Semua Bab The Rebirth of Love: Bab 71 - Bab 80

THEA'S P. O. V"What?! Sa Egypt talaga? Ang weird ng trip ni Kuya, ha?” Buntung-hininga lang ang sinagot ko sa reaksyon ni Zara pagkatapos kong i-kwento sa kanya ang kakaibang trip ng kuya n'ya."I know right. Ewan ko sa kanya kung bakit sa dinami-dami ng mga bansa na kilala for symbolizing romance, talagang do'n pa sa historical place ginusto n'yang pumunta. I love history, pero hindi ko lang talaga in-expect na do'n n'ya ako dadalhin for a 'romantic' getaway,” sabi ko pa."Pero sasama ka?”"Syempre. Tsaka excited din naman ako kahit papaano. First out of the country namin 'to ni Ruan. Kaya importante na rin 'to for me,” sagot ko.Tumangu-tango si Zara."Sabagay. You know what? Hayaan mo na lang muna si Kuya sa trip n'ya. Who knows? Baka may binabalak s'yang pakulo or something para i-surprise ka. Hindi imposibleng mangyari 'yon, ha? 'Wag ka!”Napangiti na lang ako at aaminin ko, may parte sa akin na umasang sana nga."Anyway, let's go change the topic. Saan mo gustong mag-malling to

THEA'S P. O. VHindi na namin natapos 'yung two-week long sana na bakasyon namin sa Egypt. The flight home was a torturous exercise in avoidance. The silence between Ruan and me was thick, suffocating, a stark contrast to the lively conversations that had once filled our days. He tried, several times, to apologize, to explain, but his attempts felt hollow, his words lacking the sincerity needed to bridge the chasm that had opened up between us. His apologies were mere whispers. Hindi ko halos maramdaman.I refused to engage, my silence a deliberate wall against his attempts at reconciliation. Mas pinili kong 'wag s'yang pansinin. His words, once so captivating, now sounded hollow, meaningless. The romantic getaway had turned into a chilling revelation, a journey not into the past, but into the heart of Ruan’s unresolved grief, a grief that threatened to consume us both.Pagkahatid n'ya sa akin sa apartment ko, ni hindi ko s'ya nilingon ulit. I didn't bid any goodbyes nor I gave him a

RUAN'S P. O. VThe date with Thea had been perfect, a much-needed respite from the recent turmoil. We had walked along the beach, hand in hand, the gentle rhythm of the waves a soothing counterpoint to the quiet intimacy of our conversation. We talked about the future, about our dreams, about our hopes. For a few precious hours, the shadows of the past receded, replaced by the warmth of our renewed love.Biglaan lang at hindi planado ang date na 'yon pero masasabi kong worth it. Mas worth it pa kaysa sa naging trip namin pa-Egypt.After our date, I drove her home, the familiar streets bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun."Bye, my Hope. Sana, nag-enjoy ka sa mini date natin,” I smiled as I kiss her forehead.I hug her and she hugged me just as tight as I did."Nag-enjoy ako. Sobra,” she whispered.We lingered at her doorstep, reluctant to end the evening, our goodbyes drawn out, our embrace lingering long after the initial farewell. The warmth of her touch, the softness of her sk

THEA'S P. O. VThe phone call sliced through the quiet contentment of my afternoon, the jarring ring a stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere of my office.It was a call from the prison, a voice crackling through the line, informing me of Tiya Purita's alleged mild heart attack. Si Tiya Purita—'yung tiyahin ko na kamuntikan na akong maipangbayad ng utang at maibenta pa kay Tejada. The same woman who had nearly destroyed my life. A wave of unease washed over me, a mixture of apprehension and a lingering sense of duty.Mabuti na lang din at wala sa opisina si Ruan. Umalis s'ya saglit at hindi na ako sumama. I just texted him to know what I was up to. Pupunta ako sa kulungan.Despite the betrayal, the near-miss, the lingering resentment, a sense of responsibility tugged at me. She was still my aunt, however twisted our relationship had become. And despite everything, a small part of me couldn't bring myself to abandon her completely. I decided to pay her a visit, a decision fueled by a

THEA'S P. O. VThe quiet of my apartment wrapped around me, a comforting silence that contrasted sharply with the turmoil of the past few weeks. As I prepared for bed, my mind drifted back over the events of my life, a tapestry woven with threads of loss, betrayal, and unexpected blessings.The image of my parents, their faces blurred by the passage of time, flickered in my memory. Sobrang bata ko pa no'ng nawala sila. They left me alone. Wala naman akong kapatid o ibang kamag anak. I was left behind. I was vulnerable, at the mercy of relatives who cared little for my well-being. Sina Tiya Purita at Tiyo Berting na walang ginawang mabuti sa akin kundi ang patirahin ako sa bahay nila. They had taken advantage of my vulnerability, draining my resources, exploiting my labor, treating me as nothing more than a servant. I had been trapped in a cycle of abuse, a dark world where hope seemed a distant dream.The memory of their cruelty, their exploitation, their utter disregard for my well-be