His Tomorrow, My Yesterday

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

In the game of life, we sometimes play our cards thinking they're aces up our sleeves. It's okay to make them because during those times, we genuinely believe it's the right and beneficial choice for us. The downside is when, due to that decision, other people end up getting hurt.

Making decisions that we believe will benefit us is understandable, but it becomes a different ball game when those decisions are solely for our own gain, leaving others in the dust.

Hindi masamang unahin ang sarili ngunit masama na iwanan natin ang iba para lang mawala ang bigat at sakit sa ating mga puso.

Putting yourself first in a situation that's already hard to find a solution for, especially when both of you are struggling, can be a recipe for disaster.

Both of you can't overcome all the odds, and that's okay. But always keep in mind that collaboration, understanding, and love between a couple can be a rest and a home, and that things can help you to move forward and to live above your odds.

And hopefully, in these moments, I immediately thought of them because I didn't realize how much I would regret it.

Alam kong labis na naguguluhan si Hayes kung bakit nagbago ang pakikitungo ko sa kanya kanina habang kumakin kami sa loob ng Jollibee. Ilang beses niya akong tinanong kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin ngunit pilit ko iyong tinatakluban ng kasinungalingan kahit na ang totoo ay natatakot ako na baka gawin ng tatay niya ang mga sinabi nito kapag hindi ko nilayuan si Hayes.

Gusto kong magsumbong... pero natatakot ako. I'm scared I could be the final nail in the coffin for his dreams, and I don't want his beloved sibling, whom I know he values deeply, to be dragged into the mire. Hindi ko kayang makita na unti-unting mawala ang ilaw ng mga pangarap niya.

Is he going to be hurt if I leave him?

He might be hurt, but I know he would be even more devastated if the thing he fears happens, especially if his youngest sibling gets involved.

Masasaktan siya pero alam kong makakaahon din siya. Malilimutan niya rin ako.

Hindi ako mapakali habang nilalaro ang binili kong noodles dito sa convenience store kung saan nabuo ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Hayes. That we've reached a point where we're already in love, and yet, before the pages of our story are fully unfolded, it seems like it's already coming to an end.

Hindi ko alam kung anong oras na ngunit base sa timpla ng hangin ay masasabi kong madaling araw na. Pinatay ko kasi ang cellphone ko simula nang umalis ako sa apartment. Alam kong hinahanap na ako ni Hayes dahil hindi naman ako nagpaalam sa kanya kung saan ako pupunta.

I took a deep breath before retrieving my cellphone from the pocket of the hoodie I was wearing. I still had on Hayes' navy blue hoodie, the same one he wore when we first met here.

My hands were itching to reply to Hayes' texts, and I also wanted to give him a call when I saw 45 missed calls from his number. Ngunit pinigilan ako ng isang text na galing sa isang numero na naging pamilyar na sa akin dahil sa binigay nitong takot at agam-agam.

From 09********:

Before the graduation, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my investigators won't sniff out any traces of you lingering around my son. Make sure you bid farewell to my son's life because the mere sight of you with him is a hard pill to swallow.

Tumubo ang kaba sa puso ko nang mabasa ko iyon. Hindi ko na halos maisubo ang noodles na kinakain ko.

I took a deep breath to settle my nerves, as the message sent a chill down my spine. My hands were shaking, so I tucked it away in the pocket of my hoodie, feeling like I had a weight off my shoulders.