"What is it dad?" Tila kinakabahang tanong ni Maddox. Hindi ko din mapigilang kabahan sa ano mang sasabihin nito.
"It's about your mom." Sambit ng ama nito.
"What about mom?"
Pumikit ng ilang segundo si Emmanuel bago itinuloy ang sasabihin.
"Remember when I told you about your mother's affair with another man? I've always known she was cheating on me but I never confronted her because I was afraid she'd leave me." His voice broke while trying to remember that painful memory.
It must've been very painful for him to sleep in one bed with his wife knowing she have someone else. It must've been very painful to eat a meal with her knowing she's thinking of another man and it must've been very painful for him to love a woman knowing she loves someone else. But Emmanuel endured all of it because he loves her. That is the kind of love I admire the most.
Nakikita ko ngayom kung gaano siya nasasaktan habang ikinukwento sa amim ni Maddox ang nangyari.
"That day she died was the day she decided to leave me. I begged her, I even knelt in front of her, crying. Pero sumama parin siya sa lalaki niya. Hinabol ko silang dalawa. It was a rainy day, napakabilis ng takbo ng mga sasakyan namin pero wala akong pami-alam ng mga sandaling iyon. Ang gusyo ko lang ay ang mahabol sila. And then everything happened so fast, I watched as they lost control of their car and... and... I'm so sorry Penelope." He cried and seemed like he couldn't continue anymore.
"What? Why are you apologizing to me?" Kinakbahan kong tanong.
"When did your parents died?" Bagkus ay tanong nito.
"A-april 23, 2009." Sagot ko.
I heard Maddox gasp beside me and from that moment, I already knew what happened.
"Ang sasakyan ng asawa ko ang nakabangga sa mga magulang mo Penelope. At kung hindi ko siguro sila hinabol ay baka buhay pa si Katrina at ang mga magulang mo. Sana mapatawad mo ako Penelope. "
"N-no... t-this cant b-be. I m-mean... No." My voice was shaking.
"Dad, bakit ngayon mo lang ito sinabi?" Umiilinh na tanong ni Maddox.
"Sa tuwing nakikita kita noon ay naalala ko ang nangyari at ang sakit ng pag-iwan ng asawa ko sa akin. Kaya hindi ko din sinabi sa inyo ang totoo ay dahil alam kong kayong dalawa ang pinaka masasaktan dito. That's why I tried to keep you apart from each other. "I'm so sorry Penelope."
"No..." Hindi makapinawalang sambit ko habang umiiling. Panong ang ina ni Maddox ang pumatay sa mga magulang ko? He must be lying. This can't be!
"El." Maddox tried to touch me but I backed away from him.
My eyes are hazy from all the tears. It's been nine years since my parents died but it's still painful for me. Nang mamatay ang mga magulang ay muntik kong hindi kayanin ang sakit. Bakit nadamay pa sila sa isang pagkakamali lang?
Alam kong may kasama sila sa nangyaring aksidente. Pero bakit hindi ko alam na isa palang Preston ang nakabangga sa kanila? Bakit itinago ito sa akin? I was too young before to even care and I was to young to be handling such great pain, pero ngayon lang pumapasok sa akin ang mga tanong na to?
"I'm sorry but I loved my wife so much, ayokong madungisan ang pangalan niya kaya pinagtakpan ko ang nangyaring aksidente. Kaya kahit ang pamilya mo Penelope ay hindi alam kung sino ang nakabangga sa mga magulang mo. All they knew was that, all the people involved in the accident are dead. No one knew she cheated on my except from my family."
"Bakit? Bakit..." Gusto kong magwala, sumigaw sa harapan niya pero wala akong magawa. I'm too weak to do that.
Sinubukan ulit lumapit sa akin ni Maddox pero lumayo ako.
"I need to leave this place." Sambit ko habang humihikbi. I can't stay in this place any longer.
Tumakbo akong palabas ng mansyon na iyon. Dahil sa malabo na ng paningin ko mula sa mga luha ko ay nadapa ako.
I fell on the floor when I felt Maddox grab my wrist.
"I need to go." Sambit ko na umiiyak pa din. Pinilit kong makatayo, hindi alintana ang sakit ng pagkahulog ko.
"El, please. I'm so sorry about your parents but you can't leave me. Not again. Please." From his voice, I know he had been crying but I cant get myself ro look at him.
"I need time to think. Please Maddox, let me go." Hinila ko ang braso ko mula sa pagkakahawak nito at naglakad palayo.
"Let's overcome this together." I heard him say and I froze.
My shoulders were shaking from crying but I couldn't get myself to look back at him.
"I have to do this alone. I need to." I whispered but I know he heard me and chose not to follow me.
I love Maddox but I love my parents too.
YOU ARE READING
The Deal ✔
Random[Warning: Some chapters of this story will be consisting mature contents. Read with your own risk, you've been warned] It was a simple deal. A one night stand, Penelope made sure there were no strings attached. It was simple and straightforward but...
Chapter 44: Torn Up. Again
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