Chapter 48

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Quote for this Chap : Take a second out to think about this: in your life you search and search for the right person for you. Every time you break up with someone you get one step closer to that person. You should look at moving on as getting closer to meeting the one.






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"You mean .. You lied and pretended to me all this time?! Of all people Nina?!"

He furiously grabbed on both of my shoulder and anger was all I could gazed upon his eyes. All I could see was nothing but angst hurt and the feeling of betrayal






I thought he was going to hit me but he never did, he hit that bundle of rope right next to my face and furiously walked out from the balloon and hit the nearest tree







"Im sorry" I said as I tried catching him up from behind. I grabbed on his hands and said weakly "You left me no choice"







He spun around and shouted "What choice is there to make ha, Nina?"






"Im not the girl you fell for, Iñigo .. " More tears cascaded down my cheeks and the feeling on my chest is getting heavier each time his eyes penetrated on me "I'm not .. I'--I'm not Rima"






He froze and loked at me bewildered

"And who the heck is Rima?"






"I dont know why she pretended to be me but believe me, She was the girl that you promised a forever. She's my twin sister. My iderntical elder sister but nonetheless the total opposite"







"In the summer camp, She was the on who you approached. I was there, watched you from a far as you played tagged with her. I was merely a shadow. Si Rima yun lahat, Iñigo. I'm sorry I can't tell it straight to you. i was weak. I was cared you'd hate me. I was scared you'll break me into pieces and left me there hanging"






"So you decided it yourself and took the step to leave me instead?"
"Im sorry, It was the only way"





"It's the only way?! Hah! what makes you think I'll buy these whole crap?!"
"Because I love you and that's enough!!"
"Kung mahal mo ako ----"






"oo mahal kita, pero i'm having second thought about us. Di ko masikmurang magpakasal nang dahil sa maling dahilan at hindi ko kayang tanggapin ang pagmamamhal na hindi naman pala para sa akin"






"Pero---"






"Baket Iñigo?! pag nalaman mo ba agad na hindi pala ako ang kababata mo, pag nalaman mo bang hindi ako ang lahat ng yon, mamahalin mo pa rin ba ako bilang Nina and not as Rima?"





He didn't utter another a word upon hearing me, he just stayed there frozen while gazing at my eyes. As if counting every words and weighing its cost, as if doubting whatever is there to be heard. And it pains me more than anything as I watch his eyes soften for a second







"Maybe we should rally take some time apart"





I grabbed his hand and he gradually surrender it open it for me. I laid the ring on his palm and said







"Goodbye, Iñigo"


And the hardest part of walking away is expecting he'll chase you back













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Life went on.. It has been several months since that heart-breaking confrontation with someone I love. 








I spent the other month of May with my family in Cebu. It was like a little family reunion we haven't had for ages. I met my cousins once again, although na-no-nosebleed ako from time to time whenever they turn each other in Visayan, I was more than glad I cold hit up my Visayan lingo









I started with the very basic tho, learning how to greet in Visayan "Maayong gabii, Maayong buntag .." And the list goes on









And when I went back days before the month would end, Instead of merely having the usual saturday move marathon with Meg, I had invited her to spend a weekend with me in Hong Kong, all expenses on me.







I know I know.., the trip really drilled a hole in my pocket, but my Meg's proud face were enough justification for that little thank you






She even added

"Sana broken hearted ka na lagi, Nina para fly fly na lang tayo elsewhere .. at libre mo ko lagi" She winked







And I had a full hard time moving on at first but eventually had to. I slowly found the strength and enough common sense to divert my attention and interests in the other part of life









Like facing one of my greatest fear ---- Rima. 












"Kahit kailan, ikaw pa rin talaga eh. Ikaw pa rin nakasasalo ng lahat. Ikaw na mas gusto ng lahat, ikaw na talented, masayahin, magaling .. Ikaw na lang lahat. I'll always be your shadow. I'll always be nothing but second best" I said as I bent down and laid the  bouquet of pink carnation on her tomb







Rima Andrea Fernandez -- It read







A bitter smile was painted across my face as I wipe her tomb.







"At kahit na sa hukay ka na Ate, pangalawa pa rin ako sayo. Even at your grave, I'm always been second" A tear gradually feel from my eye





"Nung naka A++ ka sa swimming, Sabi ko, what's the use of getting an A+ if wala naman yon compared to you? d'iba?" 





I felt the wind becoming colder as if telling me my sister was actually there listening
"I really want to hate you Ate Rima, But I can't. I owe you my life remember?"








flashback ..

“Nina, The sky isn’t crying .. its called rain” A sweet smile was painted across the woman’s blurry face.
I can’t make out the details on her feature but one thing’s for sure .. her smile brings the warm in my heart




Then suddenly, the little girl heard another roar from the sky. A thunder followed by a ferocious light that engulf the whole dark sky which made the little girl tighten her grip on her older sister’s arm





“Why is the sky sound so angry, Mama?”



The woman turned around once again from the front seat and patted the head of her child affectionately. She smiled genuinely before she tucked the unsteady locks behind the ear of her youngest child




“Don’t be scared my angel. Mama and Papa are here for you” She said





“Yeah! Don’t be scared, Nina. Ate Rima is here too” The older child, by merely 2 minutes, uttered to her scared sister and locked her tightly into her arms to assure her that its safe




“Shit!” The man cursed as he tried to maneuver the car’s wheel trying to dodge the drunk driver of the white Honda civic.





“That was close, Nicollo. The road’s slippery cuz it rained the whole night maybe we should just stop by and--- OH DEAR LORD!!”








The woman’s eyes grew wider as she saw a 9-wheeler truck was heading on the opposite side of the dark road. The light of the truck illuminated and almost blinding the little girl’s vision





Everything happened so fast that the little girl barely knew what to do



“Rima, Open the car’s door and throw your selves outside” The woman told her eldest child
“But Mom—“
“Just do it, Rima!”



The older sibling obliged on her mother’s wishes and unbuckled the seatbelt of her sister. She acted fast as she opened their car’s door and pushed her younger sister without giving her a warning





Her older sister was about to join her outside but seatbelt was malfunctioning and can not be easily unbuckle





and the last thing she heard, aside from the loud buzzing sound of the truck crushing their car into pieces, was the loud shriek of her older sister crying for help












"And at the same time, I always wanted to be as strong as you were. I always wanted to be just like you. Maybe now, I turn out to be braver but not as bold are you were ... maybe in time. Alam ko malapit na. And wherever you are, Rima. You don't need to watch over me anymore. You see, I'm all grown up Thank you for always doing so in the past"








I stood up from where I was kneeling and turn to my parent's tomb
"Ma, Pa. I know its been awhile. Lola did a good job raising me. They always tell me nga that I looked like you, Mama" I laughed remembering my first encounter with Tita Ingrid












Flashback

"Anyway, Hija.. are you any chance related to Augustina Lim-Suarez?" ang tanong ni Tita Ingrid bigla sa akin






Bakit biglang napasok si Augustina Suarez dito? i thought for a moment









"She's my Grandma" i lightly replied. biglang lumaki ang ngiti ni Tita Ingrid sa akin. nagtaka naman ako







"Mrs. Suarez was one of my favorite teachers back then in high school. She's the mother that i wish i had.. Where is she by the way? haven't heard anything from her ever since She retired" 


Tita Ingrid uttered as she was smiling at the thought of it






She must've been really close to Lola before i thought before i blabbered the answer




"She's in Cebu with few of our relatives there.. "  






"That explains why i haven't seen her around for years now.. wait, Are you Luisa's or the late Olivia's daughter?"  she asked as she took a bite on her salad




"Olivia's" i said dryly.. i dont really know much about my parents.. so im kinda touchy with that subject




"No wonder, you remind me a lot of Olivia the first time you walked right infront of me, Hija" Ang sabi niya before she took a sip in the whine glass














"Thanks, kahit konti lang naalala ko from you. I know you've been watching me from above. Thank you.. Ma, Pa I better go now"






Lumabas ako for the first time with a smile on my lips. I felt I'm a new person walking a new path in life. Just then, I bumped into someone which made the bouquet fell from the owner's hands.. Who ever she is





"I'm sorry" I said picking it up and looked up to a lady about in her early 30's who seems like she has seen a ghost 











"Olivia?!?!"


Time passed. But I was never the same again.






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(A/N: Sino kaya yon? 

---- LOL! sabaw wala pa akong masabe sa update nato.. pero, magpropromote lang ako ng one shot ko. Mehehe! Click the external link if you haven't read about my latest short story The Act of Infidelity
)

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