Villaverde Brothers Series 2: Jilting the Fearless✓

Epilogue

"Thank you for making me feel loved. For years that I was afraid to love, you let me conquer my fear. I am beyond grateful that for once, I had you in my life," she said while her tears were slowly rolling down her rosy cheeks.

Umiling ako. "Ang sakit naman ng hindi pa naman nagiging tayo pero nakikipaghiwalay ka na," saad ko. "I will wait for you because you can always come back to me, my love. Ikaw lang palagi para sa 'kin."

With her eyes full of tears, she went closer and kissed me on the lips. "I love you so much, my Jairus Mikael," she uttered sincerely. "Goodbye . . ."

I was hurt, deeply hurt that she didn't trust on me. I can fight for our love. Kaya ko para sa kaniya. Gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kaniya pero hindi siya naniwala sa akin. She chose to go with her father because she thought I can't handle my own life.

God, I was even willing to risk it just for her.

Pero siguro'y mas mabuti na ngang lumayo siya. It's better that she's away so that she won't be able to see how I fight with her dad. But I'm also sorry if I'm the one sending the man she first loved in the place where he truly belongs.

I know where she is in France, I just acted like I don't because I want her to breathe. Gusto kong ilayo muna siya sa magulong buhay. Hinayaan ko muna siyang mag-sip dahil baka sakaling pagbalik niya, handa na siya sa pag-ibig naming dalawa.

With the armed forces behind me, we trailed Mr. Villaverde's car as he planned to escape. I tried to thrice my speed limit because it looked like he already knew that we were chasing him.

I managed to get ahead of him but he bumped my car. Dahil sa mabilis kong paagpapatakbo ay nawalan ako ng kontrol sa madulas na daan dahil kasalukuyang umuulan ng mga panahon na 'yon kaya naman sumalpok na lang ako sa kung saan.

When I woke up, I keep on looking for her dahil siya lang ang tanging kailangan ko.

I apologized for what I did, but just like how lovely she is, she understands me. Naiintindihan niyang kailangan ko ring gawin 'yon para sa pamilya ng mga taong naulila. Naging pulis pa ako nang hindi oras pero hindi ako matatahimik no'ng mga oras na 'yon kung wala akong gagawin.

Nagpatuloy kami sa mga buhay namin. Tinulungan ko siya sa lahat dahil ayaw kong nakikita na nahihirapan siya. I wouldn't want her to see struggling. Pakiramdam niya silang dalawa na lang ni Reneil kaya ipinaramdam ko sa kanilang meron silang ako na handa silang yakapin sa tuwing hindi na nila kaya.

Habang nasa France siya, tinuloy ko rin ang plano niyang business kasabay ng pagpaplano ko kung paano mahuhuli ang tatay niya.

She was really surprised when she saw it. Hindi niya akalaing itutuloy ko pero kagaya nga nang sinabi ko sa kaniya, lahat ibibigay ko kahit hindi niya hilingin.

But then, as the time went by, I felt unappreciated. That I am not the one she really needs. That she only wants me whenever I am near her, pero kapag wala ako'y hindi niya ako hahanapin.

I wasn't numb to feel like she doesn't want to see me around. Para siyang nahihirapang makita ako. Hindi nakakatakas sa pandinig ko ang pagkairita sa boses niya sa tuwing makikita ako sa bahay nila.

Hindi na siya masayang nakikita ako.

"I'm sorry for my sister, kuya. That's how law school affected her. Medyo mabilis siyang mairita at ayaw niyang naiistorbo siya," Reneil said to me when he saw me in their garden. "Sana hindi mo siya sukuan."

It was not even in my vocabulary. Wala sa plano ko ang sukuan siya, but I also need time for myself. I need to think. I also need to breathe.

I felt really stupid that time when I saw how mad she was after saying that I declined a big offer in Spain. I saw how frustrated she was because of me. Her words hurt me and haunt me at night until I fall asleep.