Forever and Always (Book 2)

Forever and Always II - CHAPTER 14

'Don't look back,' ani Erika sa sarili habang lulan ng taxi. Ngunit hindi niya napigilan ang sarili at sinulyapan niyang muli ang asawa.

Yumuyugyog ang balikat nito habang nakatingin sa taxing sinasakyan niya. Saka lang niya napansing nakapaa ito.

"Why do you always make it hard for me, Alex?" aniyang impit na napahikbi. Hindi na niya pinigilan ang pagbuhos ng luha. Sa lahat ng desisyon na ginawa niya sa buhay, ito ang pinakamahirap.

She wanted to applaud for standing up for herself.
Ngayon lang siya may ginawa para sa sarili niya. All throughout their relationship, si Alex palagi ang inuuna niya. Dahil ganoon siya magmahal. She always gives her best. 100%. Kay Alex umiikot ang mundo niya. Even when they are not together her thoughts are always with him. It seemed like she was moving and breathing and living for Alex. Ibinibigay niya lahat ng kaya niyang ibigay. Okay lang kahit walang matira sa kanya. She never heard herself complain. She was okay with that. She could live with that. She was happy loving Alex.

Until last night...

When she realized she had given her all for nothing. And the truth broke her. 100% din yung sakit.

Pero bakit ganoon? Bakit hindi niya magawang maging masaya? She should at least feel a sense of triumph for being able to walk away from him. But she's hurting watching him in pain. It felt like her broken pieces were torn. Piece by piece.

Umiling siya. She shouldn't think about anything. She didn't even had any sleep last night thinking. She decided to give herself a break. She needs to stick with that decision, otherwise, she'll fall apart.

'Babalik naman ako,' aniya habang nakatingin sa papalayong bulto ng asawa. She traced his frame with her finger from the window, hoping she could wipe away his tears from where she is. Hanggang sa unti-unting lumiliit iyon habang papalayo siya rito. Hanggang sa tuluyan itong nawala sa paningin niya. 'Ngayon lang naman 'to...' alo niya sa asawa habang nakatitig sa kawalan. She knows she is no longer trying to console Alex but herself. 'Babalik naman ako,' ulit niya, inaalo ang sarili.

Kinuha ang cellphone at nagtext kay Gwen. Hindi pa rin niya maiwasang mag-alala para sa asawa. Some things just never change. Pinahid niya ang luha nang makarating sa airport.

She wants to go home. She wants her mom's hug so bad.

"I'm sorry, Pepper," paulit-ulit na kumikibot ang bibig ni Alex kahit hindi na niya matanaw ang taxi na sinakyan ng asawa. Umaasa siyang magbago ang isip nito kaya nanatili siya ng ilang minuto. Hanggang sa mamanhid ang paa niya. Laglag ang balikat na bumalik siya sa loob ng apartment. He could feel the pain on his feet when it touched the warm floor. Like small needles prickling on his skin. It was stinging and burning his feet. Pasalampak na naupo siya sa sahig. He suddenly felt weak.

What should he do now?

His mind seemed to be frozen too. Hindi niya alam kung gaano siya katagal nakasalampak sa sahig. Nagulat siya nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. Bigla siyang nabuhayan ng loob. Ngunit kaagad ding nawala iyon nang mapagsino ang bisita. He thought Pepper changed her mind and came back to him.

"Oh God, Alex!" tarantang sambit nito. "Were you hurt bad?"

Ni wala siyang lakas para sagutin ang kapatid.

Kinuha nito ang medicine kit mula banyo nang makitang namamaga ang kamay niya. He didn't even feel the pain when he punched the wall last night.

"Did Pepper call you?" tanong niya kay Gwen na bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha.

"She just sent me a text."

A searing pain sliced his heart. How could she still think of him when she is hurting that much?