It's the Same Old Song (The Runaway Girls Series #4)

Outro (Part 2)

Vance Emerson Dela Vega

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains sensitive content, including references to suicide attempts, violence, and strong verbal language. Reader discretion is advised.

Puro uno ulit.

A few semesters have passed, and I've been doing my very best not to let my grades drop below 2.00. Mas naging pursigido ako sa pag-aaral dahil girlfriend ko na si Beatrice. And of course, after what happened with our family, the only way that I could help them was to study hard and land a high-paying job after I graduate.

"Kapag nagpakasal na tayo, ilan ang gusto mong anak?"

Beatrice looked at me like I had asked the most ridiculous question she had ever heard.

"Wow, kung makatanong ka naman. Ikaw ba manganganak?" she replied before chuckling out loud.

"Kaya ko nga tinatanong kasi ikaw naman ang magbubuntis. Kung pwede lang na ako, bakit hindi? Ayaw ko lang na mahirapan ka."

Ngumuso siya at sandaling nag-isip. "Dalawa. Isang aso at isang pusa. Ayoko mag-anak. Masakit."

"Okay," I replied softly.

"Ayos lang sa'yo?" she asked, clearly surprised. I nodded without hesitation.

"Katawan mo 'yan. Hindi naman ako ang manganganak, kaya okay lang."

Mas lalo siyang sumandal sa balikat ko kaya napangiti ako. Beatrice wasn't very vocal with her feelings, but she was clingy in her own way. She loves holding my hand, pinching my face, and will just hug me whenever she feels like it. Ang cute lang, nakakainis.

"Gusto ko ng dalawa..." namamaos niyang bulong habang nilalaro ang kamay ko.

I smiled wider and hugged her closer.

"Dalawang anak tapos mag-aalaga tayo ng aso at pusa?"

She nodded. "Oo. Gusto ko 'yon."

"Magpapakasal ako sa'yo kapag nakatapos na tayo," I whispered before slowly planting soft and gentle kisses around her nape.

"Magtatrabaho muna bago 'yon..." sagot niya, pero hindi rin naman umangal. Good, because everything I'm doing is for her and the family we'll have someday.

Everything I did, I did it for her. Kahit pa ilang beses niya akong tinulak palayo at kahit pa naghiwalay kami para sa dahilan na siya lang ang may alam. It was hard... but I couldn't do anything. Alipin niya ako, eh. Kung gusto niya na maghiwalay muna kami, ayos lang.

I knew her well enough to understand she was going through something and didn't want to involve me. Mayabang na kung mayabang pero alam kong mahal niya pa rin ako kaya niya ginawa 'yon. I was hurt, but at the back of my mind, I was so sure we'd find our ways back to each other somehow.

Hindi ko nga lang alam kung paano, pero alam kong babalik siya sa akin.

"I'm sorry."

Nanlambot ako. Fuck, this is my weakness.

"I'm sorry for being insensitive. I'm sorry for not considering your feelings. I'm sorry."

It was my first time hearing her like that... so soft, so sincere, so vulnerable. The way she reached for my hand and held it tight made it feel like she was afraid of losing me, like she never wanted to let me go.

Janna Beatrice Regalado's pride was her armor. Minsan, iisipin mo na lang na mas mataas pa 'yon sa Mt. Everest. Mauuna pa yatang magunaw ang mundo bago siya humingi ng sorry, kaya mas madalas na ako na lang ang umuunawa at nagpapaubaya para maiwasan ang pag-aaway namin.