Running the Risk (Nightfall Series #1)

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Sa sobrang pagkakapahiya ko, parang gusto ko akyatin ang puno ng niyog at manatili roon hanggang matapos ang booking ko!

I was just walking around when I saw a familiar woman walking towards me. Sumulong ang kaba at takot sa dibdib ko.

Umiiyak ito nang sinalubong ako ng yakap. Ate Rae, in her maxi dress and long hair is hugging me right now. I felt her baby bump and smelled her familiar scent. She invited me over to a café outside.

Halos hindi ko maiproseso ang lahat iyon. This is just impossible.

Hinawakan niya ang parehong kamay ko. Naiwan ang tingin ko roon dahil sa nanlalamig at nanginginig ang mga ito.

"I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry! For hurting you..." she halted to cry in her palms.

I was lost for words. Sa totoo lang, mas iniisip ko pa na baka kung anong mangyari sa kaniya dahil sa pag-iyak. It's very evident that she's pregnant.

"I said so much painful words and used your situation against you just to justify my thoughts about your love for my brother. P-pinangunahan ko kayo ni Rivo kahit wala naman akong alam. I'm sorry... I didn't know that you were in coma during those months. Shit, I'm really sorry..."

I held her hands. "Most of what you said were true, though..."

Umiling-iling siya. "I had no right to judge the way you love. Regardless if I didn't know that you suffered in coma and amnesia, I shouldn't have said those words. I'm sorry... for disrespecting your relationship with Rivo. I thought... I thought I was protecting him. Pero nasaktan ko rin siya... nasaktan ko kayong dalawa."

Nangilid ang mga luha ko. All throughout those years, I only thought I deserved the pain. I never saw myself as a victim. But now, a subconscious part of me told me that I was too hard on myself. It felt strangely good to accept someone's apology for hurting me. It felt so good that I cannot throw hate towards her.

"I didn't let you have your chance to defend yourself. I was too blinded by my own frustration and pain that I didn't realize... how toxic I had become to push you away. Sobrang pinagsisisihan ko lahat."

Basang-basa lang pisngi niya sa mga luha nang bitawan ko na ang mga kamay niya.

"Ate, naiintindihan kita dati. It was Rivo's life that we were talking about. His security meant the world to me. Ano pa kaya sa'yo na pamilya niya? It must've been infuriating to find him in a foreign country. Akong pinakamalapit pa sa kaniya ay hindi niyo kasama para matulungan kayo. Naiintindihan ko, Ate."

"N-no, babe. It's not valid to put all the blame on you, or even blame you, at that. I-I should have paid more attention to him. It was my responsibility as an older sibling... but I failed. I projected it to you and I have caused you so much trouble. Please... please, I take back all my words now. 'Wag mo nang sisihin pa ang sarili mo. I'm deeply sorry..."

Malungkot akong ngumiti. "Even if you didn't tell me those words, I would've told all of those to myself. Bago mo pa ako puntahan, sinisisi ko na ang sarili ko, Ate."

Umiling-iling siyang umiiyak. Nagulantang ako nang lumuhod siya at yumakap sa mga binti ko. My used to be supportive and kikay friend, the sister of my love, and the first woman who hugged me after being violated... is kneeling in front of me.

"A-ate... What... what are you doing? Tumayo ka na-"

"Y-you were having a hard time when I came for you! Daiyu, I badly want to be punished! Sana mabawi ko na lang lahat... Sana nandoon din ako para sa'yo... Because apart from you're my brother's girlfriend... you're also my friend!"