Way of Forever

Kabanata 33

Hindi gumalaw si Maeve sa kinatatayuan nito. Nanigas siya at tila hindi ramdam ang lamig ng hangin ngayong gabi dahil sa mainit na yakap ng lalaking nasa likod niya.

“I miss you so much,” bulong ni Lorenzo at mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa dalaga. Feeling niya isang taon s’yang nawala at kay tagal na nakapiling si Maeve. Nagmadali s’yang umuwi para makita at mayakap ito.

“Lorenzo, let go,” uto ni Maeve na ngayon ay nakahawak sa braso nito na nakapulupot sa kanya.

“Ayoko, Mae.”

Napapikit ng mariin si Maeve. This hug... Lorenzo always do this to her. Nagugulat na lang siya sa pagyakap nito mula sa likuran hanggang ngayon ang pabango na gamit nito ay ang pinili niya noong lumabas sila at nag-date sa mall. Hirap na hirap siguro s'yang kalimutan ni Lorenzo. The way he hugged her proved it. Ayaw pang bumitaw.

"Lorenzo," she called gently.

She turned around and faced the man. He looked pale and his eyes were down.

"Mae, I know the truth," simula ng binata at tiningnan sa mata ang babaeng kaharap niya. Ang babaeng matagal ng laman ng puso niya.

"About?"

"About you and Levine. I know that you two were just pretending in order for my brother not to be married off."

Hindi na nabigla si Maeve dahil alam n’yang malalaman at malalaman pa din ni Lorenzo ang katotohanan.

“You don’t love him. Nandito na ako, Mae, bumalik ka na sa’kin.” Hinawakan ni Lorenzo ang magkabilang kamay ni Maeve. There was a small smile spreading on his lips.

Hindi alam ni Maeve ang nararamdaman. Ayaw n’yang makitang ganito si Lorenzo. After all, may pinagsamahan silang dalawa.

“Please,” he whispered the last words.

"I-I don’t know, Lorenzo. Malaki ang naging parte mo sa buhay ko. I never wanted to let go, but if I keep holding on to it, madudurog ako. Gusto kong malaman bakit? Bakit mo ako iniwan?"

Umiling-iling si Lorenzo ng malumanay. "Ayaw kong umalis noon," he chuckled without humor. "Hell! It never crossed my mind that one day I will leave you pero nagawa ko pa din. But trust me, ang ginawa ko iyon para sa ating dalawa. I don't want to leave but I need to and maybe for me to be the better version of myself for you."

Maeve smiles gently. "You're a better version of you, Lorenzo. I'm proud that you came this far. I always root for you, remember? Pero... hindi 'non mababago ang ginawa mo. Umalis ka na walang paalam at 'yon ang masakit."

"I was wrong for hurting you. I’m sorry for what I've done. Can you please give me a chance? This time I'll never going anywhere without you, Mae. Come back to my arms again," Lorenzo was almost begging kulang na lang ay lumuhod siya para lang bumalik sa kanya si Maeve. She was the only woman who he wanted be with in better or for worse. Ito lang ang kahilingan niya— ang makasama ulit ang dalaga.

Maeve pursed her lips. Sumasakit ang mata niya hindi niya magawang tingnan ng diretso sa mata si Lorenzo dahil pakiramdam niya ay babagsak siya, hindi, hindi siya kundi ang luha niya.

Hindi nagsalita si Maeve. Ano ba dapat ang gawin niya kapag nasa ganitong sitwasyon? Hindi niya alam. Naba-blanko ang isip niya.

Lorenzo swallowed his lump. "Mae, may nararamdaman ka na sa kapatid ko? Pwede bang pigilan mo? I sound so selfish," he laughed without reaching his eyes.

“You can't stop someone from not to feel anything, Lorenzo,” sagot ni Mae. Siya may nararamdaman kay Levine? Hindi niya din alam pero alam n’yang unti-unting pumapasok sa buhay niya si Levine. Him and Lorenzo were different. Naging masaya siya sa dalawa pero kailangan bang mauwi sa ganito? May masasaktan lalo pa't umamin sa kanya si Levine. How could the same brothers fall for her this bad? Deserve niya ba ang mga ito?

“Then, tell me the truth. Are you in love with my brother?” Lorenzo's hands formed into fish as he looked at Maeve expectantly to say no.

Maeve bit the inside of her cheeks and closed her eyes as a single tear rolled down on her face.

“‘Pag sinabi ko bang meron, titigilan mo ba ako? Are you letting me go?”

Mariing umiling si Lorenzo. "No. I never and will never stop loving you, Mae. Pero sagutin mo ang tanong ko," he held her arms tightly. He felt his chest tightened as he was waiting for her answer. Ganito pala ang nararamdaman ng dalaga noon pero mas masakit ata ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. Ang bigat.

"Yes," Maeve whispered and it cracked a little.

Tumulo ang luha ni Lorenzo at mabilis nitong pinunasan bago tumingin sa kalangitan na puno ng bituin.

"My brother i-is lucky to have you, Mae." Tumingin ito sa dalaga na mapula na ang mata. He reached out and wiped her tears.

“Don't cry, Mae, wala kang kasalanan. I deserved this. I’m willing to be hurt again hanggang sa mapatawad mo ako, even I'm not the man who was inside of your heart anymore. Ang hirap lang bitawan ka.” He forced a smile.

“You have been part of my life, Ren, you always be. Minahal kita. Ikaw ang first love ko, eh,” ani ni Maeve at tumawa. Ren, it was her nickname for him when they were still together. Siya si Mae at si Lorenzo naman si Ren.

"I know. How I wish I can be your last love. Pero hindi na ata mangyayari 'yon. If ever man na magkatuluyan kayo ng totoo ng kapatid ko always remember that I was once the reason for your smile. Don't forget me, Mae. I love you, always." Niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit.

Lorenzo stepped back and heaved a sighed. Funny how he cried in front of her. Medyo nabawasan na ang bigat ng dibdib niya.

"I’ll take my leave now. Hanggang sa muli mahal ko." Lorenzo walkes back to his car when Maeve called him.

"Lorenzo!"

Ngumiti si Maeve. "May naghihintay sa’yo. Matagal na," she said mysteriously and waved. She walked back and went inside the bar to looked for Levine pero wala na ito naroon na lang ay sina Winston at Caide.

"Where's Levine?"

"Huh? Lumabas 'yon para tingnan ka. Hindi mo ba siya nakita?" tanong ni Caide na nakakunot-noo.

Biglang tumambol ng malakas ang puso ni Maeve.

'Hindi kaya? Shit.'

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A/N: Panibagong problema kaya ito? Bumitaw na nga ba ng tuluyan si Lorenzo? Aaaah? love your feedbacks! Salamat sa paghihintay?