See You Tomorrow, Yuki (Love Series 1)

SEVENTEEN

Palihim na sinundan ni Hanz ang anak. Alam niyang si Lianne ang pakay nito matapos umalis kanina. Narinig niya ang kabuuan ng usapan nila Lianne at Aciel. Nang makaalis si Aciel, hinintay niya na matapos sa pag-iyak si Lianne. Pormal ang itsura niya dahil dumiretso siya rito galing sa opisina niya.

"Why did you cry like that?" agad na tanong ni Hanz nang makapasok.

Inalalayan pa niyang tumayo si Lianne at tinulungan siyang maupo pabalik sa upuan niya. Hinatak ni Hanz ang isa pang upuan sa gilid palapit sa mesa ni Lianne at doon naupo.

"Kanina ka—"

"Hmm."

Pareho silang nakayuko at hindi matitigan ang isa't isa.

"About what I said earlier—"

"I'M SORRY."

Tuluyang napatingin si Lianne kay Hanz nang humingi ito ng paumanhin. Sa maraming taon, ito lang ang mga salitang nais niyang marinig.

"I really didn't want to make excuses, but please hear me out," pagpapatuloy ni Hanz. "Lumaki si Aciel na magkahiwalay kami ng nanay niya. He was closer to his mother. That's why when she died five years ago... he couldn't accept it," maluha-luhang paliwanag niya. "And I couldn't stand seeing him being hurt. To a parent like me, knowing that my child was suffering while I couldn't do anything to help him felt like I was no better than dead. Because only the dead cannot do anything for the people they love."

Kasabay ng tuluyang pagluha ni Hanz, muli ring napaluha si Lianne, natatakpan ng kaliwang kamay ang bibig niya.

"When you first came to the company and told me about your dream, it's true that I used it to lure you into my own dream of giving my son a new mother figure. Ilang buwan lang tayong nagkasama-sama, but you became a very significant person to both of us." He paused to smile. "I learned to open up my heart to someone again, and Aciel was so happy. Lahat 'yun naging posible, dahil sa'yo."

"Bakit ngayon mo lang pinaliwanag sa'kin lahat? Para ma-guilty ako sa nagawa kong pagkakamali noon?" pagalit na tanong ni Lianne.

"No. Because I always knew that you've been waiting for an explanation. Bakit ginamit kita? Bakit ikaw? Bakit kailangang pagdaanan mo 'yun kapalit ng pangarap mo? I'm sorry for taking too long to apologize. And I still don't know what answer fits your questions. I'm most sorry about that."

"Did you really... love me?" Lianne asked, tears falling down her cheeks.

Tumango si Hanz at sumagot, "But you didn't ask for that kind of love."

"I did you wrong, too. Bakit hindi mo ako kinokompronta tungkol sa mga bagay na ginawa ko? Sa mga kasinungalingan ko? Didn't you come here to do that?"

"Kasi lahat ng sinabi mo noon, totoo."

[Her lawyer confirmed that she was abused by President Gutierrez in exchange of the lead role.]

"Using your dream to get you, and forcing that unwanted love on you... are no less than abuse. I'm really, really, really sorry."

Pinigil ni Hanz ang muling maluha at binigyan ng malaking ngiti ang isa, bagay na lalong nagpakonsensiya kay Lianne.

"Kaya Lianne... nasaktan ka man sa mga nasabi ni Yuki noon, 'wag mo sanang iparanas sa kaniya kung gaano kasaklap ang mundo. She spent almost her entire life, living in the hospital. Nag-uumpisa pa lang siyang hanapin ang sarili at pangarap. Higit sa lahat, kung anong magpasasaya sa kaniya. Don't snatch it away from her. Sa amin ka lang magalit. Hindi. Sa akin lang. Aciel and Yuki... are hurting too much already."