Chaining Lockets

Kabanata 18

Hi, sorry for the late update! I am really busy, thank you so much sa concern. Busy lang talaga ako haha! Medyo mabagal po talaga UDs dito sa CL kasi may ginagawa po ako these days. Na-miss niyo ba sila?

If keri, please don't proceed sa pagbasa kaagad ng last part/ending nitong chapter. H'wag kayo agad magbasa sa ending.

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains SENSITIVE topics that could trigger the readers. Please be warned and don't proceed if you can't take it. Let's protect our mental health. Please put a "TRIGGER WARNING" too if you will post some sensitive contents sa spoilers, tweets or post po. Thank you!

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Kabanata 18

"Ma'am, hindi pa po ba tayo uuwi? Gabi na po." I shifted my gaze and saw my bodyguard asking.

"Maya na po, Kuya..." I said softly and he nodded at me and smiled, tahimik na umalis at nagtago muli kung saan.

I stared at the dark night and unbelievably, there's no stars above. Just dull black...dark and lonely.

I bit my lower lip and heaved a deep breath.

H'wag kang iiyak, Crest...h'wag.

I wanted so bad to weep but I know I shouldn't. I did my best to control my emotions, afraid the bodyguards would see me like this tapos magsabi pa sa Dad. Ayaw ko namang mag-alala siya at madagdagan ang iniisip pa.

Sumulyap ako sa phone at nakita ang pagkalat ng public apology nina Sam at Jellie. I saw some people not tolerating what they did by commenting how they wronged me but some are even attacking me even if it was me who's hurt and humiliated.

I sighed, napahawak ako sa dibdib at ramdam ko ang sikip doon. Sa magkahalong sakit sa iba't-ibang bagay, tila sinusubok ang lakas ko hanggang sa walang matira, hindi nga lang isa-isa pero sabay-sabay.

I scrolled my phone and saw even my closest friends before mocked me like I was never their friend. I saw how they talk ill behind me instead of talking to me privately and asking for my side.

Lyka: Nakakahiya, dinamay pa sina Jellie? Wala na kasing friends kaya naghahanap ng sympathy.

Mitch: Playing the victim card. Wala naman talagang budget 'yang si ano kasi hinigpitan ni Attorney kaya idadamay na sina Jellie. Wala naman daw ginawa sina Jel, napilit lang mag-sorry kasi abogado 'yong Tatay.

Matthew: Gusto ko pa naman sana, disappointing. Maganda nga, masyado nga lang papansin sa atensyon. I feel bad for Jellie and Sam, they are good people. They don't deserve this public humiliation.

Are they not aware of what happened?

I saw my cousins defending me in their posts, sharing the apology video with captions and it warmed my heart, they did their best na h'wag na rin makipagsagutan sa mga makitid ang utak dahil request ko. Ayaw ko namang madamay sila sa gulo ko.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

People. In the end, they will always believe in their own version of truth. No matter how much you talk them out of it, if they refused to understand and deliberately closed their minds for the truth then...no. It was as if I can do anything to it for a lot of them believes in mere hearsays.

I exited my social media and stared at the empty sky again, ginalaw ko ang paa ko kaya umandar ang swing kung saan ako nakaupo. The cold air touched my skin and the image of his begging gray eyes flashed on my mind.

Mabilis kong hinawi ang luha ko nang maramdaman ang paghulog nito sa pisngi ko.

It's okay, self...you're a strong woman, Crest, right? You can...do it. It's just a heartbreak.