The Scorned Lover

TSL 22: Remorse

"WHAT you talking about?!"

"Bryce!"

"I trusted you but you screwed it up!"

I felt the adrenaline to wreck his face but I held back myself and tightened my grip on his shirt's collar. I don't care if he looks like a rotten cabbage right now. I'm mad.

"C-chill ka lang, I-insan. B-bitawan mo kasi muna ako nang maipaliwanag ko sa'yo."

"You tell me the truth or you want your face to meet the floor?!"

"I-iyon nga ang totoo, Insan! P-pasensya na. Naipit lang ako. Kinailangan ko lang gawin 'yon para mahanap ko na si Celeste ko! T-tinatago kasi siya sa'kin ni Nanay Divina."

Suddenly I felt the familiar pang on my chest. It's more than that. It feels like my heart was abruptly dropped above the group of thorns. The air dispersed into nothingness that I had to open my mouth to puff some air.

"P-pasensya n,a Insan. H-hindi ko naman talaga magagawa 'yon sa'yo, sa inyo. Desperado lang akong mahanap si Celeste ko. Ilang buwan ko na siyang pinapahanap iyon pala sinasabotahe ni Nanay ang mga private investigator na inuutusan ko kaya hindi ko siya mahanap. N-nandito nga ako para itama ang pagkakamali ko. H-hindi ko kasi inaasahang hahantong sa ganito ang ginawa ko. Nasampulan pa ako ng matandang Mijares. Muntik nang masira ang mukha ko sa suntok niya. P-pati si G-gold nga pinahalik sa'kin ang bagong gamit na toilet plunger. Aish! H-hinding-hindi ko 'yon makakalimutan."

Gold. Merely hearing her name makes me feel like I'm in the edge of abyss where unidentified creatures are waiting to kill me, slowly. It makes me fall unto an incomparably, unbearable anguish. Too painful.

"AAAAH!"

"Bryce, calm down." I felt Ate Bridgette rubbing my back but it doesn't give me any comfort, right now.

"Isang buwan, Clinton! Isang buwan nang nangyari 'yon ngayon mo lang sinabi!"

"N-naghahanap lang ako ng tiyempo. P-pasensya na talaga. Pero kung sakaling kinailangan kong gawin 'yon para mahanap ang mahal ko, gagawin ko pa rin. Sana naintindihan mo, Insan. I will do everything to find her, even if it means hurting other people. Mabuti na nga lang aksidente ko siyang nahanap sa ospital nang magkabanggaan kami."

Never in my imagination did it exist Nanay Divina could do such a wicked stunt. I was too dumb to believe in all her atrocity. She is the least person I knew could hurt me like hell.

Patawarin ako ng Diyos!

"Bryce! Huminahon ka! Sandali! Bumalik ka dito!" I didn't mind Ate Bridgette's rumpus clamor. I need to see Nanay Divina. I can't wait to confront that old witch.

"Edmund, I want you to prepare the chopper right away. Papunta na ako diyan."

"Yes, Sir."

I instantly dialed my assistant's number after the call. Magtutuos tayo ngayon Nanay. Paano mo nagawa sa'kin ang ganito?

"G-good m-morning Sir--"

"Listen, Marah. I want you to move all the schedules of my meetings in next two weeks. Be it urgent or not. Tell them I have more important stuff to attend. Did you get it?"

"Y-yes, S-sir."

"Good." I just hope Nanay has good enough reasons why she has to do those things. I cannot take her hostility towards my Reign. I really can't.

* * *

I WASN'T sure if I parked my car properly but I don't give a damn about anything right now. Mabibigat ang mga hakbang kong pumasok sa pinto ng mansyon. Naabutan ko silang lahat na kumakain sa komedor.

"Bryce, apo! Napauwi ka yata nang maaga. Akala ko ba-"

"Could you explain to me why the hell did you do that to Gold Reign, Nay?!" I scowled at her.

"W-what are you talking about, son? Bakit mo sinisigawan ang lola mo?" Mom instantly interrupted my unraveling gesture.

'Why don't you ask that old woman, Mom? She-"

"Hindi kita pinalaking bastos, Bryce. Could you atleast slow down your voice? Hindi kita maintindihan kung bakit ka biglaang darating tapos nagkakaganyan ka!"

"Apo-"

"Stop playing innocent, Nanay! Alam ko na ang totoo. You bribed my cousin with his girlfriend so you can pull off your bitchy stunt against Gold Reign!"

"WHAT?!!!" Mom and Dad gasped in surprised. Maybe they did not expect Nanay could do such a horrible thing.

"Yes, she did!" I hissed making her face turned into horror. I knew it!

"E-eh-"

"Mama! Bakit mo 'yon ginawa?"

"That was just a test, Apo. Why do you brag so much about it? Umuwi ka pa talaga rito para itanong lang 'yan?" Biglang uminit ang ulo ko sa kanyang sinabi kaya inis ko siyang tiningan.

"You fooled me, Nay! What do you expect me to do after you ruined us, huh? Good job! Wala na kami! At this moment, maybe she's mad about me! Uh! Scratch that. She loathes me! Why do you have to test her personality? You are not supposed to meddle with my relationship! Ngayon, sirang-sira na kami! Are you happy now?"

"Hindi ako makapaniwalang magagawa mo 'yan sa mga bata, Mama! God! What have you done?"

"P-pasensya na. Hindi ko lang kasi nagustuhan na siya pa ang pumunta dito para ligawan ka. Hindi gawain ng matinong babae 'yon." I stared at her unbelievably. Seriously?

"You don't know the whole story, Nay! Wala kang karapatang husgahan siya nang ganun!"

"Then win her back if you want to! Kung iisipin nga may kasalanan din ang babaeng 'yon. I got her investigated, apo. Alam ko na alam mo ang tunay niyang pagkatao."

"Wala akong pakiaalam kung isa siyang Mijares! Mahal ko siya, Nay! Mahal ko siya! Hindi n'yo ba naiintindihan 'yon? Do you really think ganun lang kadaling bawiin ang lahat?"

"M-Mijares? You mean, isang Mijares si Gold Reign?" I shifted my gaze to Mom who's quite surprised with the revelation. Even Dad too is in awe.

"Yes, she is. But it doesn't mean we are not allowed to love each other," I said before walking out.

"Bryce! Come back here!" Suddenly everything replayed in my mind. The way she begged for my forgiveness. The way she plead for me to stay. The way her tears flowed down from her innocent eyes.

"P-pangga... P-pagsubok lang 'to sa'tin. H-huwag ka namang bibitaw nang ganun kadali k-kasi h-hindi ko kaya. At kahit kailan hinding-hindi ko kakayanin. I'm very sorry, hindi ko 'yon sinasadya lahat."

I'm screwed up!

-GREATFAIRY