"You're asking me to leave and break up with you?" Jazen asked in between of his sobs. "Hell no, Ara."
"Jazen, please.. I'm begging you." I said as I wipe these tears off my face.
"Do you think it's easy for me to tell the words you want to hear from me?" He said. "No, Ara. It's not easy. And it will never be."
"I know! I know!" I can't help but to shout trying to endure the pain. "But this is the only way to make everything alright without hurting anyone.. without hurting you.."
"This isn't the only the only way.." he said loosing his strength. "You don't have to leave me.. You can just leave the country without leaving me.." he said in a soft voice as he held my hands.
"I'm sorry.." I said as I walked away from him leaving him crying with his tears falling to the ground. I then drove myself home just as what Ali told me. When I got home, I changed my clothes then I lay down on my bed to take some rest but instead of taking a rest, I found myself crying in pain, blaming myself for everything that has happened.
"Ara?" I heard someone called my name, trying to wake me up from sleeping. Sinubukan kong idilat ang mata ko upang makita kung sino ang gumigising sa akin. "You cried again?"
"I thought ako yung susundo sa'yo sa school, Ali?" I asked.
"I called Jill to pick me up nalang para makapagpahinga ka. She's worried din kasi sayo." Ali said. "I also want to apologize for telling Jazen without asking you first."
"That's fine, no worries." I said then I smiled. "Actually, that helped me nga para magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na kausapin si Jazen."
"How are you feeling na? How did it went?" Jill asked.
"He doesn't want me to break up with him." I said. "So I asked him to.." said I then I once again found myself crying on Jill's arm.
"It's fine to cry yourself out.." Jill said while she's caressing my back. "Everything will be alright in time. You did great. You just proved how strong you are to make things fine."
"Always remember that we're here to support you in everything." Ali said then she hugged me which made me burst in tears.
"I'm really thankful for the both of you." I said wiping my tears.
"Always, Ara." Jill said. "But, care to tell me what really happened. Ali told me the story in a not detailed way."
"Dad wants me to study abroad. Leaving the country behind, including my friends and loved ones." I said.
"Yun lang pala. You can go back here after studying." Jill said.
"For good." I said which made the smile on Jill's lips fade away.
"Ohh." Jill reacted. "Why don't you ask them to leave you here nalang?" asked Jill.
"They told me na if hindi ako sasama sa ibang bansa with them, I won't be studying law anymore. Instead, I'll study architecture." I explained. "But, I think, even though sasama ako sa kanila sa ibang bansa, Architecture pa rin ang uwi ko."
"Why? I thought?" Ali asked.
"Architect ang parents ko. They want me na ipagpatuloy yung legacy ng pamilya." sabi ko.
"How complicated." Ali said then Jill and I both agreed.
"Nakausap mo na si Jade?" I asked Jill.
"Not yet. Should I tell her?" Jill asked. "I don't think I should tell her. Magaalala 'yon ng sobra."
"Karapatan niyang malaman yung nangyayari. Kapatid siya ni Jazen. Kaibigan natin siya." I said.
"I agree with Ara." Ali said. "But may point din naman si Jill. Let's cool things down muna before telling her."
"Yes, I agree." Jill said. "Let's eat muna, may dala kaming foods ni Ali nasa living room."
We went to the living room para kumain. Ali and Jill bought some dumplings, takoyaki and milkteas for us. Ito na rin ang kinain namin for dinner. Jill also decided to sleep here to comfort me kahit isang gabi lang daw. In the middle of eating our dinner, we heard Ali's phone's ringing.
"It's allen.." Ali said.
"Answer it." I said.
"Hello? Allen?" Ali said.
"Ali? Kasama mo ba si Ara?" natatarantang tanong ni Allen na rinig naming tatlo dahil nakaloudspeak ang call.
"Bakit? Anong nangyari?" tanong ni Ali.
"Jazen's so wasted. Nagwawala siya dito, she's looking for Ara." ani Allen mula sa kabilang linya. "I thought of calling you kasi baka matulungan niyo kami." I heard Allen said. I asked Ali to give me the phone so that I can talk to Allen.
"We're on our way. Pakalmahin niyo si Jazen, okay? And Please make sure na hindi siya makakasakit at hindi siya masasaktan." I said.
"Sure, Ara. Ingat kayo." Allen said.
"Thank you, Allen." I said then I ended the call.
"I thought.." Jill said.
"Kaibigan pa rin natin sila. They need help and we're helping them." I said trying to change what Jill's thinking and I guess she's thinking about me being marupok.
We then headed to the parking. Jill drove us to the club kung nasaan sila Allen. Pagdating namin sa tapat ng club ay naabutan namin si Allen, Kio at Jazen na nasa tapat na ng club.
"Ba't kayo nandito sa labas?" Ali asked.
"Para tumigil na sa pagwawala si Jazen." ani Kio. "Tumigil nga nung narinig atang kausap ka ni Allen. Buti nalang kumalma."
"Hanep, lakas ng tama neto sa'yo, Ara." natatawang sabi ni Allen. "Ano bang nangyari ba't nagkakaganto 'to?"
"We broke up." plain kong sabi na ikinagulat ni Allen maging ni Kio. "Bring him sa condo niyo. Susunod kami." I said tsaka kami sumakay sa kotse. Kasunod kami ng kotse ni Kio na ngayon ay patungo sa condo nila Jazen. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko para gawin 'to pero nagaalala lang ako. Ang tanging iniisip ko nalang ay kaibigan ko si Jazen kagaya nila Allen at walang masama sa pagaalala sa kaibigan.
"Where's Jazen?" Jill asked.
"Nasa kwarto niya, natutulog." ani Kio.
"Wag muna sanang makarating 'to kay Jade. Ayokong magalala siya." I said then they nodded.
Lahat kami ay nakaupo sa couch habang kinukwento ni Jill at Ali ang nangyari sa amin ni Jazen. I asked them to tell Kio and Allen dahil pagod na 'kong magisip at baka umiyak nanaman ako. Habang naguusap kaming lima ay nakareceive ng text si Allen mula kay Jazen.
"Anong sabi?" Ali asked. Allen handed me the phone so that I can read Jazen's text.
'Where's Ara?'
'I thought she's gonna be here? Umalis na ba siya?'
'Did she leave me again?'
I couldn't help but to cry as I read Jazen's text message. I gave the phone back to Allen then I wiped the tears off my face. I then stood up and told them I'm gonna be checking Jazen and they nodded.
"Ara.." I heard Jazen's voice as I entered his room. "I thought.."
"I asked Allen to bring you here. You're literally wasted." I said. "What's happening, Jazen?"
"I don't know. I just can't do this." He said.
"Do what?" I asked.
"I can't live without you! Don't you understand how hard it is to accept the fact that I don't have you no more?" He said then there's his tears again. His tears that keeps on breaking me apart.
"I'm sorry.." I said. "Please, let us not hurt ourselves anymore. Let's just forget about us."
"You know I can't. You're strong and I'm not. You can and I can't. I tried, but end up hurting again to the thought of you." He said in a soft voice.
"Jazen please.." I said with my eyes closed. "Please, let me go.."
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