Only Once in a Lifetime (TRF #4)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Saan ka?" Narinig ko si Des sa labas.

"Wala sa labas lang ako." Natatarantang sagot naman ni Chrizzna.

Lumabas ako sa kwarto ko at tumingin naman silang lahat sa akin.

"Oh, what happened to you, honey?" Chrizzna approached me as I forced a smile.

"Wala, ayos lang ako." Kako at napabuntong hininga siya.

"Des, Callie, talk to her, alright? Babalik din ako mamaya. I just have an emergency." Sabi niya at tumango naman ang dalawa.

"What happened?" Des sat me down on the couch.

"We broke up." I forced a smile as Callie frowned.

"Kase?" Mahinahon na sabi niya.

"Can you call Seth nalang? I don't want to tell stories right now." I said and gave them a fake smile as they reluctantly nodded.

They dialed Seth and after awhile he was already inside our condo.

"Anong nangyari sakanila ni Hale?" Tanong ni Des at tinignan naman ako ni Seth. I nodded to give him permission as he pursed his lips.

"Nakita niyang may kayakap si Hale na babae." He said as they looked at me.

"Kinausap mo?" Tanong ni Callie at umiling naman ako.

"Aydi naman. Ayan na naman tayo eh." Nadidismayang sabi ni Des.

"Napapagod naman na din ako." I forced a smile as they frowned.

"Ikaw mapapagod kay Hale? I doubt it. Mahal na mahal mo eh." Sabi naman ni Callie.

"Kahit ilang buwan palang kayo alam namin na mahal na mahal mo, Aydi." Des said as I inhaled deeply.

"Alam ko naman kase na mapapagod din siya sa kakamahal sa akin. My toxic traits are showing again. Hindi ko siya kinakausap kase bumagsak ako sa ilang quizzes ko." I said tears pouring down my eyes again.

"Normal lang iyon. Alam naman niya iyon diba?" Des said as I laughed without humor.

"Yun yung problema eh. He's trying to put our relationship back together but I simply don't want to. Ako yung sumisira sa relasyon namin kase hindi ko maibalik yung pagmamahal na binibigay niya." Sabi ko and they all looked at me sympathetically.

"Ayen." Seth ruffled my hair. "People tend to make mistakes. You're simply being you. There's nothing wrong with that." He said and my tears poured more.

"Yun nga yung problema eh. By just simply being me I'm hurting the people who loves me. I want to fix myself, Seth." I cried as Callie held my hand.

"Then fix yourself. To be better. To be deserving of him." She said as Des smiled at me genuinely.

"We won't question your decision of wanting to change but be sure you'll take him back." Sabi ni Des na kinatawa ko.

"I will. I will surely do so after I fix myself." I smiled as they pulled me to a hug.

I may not have told them what had really happened but I know they will understand. I still have them by my side, I still have some people left to love me.

We didn't see each other after that. Kase malayo naman yung building nila. Malaki ang campus and the chances that we'll see each other again is barely a percent. I also know he wouldn't want to see me after everything but a part of me is still hoping to see his familiar figure somewhere. Kahit isang sulyap lang, ayos na. Just a view of him that's showing that he's fine ayos na.

"Can I talk to you?" Kuya Zac suddenly approached me noong palabas na ako ng building ng condo namin.

Tapos na ang school year and we didn't talk nor did I see him. It still hurts but what can we do? Nothing.

"Uh, sure." Kako at sumunod sakaniya sa isang cafe.

"Hale is coming to Mapúa this next school year." He started as I looked at him in shock.

"Bakit daw?" Tanong ko at may nakakalokong ngiti sa labi niya.

"You still care huh?" He said, his tone mocking.

"Pagtapos nung ginawa mo?" He said as I looked down.

"We treasure Hale the most, Aydien. He's the youngest in the group yet he's also the one who's coming out as the most mature among the four of us." He said as I gulped.

"Pero kahit na ganoon, we still look out for him like he's a sibling. Liam is an only child. Nag-iisa lang siya kaya ayaw namin siyang iwanan dito sa Baguio mag-isa niya noon." He inhaled deeply.

"Then you came. Akala namin hindi na siya mag-iisa at hindi na namin kailangang mag-alala." He said and glared at me afterwards.

"Pero putangina, Aydien. Sinira mo lang siya." Anger was visible in his voice and I wouldn't blame him.

"Alam mo kung gaano ka niya kamahal." He said as I smiled.

"A lot. He loves me a lot." I replied as he scoffed.

"Naman pala eh. Eh bakit nagawa mo pading iwan?" He said as I stopped the tears from spilling out my eyes again.

"Kase alam ko na masasaktan kang din naman siya kapag nanatili siya sa tabi ko." I said as he scoffed.

"Sa tingin mo hindi siya nasasaktan ngayon?!" He raised his voice as I flinched.

"It's better to prevent now." Kako naman at napabuntong hininga siya.

"It's useless talking to someone who doesn't want to listen. Parehas na parehas lang kayo ni Liam." Nadidismayang sabi niya.

"Anyway, I'll have to ask you a favor." He said as I looked up.

"Which is?" Tanong ko.

"As harsh as it may sound. Can you please not show yourself to him? I know he'll run back to you once he sees you and he won't move on. That's the least you can do. Please." He said as I nodded with pain scratching my heart.

We headed back to the condo and I looked at Kuya Zac.

"Please, do me also a favor and inform me if something happens to him." I smiled as he sighed.

"I can't promise but I'll look into it." Sabi niya at ngumiti ako bago bumalik sa taas.

The elevator opened and outside Hale was waiting. He looked shocked upon seeing me but I just smiled at him. One last time. Just one.

Before I could even think, I crossed the distance between us and my arms wrapped around his waist.

"Elle." He softly said as I smiled and let him go.

I felt his hands on my cheeks wiping the tears that I didn't even know had already flown.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I uttered as he smiled and kissed my forehead his eyes also glistening with tears.

"I love you." He uttered as I smiled.

"I'm sorry." I love you too.