The Aftermath of Pleasure (SPG)

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16 | Destiny

Ilang oras na ako sa shower. Hindi maalis sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni Zach.

Ten years? Ten years niya akong mahal?

But I knew I was better. I had to be. Hindi pwedeng magtatanga tanga na naman ako ngayon. I couldn't afford to be broken again lalo na't may anak na ako.

I promised Lara that I'd stay with her hanggang sa maka recover si Stephan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit iyon ang naging desisyon ko.

Bakit ba kasi hindi mo muna pinag-iisipan ng maigi bago ka mag desisyon, Thalia?

Now, everything has changed.

I have to actually fucking stay in the Philippines and Stephan's condition gives no assurance of a fast recovery.

Ang gusto pa ng mga kamag-anak ko sa Badian ay dito muna ako sa Pilipinas, ngayon na pumanaw si Auntie.

I'm really fucked.

I need to find a temporary job.

Iyon ang ginawa ko. I spent the rest of the night trying to find jobs online. I told Lara about my plan and she assured me that she'd help me find one.

Lara:
Thals, you should send your resumé at CFCV. You'd definitely be a qualified accountant doon.

That's exactly what I did. I'm just desperate to find a job. Who knows how long I have to stay?

Lintik na indecisiveness kasi 'yan, Thalia Cecilia.

I did my usual nighttime routine. Nakipag facetime din ako kay Lascaux. I found out na tinawagan pala ni Mamita si Marie, at doon na sila tumuloy sa mansion.

"Bakit ka matatagalan?" Mamita's cold voice echoed through the phone. "Magpapa buntis ka na naman ba diyan o magiging kerida?" She demanded.

I sighed. She had every right to act like this. Hindi niya ginusto na umuwi ako sa Pilipinas. She was sure something would come up. And turns out, she was right. Hindi ko magawang sabihin sa kanya na nakita ko si Zach because then, she would freak out and drag my ass back to Los Angeles.

I stared at the screen. Lascaux looks very sleepy. Gusto ko siyang hagkan. I really miss him...

Hindi kalaunan ay nakatulog na din si Lascaux. I'm not sure what time it is in LA right now. I decided to go to bed as well.

It turns out, I couldn't. My head was torturing me.

He was so handsome.

Hindi ko inakala, let alone imagine, na ganoon ang muling pagkikita namin. I thought we'd reunite years after, when we're both married. Then I'd have the guts to apologize to Shai.

Oh, my dear Shai. I didn't even get to say goodbye. Bakit bigla nalang siyang pumanaw? Why was I such an insensitive and selfish friend not to know that she was terminally ill?

What I'd give para maibalik ang oras.

Naglandas ulit ang isip ko patungo kay Zach. Seeing him earlier... parang bumalik ulit ang lahat. All the years I spent trying to fix myself was useless. All my walls broke down.

He matured. Mas tumaas siya and his muscles got more defined. His hazel eyes seemed sad but nonetheless, he'a changed so much physically.

I closed my eyes. Tama na, Thalia. Tama na. Don't be stupid.

I planned everything in my head. Kung paano ko siya iiwasan. But I'm not sure I'll see him again after that confrontation. Sumikip ang dibdib ko nang maalala ang tanong niya tungkol kay Lascaux.