The Devil's Trap

Chapter 41: Twist of Fate

Chapter 41: Twist of Fate

Pinagmasdan ko ang pag-alis ni Helena. Nang tuluyan siyang mawala sa paningin ko ay halos bumagsak ako sa sofa. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko na patuloy sa malakas na pagtibok.

Ano'ng ibig sabihin ni Helena? She said she's saving me from a bigger pain that's why she's doing what she's doing. Pero may mas lalala pa ba sa sakit na nararamdaman ko? At kung meron man, kakayanin ko ba?

Iniwan ko ang painting sa sala bago umalis sa mansion ni Landon. Sa huling pagkakataon ay tinitigan ko ang karangyaan nito. The place would be taken down soon according to Helena. Maybe I should do the same thing. For me to start over and rebuild myself, I have to take this emotions down.

Nadatnan ko si Elyse sa condo nang umuwi ako noong hapong 'yon. Agad siyang tumayo mula sa sofa nang makita ako.

"Where have you been?" she asked. There was edge and sadness in her voice.

"Bakit?" Tanong ko.

Nag alala ako na isang masamang balita nanaman ang bubungad sa akin. I had enough of it for the past few days.

Inabot ni Elyse ang isang sobre. It was from the university. Agad ko itong binuksan at binasa ang nakalagay sa sulat. Natulala ako at hindi nakapagsalita.

"I made it," I whispered. "Nakapasa ako." I stared at Elyse who's half laughing and half in tears. "I passed the exchange program, Elyse!"

—

"So you would really leave?" Asked Elyse as we're about to go to sleep that night.

"I need it," I simple said.

"You've been in this city since you're a child."

"Maybe that's why I badly need to leave. There's a lot of memories in this place. But they weren't exactly good memories."

It all started when Dad left us. Then Mom got hospitalized. I had to sell everything we own for her to live. And I live this kind of life for her to return to who she was before Dad ruined us.

And there's Landon, who I sold my life for a blood contract. Landon who has a messed up family I came to face with. Landon who I tragically fell in love with.

"How about Landon?" Asked Elyse as if reading my mind. "The Monaghans?"

Hindi ako agad naka sagot. Tinitigan ko ang kisame.

"It's a tragic twist of fate," I said. "It will be like any other love that's faded."

There are things that are meant to stay as they are no matter how much we try to work them out. There are things that we love that we need to give up because the more we hold them tight, the more we lose ourselves.

People may say I'm a coward for letting things go on the first sight of threat. But all my life, I've been fighting too much for too long. I'm tired.

"Just promise me one thing, Denise," said Elyse as we lay side by side with each other. "Promise me you're not doing this to escape. Promise me you're doing this to start again," she said.

"I'm not escaping, Elyse. I'm starting again."

—

Kinabukasan pumunta ako sa coffee shop para mag paalam.

"Seryoso?" Sinabi ni Maureen. "Congrats, Denise!"

Niyakap niya ako at napatalon nang sinabi ko sa kanya ang tungkol sa exchange program.

"Pero ibig sabihin aalis ka na sa coffee shop?" Bigla siyang nalungkot. "Wala na akong kasangga."

"Nandito pa sila," tukoy ko sa ibang staff ng coffee shop. "Ingatan niyo si Miss Van para sa akin."