Could Have Been Better (Crush Series #2)

Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32 — Accept Me Again

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa aking nakita. Celine was standing right in front of our opened gates. She was wearing a simple white dress and a brown sling bag. Hinahangin ang kaniyang buhok na paulit ulit niyang hinahawi upang ayusin.

Mas lalo akong nanlamig nang kumunot ang kaniyang noo habang nakamasid sa sasakyan naming papasok sa gate. I could clearly see her face from where I'm seating but I'm not sure if she could see me because the windows of the car are heavily tinted.

Tila naubusan ako ng dugo at pakiramdam ko ay namumutla ako habang sinusundan niya ng tingin ang pagpasok ng aming sasakyan.

I looked at mom, worried was all over my face. She was confused for a while until I saw a wave of understanding in her eyes.

"Mom, that's Celine!" I whispered to her but I can clearly hear the tension in my tone.

Kalmado lang si mommy nang titigan niya ako at hawakan ang kamay ko. "Is she, anak?" She sighed. "I do not know anything about this..." Lumingon siya kay daddy. "William?" tanong niya rito.

Napansin ko ang sandaling paninigas ni daddy sa kaniyang kinauupuan. He was sitting in the front seat that's why I wasn't able to see his expression. But when he turned to us, I saw his apologetic face.

Naguluhan ako. Bakit narito si Celine? Nilingon ko silang muli. Nang makita ang lalaking kaniyang kasama ay nawala ang lumukob sa aking takot. I thought it was Conrad! When, in fact, it was just Tito Enrico! But the tension in my nerves started to come back when Tito Ariel stopped the car's engine and opened the door.

Lumunok ako nang maraming beses. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ba ang dapat maramdaman. I should be happy that she's here, right? I should be excited because finally, after so long, I saw her again. Pero hindi ko magawang maging masaya dahil kinakain ako ng matinding takot. It was like I was back to the insecure Elaine who was so afraid to be judged by the people around her.

Is she here to confront me? Is she here to tell me how mad she is to me because I left her and never returned? Is it because I didn't say goodbye to her when I left for good? Is this because I lied to her and she's here to tell me how stupid I am to do that to her?

Hindi ko namalayan ngunit nakasapo na pala ang aking isang kamay sa aking dibdib habang tumutulo isa isa ang aking mga luha. I also realized that daddy was not in the car anymore. It was only me and mom who were left here.

Tiningnan kong muli si mommy. Nanghihingi ng saklolo. Dad did not explain why Celine was here. If she's with Tito Enrico, is it possible that she heard the news from him?

Ang pag-uwi namin ay hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni Tito Enrico dahil nasabi ito ni daddy sa kaniya. It was because he wanted to talk about the business and he told him that our family is coming back. Nasabi kaya ni Tito Enrico kay Celine ang lahat kaya siya sumama?

There were a lot of questions in my mind right now and I can't comprehend everything. Naguguluhan ako lalo na dahil may kaakibat iyong matinding pakiramdam ng takot sa aking dibdib. Dumadagundong ng husto ang puso ko sa takot!

"Elaine, this is what you've been waiting for. This is what you want, right? To face them and ask for forgiveness?" usad ni mommy sa aking tabi. Hindi niya ako iniwan at patuloy akong inalo.

Wala na si Tito Enrico at si Celine na lamang ang naiwan.

We were still inside the car and I can see from Celine's face that she was waiting for us to get out. There were a lot of emotions in her eyes. Iba't iba at natatakot akong baka nangingibabaw ang galit doon. I was so scared thinking that she is beyond mad at me. Baka nga kinasusuklaman na niya ako. Pero ano bang karapatan kong katakutan iyon gayung ako naman ang may kasalanan upang maramdaman niya iyon?