[BME 3] : BE MY ESCAPE

15. The Great Wall of Arianna.

Why did TJ keep on leaving her? She gave up everything for him. She gave up Angelo. She gave up a perfect life just to be with him, now where was he?

"A..." Hinawakan ni Brianna ang kamay niya at niyakap siya.

Napahagulgol na lang siya sa kambal niya.

"Am I not allowed to be happy? All I wanted is to be happy, B. I just want to be happy."

Didn't she deserve to be happy?

Lalong humigpit ang yakap niya kay Brianna, kasi kung hindi, feeling niya hindi na kakayanin ng katawan niya ang panghihina.

"I gave up Angelo for him. I chose him. I gave up Angelo for him," humahagulgol na sabi niya kay Brianna. Kahit ilang beses niyang sabihin 'yon, alam niyang huli na dahil habang buhay na pagsisisihan at pagsisisihan niya na lang ang desisyon niyang 'yon.

"Angelo had never left me. He had never hurt me. Not once. And I gave him up."

Why did she gave him up?

"I know. I'm sorry," Brianna said sympathetically.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've been selfish. I'm sorry I make the wrong decisions. I'm sorry I gave up on someone who had never and would never give up on me—"

"No," Brianna said and pulled away from her. Pero biglang nag-iba ang boses ni Brianna, at sa nanlalabong mga mata, hindi na si Brianna ang nasa harap niya. Si Angelo na. "I'm the one who's sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't enough. I'm sorry that when you told me you wanted to be happy, it wasn't with me. I'm sorry that by you being happy meant I have to let you go, I did. I'm sorry, Arianna. I'm sorry I loved you that much."

Arianna began crying so hard that she had to hold on to Angelo just so she wouldn't fall down.

"No. God, no. Angelo, no. Please, no. Don't leave me. Please, don't leave me. Please..."

— — —

ARIANNA slowly felt the wetness in her eyes and what felt like a hand touching her face.

Pagmulat niya ng mga mata niya, ilaw na nanggagaling sa TV ang sumalubong sa kanya at nasa couch pa rin siya.

Oh, God. Had she been crying in her sleep again? At anong oras na ba? Si Angelo ba, nakauwi na?

When she sensed a movement at her back, she immediately looked behind and saw Angelo's back and he was already walking up the stairs.

"Ge..." natatarantang tumayo siya at pinahid ang mga luha niya.

Pero napahinto siya. 'Yung naramdaman niyang may humaplos sa mukha niya kanina. Had that been real?

Did Angelo do that?

She turned off the TV and followed Angelo up their room.

But again, Angelo was quick on avoiding her. Nasa shower na agad 'to nang makapasok siya sa kwarto.

Nanlulumong naupo na lang siya sa dulo ng kama nila at tumingin sa orasan.

Pasado alas dose na naman ng gabi.

Hindi na naman karaniwang uwi ni Angelo 'to.

Apat na araw na siyang hindi kinikibo ni Angelo. He'd been giving her the cold shoulder.

Apat na araw na rin simula ng malaman niya kay Brianna na alam na ni Angelo ang pagtataksil nila ni TJ. Apat na araw na ring hindi niya kinakausap si TJ. Natatakot kasi siya. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin.