLETED

CNWM: 37

Athena faked a laugh after hearing those words that she didn't think would hurt her the most.

"N-Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo, Joaquin?!" tanong ni Athena na napahilamos sa kaniyang mukha.
"Sa loob ng mga araw na magkasama tayo, hindi mo ako minahal? Sa loob ng mga araw na pinaparamdam mo sa akin na mahalaga ako sa 'yo, gawa-gawa mo lang ba 'yon?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya na dinuro-duro pa si Joaquin habang sinisigawan ito.

"Stop it, Athena!" pagpigil ni Joaquin na hahawakan sana niya si Athena ngunit nakatanggap lang siya ng malakas na sampal mula rito.

"Sa mga araw na inalagaan mo ako, dinamayan mo 'ko, mga comforting words mo, alin do'n ang totoo?!" dagdag pa nito na halos pilitin na lang niya na magsalita dahil nawawalan na siya ng boses. Lumapit ito kay Joaquin at magkakasunod niyang pinagpapalo sa dibdib si Joaquin gamit ang kamay niya. "Manloloko ka! Pinatunayan mo lang sa akin na wala kang pinagkaiba kay Raoul!"

Joaquin grabbed Athena's wrist to stop beating her. "We're done, Athena. We're done!" Joaquin yelled that his restraint was obvious in his voice, so he wouldn't physically hurt Athena.

"Naalala mo pa ba 'yong sinabi mo, ha? Nangako ka! Nangako ka Joaquin na kapag nakita mo ulit 'yong taong halos tatlong taon mo'ng hinintay, hindi mo siya pakakawalan pa! Pero, ano 'tong ginagawa mo sa akin, ha?!"

"I don't care whatever you wanted to say. We're over. I'm done with all of this shit! Athena, I'm done with you!"

After Joaquin said that, Athena nodded consecutively. It seems that she has come to her senses, and it seems that there is nothing she can do about Joaquin's decision.

"Gawin mo kung ano'ng gusto mo. Iwanan mo 'ko kung iiwan mo 'ko. It's not my loss after all, Joaquin," seryosong tugon ni Athena na walang kahit anong emosyon ang mukha, "Salamat sa gago kung ama, dahil sa kaniya natutunan kong kapag may gustong umalis, pabayaan mong umalis!"

Athena forced herself to be brave and strong in this kind of situation because she couldn't be weak. Especially now that she is alone. She only has herself.

"If someone is stupid enough to walk away from you, be smart enough to let them leave." Diretso ang mga mata ni Athena na nakatitig kay Joaquin habang binibitawan ang mga salitang iyon kasabay ang pag-alis niya sa kwentas na nasa kaniyang leeg na bigay sa kaniya nito. Kinuha niya ang palad ni Joaquin pagkatapos ay inihulog niya roon ang kwentas. "This park is a reminder of where we began. This park serves as a reminder of the day that I let you be part of my life. And for the last time, this park has now witnessed how brave I was . . . to let you go."

Matapos 'yon ay unti-unting humakbang si Athena papalayo na dinaanan lang si Joaquin.

Even though you may not want someone to leave you, there are times when you just have to let them. Some things are completely out of our control. Even if you have the strength to fight for them, you must accept the reality.

The people that you can't live without, can live without you.

Joaquin simply took a glance as Athena walked away from him, with tears falling at the same time from his eyes. "I wish I never met you, Athena."

Athena hastily stopped a taxi and quickly got into it because she had been trying to stop herself from crying. When she entered, she only then shed tears she had been holding back.

.

Hindi naman pinansin ng taxi driver si Athena habang umiiyak ito. Sanay na siya na magkaroon ng mga pasaherong umiiyak. Wala siyang magagawa kung hindi ay hayaan ito. Hindi niya alam ang pinagdadaanan nito kaya mas gugustuhin na lang niya na manahimik at magkunwari na walang naririnig na paghikbi.