Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 24

“Thank you,” saad ko nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Huminga ako ng malalim at sinubukang ngumiti.

I can’t help but to feel awkward while getting inside his car. Ito iyong mga sasakyan na minsan ko lang makita dahil kakaunting tao lang ang may kakayahang bumili. ‘Di ko maiwasang manliit.

In short, it’s a luxurious car. 

“My pleasure,” he replied before closing the door for me. 

While waiting for him to enter, I roamed my eyes around the car. Binalik ko lang ang tingin sa harap nang makasakay na siya. 

“Malapit lang dito iyong tinutukoy kong restaurant. The drive won’t be that long.”

“Okay ...”

“I’m ...” Tumkhim siya. “I’m really happy that you wanted to see me. Sinadya kong hindi magpakita sa ‘yo nitong mga nakaraang araw to give you some space. Baka kasi lalo ka lang maguluhan at magalit sa ‘kin.”

“I’m not mad at you.” Nilingon ko siya. “Nabigla lang ako. There’s too much information, nahihirapan akong iproseso ang lahat. And I have no rights to be mad at you. Hindi naman mangyayari ang lahat ng ‘to kung hindi dahil sa akin.”

“Angelique.” Nagtama ang mga namin. Bahagyang tumalim ang titig niya sa ‘kin, implying that he did not like what I said. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kaba. “Don’t blame yourself for what I did. Tama ka, I should’ve known it wasn’t you. I should’ve noticed the difference.”

Tinikom ko ang bibig. Ayoko nang makipag-argumento pa. Magkaiba kami ng pinaniniwalaan at bbaka mauwi pa kami sa pag-aaway kung ipipilit ko ang pinaniniwalaan ko. 

Lumiko kami sa isang pamilyar na restaurant. My mouth gaped open and my heartbeat raced. Binalik ko ang tingin kay Neus.

“I was so vulnerable that I believed on anyone who tells stories about you. Only the good ones, though. Ayokong paniwalaan ‘yung mga sinasabi nilang hindi ka na babalik o kung ano pa. I was desperate to have you by my side. I was at the verge of losing my sanity when Jules came. I believed her lies. Especially when she told me that she think she’s the person I’m referring to. Nang sabihin niyang tingin niya iisa lang kayo, na baka ang mga kinukuwento ko ay ang nakaraan niya, I believed. Siguro nga, kung hindi ka nagpakita noon, baka nakasal na ako sa maling babae. Good thing you came.” Tumangu-tango siya. He has this faraway somber look on his face that made my heart reach out to him. 

Inabot ko ang kamay niyang nasa manibela. He glanced at me and I smiled softly, consoling him.

“Huwag na nating isipin ‘yon ngayon. Let’s catch up and talk things out. Wala munang Jules, wala munang pagsisisi. Let’s enjoy for a moment, shall we?” suhestiyon ko. 

Slowly, a smile crept into his lips. “I have always thought you are my light. You barely changed. Ikaw pa rin ang nagbibigay-liwanag sa buhay ko.” 

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at makailang beses na tumikhim. 

“Ahm, pasok na tayo sa loob?” anyaya ko habang hindi makatingin sa kaniya. I acted like I was scratching my head to have a reason to get my hand off of his. 

Mahina siyang natawa. “Good idea.”

He told me to stay inside and wait for him to open the door. Habang naglalakad siya paikot, napatingin ako sa dash mirror. My eyes widened when I saw how red I was. Nasapo ko ang magkabilang pisngi habang nagpopokus sa pagkalma. 

Neus is a gentleman indeed. Ang mga kilos niya sa mga alaala ko ay halos walang pinagkaiba sa ngayon. Only hhis appearance became more mature and he looked more confident and charismatic. Especially with his work clothes on.