The Mistress in Brooklyn

Chapter 36

When I reached the lobby, I saw a familiar man walking towards me.

My forehead creased as I wiped my tears from my cheeks.

He looks miserable and he looks completely drunk.

I was stunned, natigilan ako sa paglalakad.

Bakit siya nandito? It's been months since we last saw each other.

"You came..." he whispered.

Umiling ako at bahagyang napa atras mula sa aking kinatatayuan.

"N-No," I stuttered. Tila ba nag buhol ang aking mga dila.

"You came... You did..."

As I stared at him, his text suddenly flashed into my head. Naalala ko bigla na gusto niyang makipag kita sa akin. He wanted to see me before going back to the Philippines. Hindi ko namalayan na pareho pala ang restaurant na sinasabi ni Toni at Philip.

I didn't know...

I have no idea...

It's not my intention to-

"I thought you weren't going to show up," he said, which made me shake my head again.

"Philip, it's not what-"

"But you did... You showed up," he added.

"It's not what you think, Philip, hindi ikaw ang pinunta ko rito."

His forehead creased.

"What do you mean?" Hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong braso, trying to pull me against him. Nagpumiglas ako at pilit kong tinatanggal ang kamay niya sa akin. "Why don't you admit it, Clau?"

"Admit what? Let go of me," aniko habang nagpupumiglas.

"Admit that you don't want me to leave, you don't want me to start a new life without you, and you don't want me to forget about us."

"Lasing ka, Philip, lasing ka."

"Lasing man ako o hindi, I know what I'm saying. Hindi pa huli ang lahat, we can still fix everything."

"Matagal na tayong tapos, Philip, ikaw na lang ang umaasa sa'ting dalawa. Hindi ka ba naaawa sa sarili mo? I keep on pushing you away, paulit-ulit, pero hindi ka napapagod."

"Wala na kami, Clau, annulled na kami ni Olie—"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bumagsak sa sahig si Philip, lumipad ang palad ko sa aking bibig dahil sa gulat. Tiningala ko ang lalaking sumuntok kay Philip.

It's Dior. 

"Love..." Yumakap ako sa braso niya dahil sa nakakuyom niyang kamao. Sinubukan kong hilahin siya palayo pero masyado siyang malakas para magawa ko iyon.

"And so what if you're already annulled? Sinabihan na kita, d'ba? I told you to stay away from my girlfriend and keep your hands away from her!"

"Love, tama na."

He looked at me, full of doubt and disappointment. Hindi ko alam kung bakit gano'n na lamang niya ako tingnan.

This isn't the first time he looked at me like that. The first time I saw that look in his eyes was when he thought I was cheating on him with Philip. 

"Love, let's go—" pilit ko siyang hinihila paalis pero nilalabanan niya iyon.

"O, Philip!"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang mabilis na lumapit si Toni kay Philip.

"Are you okay?" She helped Philip stand up before glaring at my boyfriend. "You changed a lot, Air. I didn't know that you would go this far just because of that girl."