(WRITTEN SERIES #3)
Having their hearts broken after an expected affair, Penny and Clifford unexpectedly found comfort from each other. But as the bond between the two of them deepens, secrets resurface as conflicts wreck havoc to their present. Can...
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PENNY
"HERE, drink this." Inabutan ko si Clifford ng basong naglalaman ng tubig. Mukha mang balisa, pinilit niya ang sariling ngumiti bago ito tanggapin. Naupo ako sa tabi niya sa sofa at inalalayan siya sa pag-inom dahil nanginginig pa rin ang mga kamay niya.
And as he drank, hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng awa habang pinagmamasdan siya. I never saw him look so troubled and disturbed.
Pagkatapos ng nangyari kanina, tumuloy kami dito sa bahay nila ng kaniyang lola. Pero imbes na kumilos, pinagpahinga ko muna siya dahil mukhang hindi pa tuluyang maayos ang lagay niya
Seeing his mother after all those years of absence must have been too overwhelming for him. I canʼt even blame him for reacting the way he did, because itʼs totally understandable.
For all of those years, he suffered from all the guilt and felt like he was never worthy of being loved. Thinking about it, I canʼt imagine how painful it was for him to go through that ever since he was a kid.
Bumalik ang isip ko sa kasalukuyan nang makitang tapos na si Clifford sa pag-inom. Dahan-dahan kong kinuha mula sa kaniya ang baso at inilagay ito sa maliit na lamesang nasa harapan namin.
"Are you okay?" I asked, gently patting his shoulder.
Tumango lang siya kahit alam ko namang hindi ito ang totoo.
"Sorry nga pala kung nakita mo akong ganoʼn kanina," he suddenly said, probably pertaining to what he did a while ago.
I only shook my head as I continued to pat his shoulder. "You donʼt have to apologize. Your feelings are valid. I see and hear you, Cliff. I understand you."
Napatingin siya sa 'kin. He flashed a small smile before he looked down to the floor, clasping his trembling hands together.
"Bakit ba kasi bumalik pa siya?" he muttered under his breath, but it wasnʼt enough to hide the bitterness in his voice.
I gulped and mustered the courage to speak. "Hindi naman sa pangingialam pero... bakit ayaw mong marinig ang paliwanag ng nanay mo?"
Natahimik siya at hindi sumagot. But moments later, he heaved a deep sigh as he continued to look down at the floor.
"Sa totoo lang, gusto kong marinig 'yong dahilan kung bakit umalis siya — kung bakit niya ako iniwan at pinagpalit sa iba." He let out a bitter chuckle. "Pero alam kong masasaktan lang ako oras na malaman ko ang totoo... dahil alam kong ako naman talaga ang dahilan kung bakit niya ako iniwan."
Napakagat-labi ako kasabay ng paghigpit ng hawak ko sa dulo ng sofa. "Stop blaming yourself dahil wala ka namang ginagawang masama."
"Ako ang dahilan kung bakit namatay si Clint," he said, without even thinking for a second. "Ako ang dahilan kung bakit nawala ang kapatid ko."
