Running Away from the Billionaire (LOB series #4)

Chapter 31

"Sorry you had to wait." Klaus said as he took the seat in front of me. Tinitigan ko siya ng mabuti habang nagtatawag ng server para bigyan siya ng kape.

Short stubbles are starting to grow on his chin. There are bags under his eyes at masiyado na rin mahaba ang buhok niya. To some, I'm sure he looked fine, but I know him too well to see that he's not. That's not the Klaus I know. This past few days must've been hard for him.

I was making it hard for him.

"What do you want to talk about?" He asked after his coffee was served in front of him. His eyes made its way to mine, but then he immediately looked away. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin siya makatingin sa akin.

"I'll go straight to the point." He nodded as he mixed his coffee. "I heard you... at the bar. I heard what you said to Demitri." That made him look at me.

His eyes are full of guilt that confirmed that everything I heard was true. Ang sakit, dahil sa totoo lang hindi parin ako naniniwala... ayokong maniwala.

"W-what? H-how?"

"Does it matter?" Kailangan ko pa bang ikwento sa kanya na hinanap ko siya? Na sinubukan kong hanapin siya para sabihin na mahal ko siya at gusto kong maayos ang relasyon naming dalawa... hindi na siguro. I'm sure that it won't change anything.

Kapag sinabi ko pa ang mga bagay na iyon, baka hindi ko na siya mabitawan. This night would turn into me,crying my heart out, begging for him to love me back and I don't want that... not because I don't want to beg. I would do it in a heartbeat. I would beg for him to take me back. Ayoko lang na mahirapan siya lalo. Begging isn't the answer. Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsimula ulit.

"You don't have to marry me for the sake of Riona, Klaus. Our daughter, she's smart... like you." Napangiti ako at tumingin sa dapat ay mainit na kape na nasa harap ko, siguro ay malamig na ito ngayon dahil wala akong ibang ginawa habang naghihintay sa kanya kundi ang tumunganga. "She will understand."

"Kaye... I... I didn't—"

"It's okay, Klaus. Please hear me out first." He closed his mouth and didn't say a word. "Alam ko na. Bago ko pa man marinig yung pag uusap niyo ni Demitri, alam ko na na hindi na kagaya ng dati ang nararamdaman mo para sa akin. Nakikita ko... nararamdaman ko. Hindi ako manhid, Niklaus. Alam ko." Hindi siya nagsalita at nanatili lang na nakayuko.

For the first time, I am thankful that Klaus isn't looking at my direction. I don't want him to see the tears that are starting to form in my eyes. I don't want him to see how hard it is for me to let him go. I don't want him to see it, because he'll start to feel guilty. He doesn't have to be.

"Kasalanan ko, Klaus. It feels like I took your love for granted. Tao ka lang din. May hangganan... napapagod. Naiintindihan ko. You can't control your feelings... Alam ko." I took another deep breath.

Konti nalang. Kaya ko to. Konting oras nalang kakayanin ko na hindi umiyak sa harap niya. After this, ilalabas ko lahat ng sakit na naipon sa puso ko.

"Minahal mo ako... totoo yun, alam ko din yun. Alam ko lahat, Klaus. So you don't have to blame yourself for this. You did your part. You did everything... ikaw lang lahat. Masiyado lang talaga akong maarte." I tried to laugh but it sounded off even to my own ears.

I lowered my head at mabilis na pinunasan ang luha na tumulo sa mga mata ko.

It's weird how I can actually feel my heart hurting from my own words. How heavy my chest feels just because I made the mistake of letting someone I love slip through my fingers.