The Love That Destroyed Us

CHAPTER 18

"Good luck, attorney!" Adonis cheered while I was outside the court.

Bumalik na ang dating sekretarya ko noong nakaraang buwan pero nagkikita pa rin kami ng Adonis. We decided to become friends.

Wala rin naman kasi akong masyadong kaibigan. He's a good friend.

I smiled and thanked him before I went inside the court. I sat while waiting for the judge. Napasulyap ako sa aking cellphone. Hindi pa nagtetext si Yohan. I miss him already.

Hindi kasi siya nakauwi kagabi dahil busy raw siya. Sayang, today's our first anniversary pa naman.

The case started and I was so relieved that I proved my client's innocence. She thanked me over and over again before she left.

I scanned the whole court. Nanatili akong nakatayo sa gitna ng korte. Ako na lang ang natira rito.

I smiled. This is what I want. To be able to defend the powerless people.

Simula ng bata ako ay nasaksihan ko kung paano inapi ng aking ama si nanay na walang kalaban laban. Ever since that day, I decided that I'll become a lawyer someday.

I must become a lot stronger. To be able to protect the weak.

I smiled. Aalis na sana ako nang biglang naging madilim ang paligid.

I gulped. Papatayin ba ako?

Nakarinig ako nang kaluskos. "Sino 'yan?" I asked nervously. Wala pa ring sumasagot.

Ilang minuto pa akong nakatayo roon. At nang bumukas ang pintuan ay ganoon nalang ang aking gulat sa nakita.

Maura was sitting on the judge's seat. Si Yohan naman ay nakaupo sa upuan ng prosecutor. Sa upuan ng attorney ay naroon si Adonis.

"What the hell?!" I cursed.

Anong pakana na naman ito.

"All rise. Judge presiding," Raven said , pretending to be a clerk.

Maura tried to hid her laughter.

Tumayo silang lahat at pagkatapos ay naupo. They forcefully dragged me to sit beside Adonis. I looked like an accused here!

Yohan stood up. Binuksan niya ang projector at may ipinakita roon.

What the..

Reasons to marry Yorick Vaughan Arellano.

"Wha the..Aren't you scared of the sequence of this?" I asked, but they didn't pay attention to me. Para bang isa akong multo.

Nakanganga lang ako habang nanonood sa kanila.

"Number One, I have the looks. Number two, a good cook. Number three, financially stable," napahawak ako sa noo sa kalokohan nila.

Yohan continued. Pulang pula na ang mukha ni Adonis sa kakatawa. Wala namang nakakatawa!

"Number four, has a great body. And lastly, number five, umiigting ang panga.." ngumisi siya, "hindi lang panga," dugtong niya na mas lalong nagpainit ng aking ulo.

Humalkhak silang lahat samantalang ako ay halos umusok na ang ilong sa inis.

"I rest my case," Yohan said and went back to his seat.

Maura cleared her throat.

"Given the reasonable reasons, I therefore, sentence Maureen Iris Guiñarez for a lifetime imprisonment with Yorick Vaughan Arellano," pinatunog niya pa ang martilyo!

They laughed loudly after that.

Ngumisi si Yohan at naglakad palapit sa akin. Hindi ko siya hinintay na lumapit. I walked towards him and slapped his arm.

"Aww.." he laughed.

This man!

"What?" he asked, grinning.

"Ano na namang kalokohan ito?!"

He didn't answer me.

Instead, he fished out a small box from his pocket. Unti-unti ay lumuhod siya sa aking harapan. Narinig ko ang malakas na tili ni Maura.

My heart hammered crazily while looking down at him.

"Maureen Iris Guiñarez, I can't promise you to be a perfect husband, but one thing is for sure, I will always love you. I will cherush you forever. I promise not to become the kind of person you hated the most. Please, marry me.." he looked at me with so much love.

I used to think that crying while saying yes would be cringe but here I am, crying while accepting his ring.

"Thank you," I said sincerely as I accepted his proposal.

He stood up. He cupped my cheeks and pressed his lips against mine.

"I love you..And I will always love you.."

I know we're taking it fast but I'm sure that he will be the one that I want to spend my life with.

That night, I gave myself to him.

"Iris.."

"Baby, come on, wake up already.."

I felt him kissed my lips.

"Iris.."

I groaned and covered my ears with my hand. He pulled my hand away so I didn't have any chance but to wake up.

It's Saturday! Gusto ko pang matulog. I'm still tired from last night.

"Yohan," I whinned.

"Don't 'Yohan' me," he said and pulled me to stand.

I groaned. Wala na akong nagawa kaya sumunod ako sa kaniya.

He made me sit on the stool. He cooked egg and bacon. He poured me a glass of juice before I started eating.

After we ate, we decided to go the cine. I wore a simple black dress while he wore a black pant and a black button down shirt.

Naupo kami sa pinakaharap habang naghihintay na magsimula ang movie. It was "Romeo and Juliet".

He kissed my cheek out of nowhere.

"I love you," he whispered.

I smiled and kissed his cheek too. "Thank you."

Umayos na kami ng pagkakaupo nang magsima ang panonoorin namin. His hand was holding a popcorn.

Buong oras ay nakatutok lang ako sa harap. Hindi ko nga alam kung nanonood ba si Yohan dahil nakatitig lang siya sa akin buong magdamag.

A tear fell from my eyes as the movie ended. Yohan wiped my tears with tissue.

He chuckled.

"Ba't ganoon?" I asked Yohan.

Nasa labas na kami. Nakaakbay siya sa akin habang nasa baywang niya ang aking braso.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"If Romeo didn't kill himself and just waited for Juliet for a little time, they could have their happy ending," I said.

He smiled. "It's because he didn't accept the letter."

"Still. Their love's foolish. How can they kill their own selves just because of love?"

"Kasi ganoon ang pagmamahal..." sagot niya. "And I know I'd do the same too if I were him."

I frowned. "You shouldn't. "

"Why?"

"You shouldn't let love destroy you. Magtira ka para sa sarili mo."

"Pagmamahal ba ang tawag doon?" he arched a brow. "It's called love because you give all yourself. Sa pagmamahal, walang pinipili kung ano ang ibibigay at ang ititira kasi kapag nagmamahal ka, hindi mo namamalayang ibinubuhos mo lahat ng meron ka."

I stared at him.

And that's when I realized.

We had different definitions of love.

I was scared.

He was willing to destroy his self for me.

But I don't want that kind of love.