Fragments - KathNiel One Shots

Forever

"I know. Pero don't let her go. Tiwala."

Nasira niya iyon.

"I don't know, Hindi ko na alam. Her words strucked me, so bad. Hindi mo alam kung paano nanikip itong puso ko nang bitawan niya iyong mga salitang iyon. I just lost it all. Nahiya na ako, I don't deserve her anymore. Besides, marami namang nanliligaw sa kanya, bakit pa siya babalik sa tarantadong katulad ko na minsan na siyang nasaktan?" Mainam na minasahe niya ang sentido.

"Kahit irason kong hindi ko kailanman sinadya, Hindi pa rin tama. Dapat lang siguro.... na kalimutan nalang niya ako ng tuluyan. Babalik nalang ako sa Amerika."

Ramdam niya ang titig ng kaibigan sa kanya. Alam na rin niya ang balak nitong itanong.

"Paano itong bahay?"

Pinalibot niya ang tingin sa bahay na kinatatayuan niya.

Every single detail.

Everything... was how Kathryn wanted it to be.

He broke out a smile.

Oo. Pinagawa niya ang bahay two years ago. He planned to gain her back and then show the house.

And it was all futile now.

"I guess it's for sale."

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"Hindi mo man lang sinabi sakin?" She could hear the couple bantering from inside.

Nang kakatok na siya, natigilan siya sa sunod na narinig.

"Bakit? May magbabago ba? Tanggap na ni DJ, and Kathryn's okay, diba? Hindi naman dapat na nirerestrict ni Daniel ang sarili niya. Give him credit. He tried. Hindi naman siya sumuko diba? He never wanted to back down, pero si Kathryn na iyon. Daniel would do anything, even if it's one that could eternally hurt him, for her. Kaya noong umayaw si Kath, he just snapped. Cut him a break, may puso rin siya. Kailangan niya rin magpahinga. And I don't think he's going to get that rest he deserves if he stays. Tama lang na tumulak na siya pabalik."

Napaapak siya pabalik.

He had left.

Daniel left, again.

Right when she was about to give in.

Napaawang ang bibig niya ng bumukas ang pinto.

"Kath." They looked at her, eyes sad and sorry.

"It's okay, I'm okay. That's good for him, you know? I wish him the best."

But her heart was protesting.

Screaming, at her, for pretending.

"May.... pinabibigay siya sayo." Nanatiling nakatungo siya habang naririnig ang papalayong tapak.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakalahad na sakanya ang isang envelope.

"Salamat."

Saka siya tumakbo.

To my greatest love,

I don't think I'll be able to forget you. But maybe this is the curse I get for leaving. What a beautiful curse.

I understand. I'm not mad. I can't ever be mad.

I understand that you can't give me a chance. I, myself, don't think I even deserve it. But hey, at least I tried. I'm happy I tried. My last moments with you were painful, but I'll still keep coming back to it. Because it's you. It's always you. You will always be the only one, Kathryn.