Chapter 01

Jayde's Pov:

"Kate, I'm scared…" Gusto kong umiyak ngayon pero hindi ko magawa. Natatakot ako, kinakabahan ako, lahat na!

"Just go in there and talk to him. He called you because he wanted to talk, go ahead, Matilda Jayde. Talk to him."

I sniffed. "What if he wants to break up with me? I can't— I love him so much, Kate. I can't—"

"For Pete's sake, Matilda Jayde. Just this once, please… wag tanga, okay? He wanted to talk to you so freakin' give him the chance to talk.” Narinig ko siyang bumuntong-hininga. “I have to go, I need to prep a patient for a whipple. Basta ha? Wag tanga, utang na loob.”

Nagpaalam na si Kate sa akin kaya naiwan na naman akong nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano. Hindi ko alam ang magyayari pagkatapos nito pero kinakabahan ako. 

I let out a deep breath and fixed myself. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto ay naisipan ko nang bumaba. 

Kahit nanginginig ang tuhod ko ay pumasok pa rin ako sa loob. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko, walang masyadong tao ngayon pero hindi rin naman ganun kaunti ang mga nandito. Hindi masyadong magulo ang bar ngayon. Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip ni Tyrell kung bakit naisipan niyang sa bar pa na ito makipag-usap sa akin. This is the very last place I have expected to do a serious talk.

“Hi…”

Nandito kami ngayon sa VIP room. Pinapunta niya ako rito dahil mas tahimik daw dito at makakapag-usap kami ng maayos.

Hindi siya nagsasalita. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Umiwas ako ng tingin at tinanaw nalang ang mga tao sa baba. His room is surrounded by glass, we can see the people below who are enjoying themselves while trying to escape reality. 

“Tyrell―”

“Let’s break up.”

Tinignan ko siya na parang hindi makapaniwala. I expected this… alam ko sa sarili ko na ito ang mangyayari.

Ilang beses akong kumurap at ilang segundo ko rin siyang tinitigan para maghintay ng eksplenasyon pero mukhang wala siyang balak na bigyan ako ng rason kung saan ko ba ibubuhos ang mga luha ko. 

‘Yun na ‘yon? Wala man lang ba na explanation? Bakit parang ang dali lang itapon sa kanya ang lahat. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang maramdaman ko ngayon. Magagalit ba ako dahil wala man lang siyang ine-explain sa akin, masasaktan ba ako kasi nakikipaghiwalay na siya sa akin, o maiinis dahil pagkatapos ng lahat ng pinagdaanan namin, pagkatapos ng lahat ng sakripisyo ko para sa relasyon na ito ay mapupunta sa wala.

For God’s sake… I fought my family for him. I gave up my dream to have a family kasi sabi niya ay ayaw niyang mag karoon kami ng pamilya. Ayaw niya ng anak. 

“Are you fucking kidding me, Tyler Zachary?”

Umiling siya, “Do I look like I’m joking?” He asked.

“Why?” Tanong ko sa kanya. “I mean, you said you wanted to talk. You’re now breaking up with me, what’s the matter? Anong nagawa kong mali? Ano rason mo para humiwalay na sa akin?” Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko. Gusto ko siyang intindihin pero hindi ko naman siya maintindihan. Wala siyang ginagawa para maintindihan ko siya!

“Nothing, I mean… I don’t want to be with you anymore. I’m done…”

Napaawang ang labi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I chuckled. “So you are playing with me?” Lumapit ako sa kanya at tinignan siya sa mata. Maya-maya lang ay naramdaman ko nalang na dumapo ang palad ko sa pisngi niya.

“You son of a bitch…” Sinampal ko muli siya pero ni hindi man lang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. It’s like he is not validating my feelings. Parang wala lang sa kanya na may nasasaktan siya.

“Tyler naman… utang na loob, wala akong time para sa mga ganito mo―”

“Babe, are you done―oh…”

Napunta ang atensyon ko sa isang babae na biglang pumasok sa kwarto at tinawag na babe ang kasama ko. Malamang, sino ba samin ang dapat niyang tawagin na babe? Malamang, itong bwisit na ‘to kasi hinding-hindi ko naman siya papatulan.

“Babe?” Tanong ko sa babae. Nakita kong parang nabahag ang buntot niya at napaatras nang tingnan ko siya. Nalipat ang tingin ko kay Tyler. 

"Siya ba?" Hindi niya ako sinagot. Nilagpasan niya lang ako at lumapit na sa babae. 

"Let's go."

Napaawang ang labi ko. "No. No… NO!" umiling ako habang umiiyak. "Tyrell please…"

Hindi niya ako pinapansin at lumabas na sila ng kwarto. Humabol ako sa kanila at hinawakan ang kamay niya. 

"Love, please… don't leave me. Please…"

Napalingon siya sa akin. Bakas na bakas ang gulat sa kanyang mukha nang tingnan niya ako. Lumingon siya sa paligid at napapikit ng mariin.

"Let go, Jayde."

Umiling ako sa kanya. "No… I will never let you go. Please, love. Ako nalang… I love you so much Tyrell Zachary. Please, choose me…"

Umiling siya kaya napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay niya. 

Hindi ko pa kaya… sobrang sakit. Pinagpalit niya ako sa iba, kaya ko sana kung iba ang dahilan, pero ito? Hindi ko kaya… 

Hindi ko pa siya kayang makita na masaya kasama ang iba. Hindi ko napaghandaan ito. 

This is all so unexpected.

I've never expected any of this…

We were happy, we were fine. 

"Let go of me, Matilda Jayde…"

Umiling ako. "Ty please… I love you, please… don't leave me," napaluhod ako sa lupa at nagmamakaawa ko siyang tinignan.

"Please… don't leave me like this. What went wrong, Ty? Please, we can work this out…"

Wala na akong pakialam kung maraming tao na ang nakatingin. I know that this looks desperate but I am not ready to be left alone without even hearing explanations from him.

Lumuhod din siya sa harap ko at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi. Mas lalo akong napaiyak nang halikan niya ang noo ko.

"I know you're hurting right now. I know that you want explanations or reasons why I want this to end. Believe me, I have thought of this for a long time and I have made a decision to let go without giving you the exact reason and explanation."

He kissed my eyes and smiled at me. "I know that this is gonna hurt you real bad and it will leave a big scar, but this is for the best," umiling siya sa akin at pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "Promise me that you will never do this again. Never beg and kneel for a man who is not worthy of loving. Okay?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Tumayo na siya at tinalikuran ako. He left me with another girl in his arms. He left me crying and in pain while he gently held her waist like it was his life.

Maybe I'm the one who is not worth loving... 

Owen's Pov:

My arms are folded on my chest while watching her. Everyone here was staring at her because of the pleading and kneeling she had made for that jerk who seems like he doesn't give a shit about her.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang iwan siya ng lalaking iyon ng gano'n ang itsura niya. I looked around to see if there is someone who has an intention to help her. I saw one who was about to go and help her get up but my eyes widened when I saw Travis approaching her.

Oh no…

Mabilis akong naglakad papalapit sa babae at tinulungan siyang tumayo. She was sobbing and her eyes and cheeks were all pluffy.

Her green eyes looked at me while shredding tears, and just like that, I felt like my heart melted.

She was like a lost girl who needed comfort. A girl who needs someone to assure her that everything is gonna be okay. Someone that will help her find her way back to her mother's arms.

"Let's get you out of here." 

Nang tumango siya sa akin ay inalalayan ko na siya palabas. Alam kong pinapanood ako ngayon ni Travis at malamang ay sangkatutak na tanong na naman ang matatanggap ko bukas pero hindi ko itinigil ang ginagawa ko.

I don't care if I would look like a kind-hearted man that helps the helpless, but I just know one thing. I need to get her out of here…

"I was hurt and angry at the same time! He left me with a woman who doesn't even know how to respect a relationship! I mean, she knows that he is committed. She knows that Tyrell is going to break up with me, pero hinayaan niya lang iyon. Parang natutuwa pa siya na nakakasira siya ng relasyon ng iba."

I sighed. I have been listening to her story while sitting at the roof of my car for almost two hours now. Nakabisado ko na lahat ng nangyari sa buhay niya.

My car is parked in front of a convenience store. We're sitting on the roof of it while drinking beer because that is all they got in here.

"He's also at fault. I feel like the woman is just a victim here of your ex-boyfriend's shenanigans."

Tinignan ko siya mula sa gilid ng mga mata ko. Her cheeks are all red and she already looks drunk.

"I was supposed to attend my sister's engagement dinner tonight. I refused to go because of him…"

I nodded my head twice. "Hmm, I was supposed to have my engagement tonight. I didn't come."

I heard her gasped. I have this sudden urge to smile but that isn't strong enough to beat my poker face. 

"Gago, seryoso ka ba? Bakit?"

I raised both of my brows because I was shocked when she asked a personal question. I turned my head to look at her. Her eyes are all pluffy, her cheeks are as red as a tomato, and her eyes are already sleepy.

Maybe it wouldn't hurt if I just let myself out to a drunk, broken, and pretty girl?

"Well… I have this friend, a business partner who is charming, kind, and smart. I admit, I kinda like being with her. I feel comfortable around her," napailing ako. "Pero hindi iyon makakasali sa factors ko sa pagpili ng asawa. She's my friend, umamin siya sa akin na higit pa sa kaibigan ang tingin niya sa akin. I rejected her and made her understand that I only treat her as a friend."

"Ouch, sakit, pighati…"

I chuckled, natatawa talaga ako kapag nagsasalita siya. 

"Oh anong nangyari? Bakit biglang may engagement?"

I pursed my lips and clenched my fist as I remember the moment my Dad walked in my office to command me on marrying her.

"A month later, I was forced into an arranged marriage."

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat na may kamay na humawak sa balikat ko. Itataboy ko sana ito pero bigla niyang niyakap ang braso ko at sinandal ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ko.

"It's okay… everything's gonna be just fine…"

I scoffed. "How could you even say that? You don't even know how it feels to let someone control your life—"

"Oh believe me, dude. Alam na alam ko ang feeling na iyan."

Right… I forgot about her story… She was the black sheep of the family. Siya ang least favorite, siya ang laging palpak sa mata ng lahat. Siya na ginagawa ang gusto ng mga magulang niya para kahit minsan lang ay maging proud naman ito sa kanya.

We are different. Her's is more difficult than mine. I get to refuse to follow my mother's footsteps but she doesn't. 

I can't imagine my life being kept in the backseat while someone is controlling the steering wheel to lead you to the path that you don't like.

"Can I stay at your house? I'm sorry kung ganito kakapal ang mukha ko, It's just that, wala akong mauuwian ngayon dahil panigurado na sesermunan lang naman ulit ako sa bahay pag umuwi ako. I just wanted to escape—"

I held her jaw and kissed her. Kitang-kita ko kung paano lumaki ang mga mata niya nang halikan ko siya. Ang kaninang mapula niyang pisngi ay mas mapula na ngayon. 

I smirked. "Ang ingay mo."