Run, Zhian (EL VICENTE SERIES #2) COMPLETED

Kabanata 39

Martyr hearts are the strongest, they say. I disagree to that. They are the weakest. They're afraid to face the reality, that one sided love is not always alright. That downfalls is enough to make you realize everything.

The strongest heart, is the ones who let go. The ones who accepts the downfalls and decide to learn from it instead of crying and falling apart.

And I refuse to be one of those weakest hearts. I was one of those. But I will never stay weak. A downfall is enough.

Dahil kung paulit ulit lang din namang masasaktan, hindi ba't parang wala namang katuturan iyon?

You love someone. They broke your heart. Then, you accepted and love him again. Then he broke your heart again. That cycle is a bullshit. He broke your heart, then fuck off. Never stay. Its for you to grow and for him to learn.

Thinking about Coen breaks my heart the most. Hindi ko alam kung papaano.. Breaking his heart means that I'll kill myself, too. But what should I do? I can't stay. Ayaw kong ipagdamot ang kalayaan ni Dylan at sa akin. I don't want to be selfish.

Naupo ako katabi si Coen. Diretso ang mukha ko habang nakikinig sa usapan ng mga magulang ni Dylan. Tumuwid ako ng upo nang dumating si Dylan sa dining.

Our eyes met..

Bloodshot. Cold. That's what it is.

"Mama, Lola said you also have a house in El Vicente? Where is that, Mama?" inosenteng tanong ng anak ko matapos ibida ni Mrs. Manzanilla ang tungkol doon.

She chuckled. "Oh, that's where your Mama and Papa met!"

Hiniwa ko ang steak na niluto ng mga maid dito. I met them. Galing pala sila sa mansiyon din ng mga Manzanilla.

Dylan looked at his son. "Do you want to go there?"

Huminto saglit ang paghiwa ko ng steak. Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko ang pagtango ni Coen at medyo namimilog ang mata dahil sa excitement. I grabbed a water and sipped on it just to clear the lumps on my throat.

"You have your school, Coen, hindi pwede.." malamig na sabi ko.

Mr. Manzanilla chuckled. "Well, you can go there on weekends. Or might as well, Dylan can do something about his school." he smirked.

Mrs. Manzanilla laughed awkwardly.
"If Coen really likes it, then, of course right? Ipapahanda ko kaagad ang mansiyon pagdating ninyo-"

"We can stay at my house." sumulyap sa akin si Dylan. "I'll talk to his adviser tomorrow. We will visit there.."

Matindi akong lumunok. Buong oras sa hapag ay wala akong ginawa kundi suminghap ng tahimik at magreklamo sa likod ng utak ko. Coen wants the idea of going home in El Vicente.

Gusto ko.. pero hindi pwede. I mean, I'm ready to go home and I heard that the city was now in good terms with my father. Kaso lang, how can I even manage when I'm with Dylan?

Umalis na din ang mag-asawang Manzanilla nang matapos magdinner. Antok na si Coen kaya dinahilan ko iyon para i-akyat ang anak ko. I left Dylan downstairs. Nang bumalik ako sa kwarto para kumuha ng damit ko dahil magshashower ako kay Coen ay wala doon si Dylan.

I went back and changed my son's clothes. Naligo na din ako doon at nagbihis.

"Where's Papa?" humihikab na tanong ni Coen nang pinatay ko ang ilaw at tumabi sa kaniya.

I'll sleep here. That's what I planned a while ago. Ayaw kong matulog doon. Surely, Dylan will make a way to straddle me again.

"He'll be here later.." hinalikan ko ang noo niya. "Sleep now, Coen. Maaga ka pa bukas."