IRENE'S POV
Alam kong seryoso ang pag-uusapan ng Black Bears kaya agad na din kaming umalis ni Kuya Astro mula sa kanila.
I know na hindi din naman lalayo si Jhayd sa lugar na 'to kaya mahahanap namin siya.
And there, on the bench, I saw her having a conversation with Sophia.
"Jhayd.. ," tawag ko sa pangalan niya.
Sabay silang napalingon ni Sophia kaya naman hindi na natapos ang pinag-uusapan nila.
"Can we have a moment, sis? ," I asked.
Tiningnan naman siya ni Phia and she nodded as if she's saying its fine.
"Kuya, samahan mo muna si Sophia pabalik. I have a matter to discuss muna with my sister ," paalam ko.
"Sure."
Hinintay ko pa bago sila tuluyang makalayo sa amin bago ako umupo sa tabi niya at tuluyang nagsalita.
"Are you alright? ," tanong ko.
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Why don't you talk to Florian, Jhayd? I think he's waiting ," saad ko.
"You know him, Irene. Alam nating pareho na hinihintay niya ang pagbalik mo. Kahit noong nawala ka, he never opened his heart to anyone but me because I resemble you."
Yeah.. that's him.
"I thought I could hug him tight, Jhayd. Akala ko sa pagbalik ko, mahal ko pa rin siya."
She looked at me.
"What do you mean, Rin? He loves you ," she said.
"But... ," I sighed. "But.. I don't feel like running back to him, sis."
I feel it. Sobra kong minahal si Florian and I thought I would be running back to him kapag natapos na ang gulo sa Underground Society.
But, I feel like letting go now.
"Hindi mo na ba mahal si Florian? ," she asked.
She asked, not because she wants Florian for herself... but because she wants me to be there for him.
But I do not deserve that anymore.
"Mahal na mahal ko siya, Jhayd. We both know that. That's why let's make a deal."
"Tell me."
I looked at her.. and after seeing her face, I looked up the skies.
God, let my sister feel life.
God, sana ito na yung sign.
I faced her once again. "Jhayd, sino man sa ating dalawa ang piliin niya, suportahan natin ang isa't-isa."
"H-Huh? ," naguguluhan niyang tanong.
"I love you, sis, and I want you to accept the world. Wala ka na sa red line. Hindi ka na nakakulong kaya wag mo na din ikulong yung sarili mo mula sa damdamin mo."
Both of us started to feel sadness.
I feel it.
Tears are running down her cheeks while I keep on forcing myself na wag lumuha sa harap niya.
Sobrang bigat.
"Kung pipiliin niya ako, Jhayd, maging masaya ka sa amin at piliin mong maging 'Lady Tower' ng Underground. And if he choose to be with you.. sissy, it would be my greatest pleasure to have your position sa organization ni dad and I would like you to accept his love."
"Paano kung hindi ko pa kaya, Irene? ," she cried while she's asking me.
"Kaya mo, Jhayd. Alam kong kaya ninyo na simulan ulit yung sinisimulan ninyo noong mawala ako. You just have to accept him ," I explained.
I took a deep sigh. Again.
"Alam nating he's confused. He might be... Or.. baka inaaral lang niya ulit na ibalik yung totoong siya."
She stopped crying. And she faced me, saying, "Are you sure about this? ," so I nodded.
Open up your heart, Jhayd.
Tapos na ang lahat.
Wala nang pipigil sayo.
"Then... It's a deal, Irene. Let's do that."
I smiled.
Alam ko from this moment on.. na mahal nga niya si Florian.
At natatakot siya sa sarili niya.
Katahimikan ang nangibabaw sa pagitan namin matapos ang pag-uusap na yun... hanggang sa may bumasag nito.
"Irene."
Nang marinig ang pangalan ko, sabay kaming napalingon ni Jhayd. It was Florian standing behind us, waiting for a response.
"I should go now, Irene ," sambit ni Jhayd at kaagad na tumayo.
She started to walk away and I stood up to approach Florian.
"Florian.. ," panimula ko.
"Irene.. you know how much I love you ," he began.
"I know."
"But I love your sister now more than how I love you before ," he continued.
"I know ," ulit ko pa.
"Set me free, Irene. My heart still beats for you. Araw-araw, mula nang mawala ka sa akin, gusto kong bitawan lahat para lang makuha kita ulit. Gusto kong sumugal para lang manatili ka."
My heart started to feel pain.
You really loved me, Florian.
"My heart still beats for you until now, Irene. I don't know when it started, but I keep refusing to love your sister dahil umaasa akong babalik ka. Pero nu'ng bumalik ka... I realized that I love Rex more than you. Gumising na lang ako na mahal ko na siya."
"Sa akin ka nalang ulit, Florian. I am already here ," I uttered.
I want to know if you really love my sister.
"Irene..."
"Ako na lang ulit. Kasi bumalik naman ako ulit, Florian."
"Irene.. I'm sorry ," he said.
Nang marinig yun, I secretly smiled. This is not farewell but he's asking me to let him go so that he could run to her.
I know that this is the sign to let go now. Thank you, God.
Thank you for giving me the sign to let him go.
"You really love Jhayd? ," tanong ko.
"Y-Yeah. I love her. Hindi ko alam kung paano magsisimula at kung saan o bakit, pero gusto kong magsimula kasama siya."
Hearing that, I started to walk closer to him. Bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko ay para bang huling hakbang ko palapit sa kanya.
Tinitigan ko ang mga mata niya.
Sa huling pagkakataon, Florian, mahal kita.
Isang mahigpit na yakap ang ibinigay ko sa kanya.
Florian, malaya ka na.
Umiiyak man ang puso ko pero tanggap ko na.
"Go... ," sambit ko matapos bumitaw sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. "Chase after the girl you love, Florian."
"T-Thank you, Irene. Salamat sa lahat ng pinagsamahan natin. I won't forget the memories I had with you."
And he ran away..
Towards the girl he love...
...my sister.
And I walked away... from him.
I hope you'd forget our memories, Florian. We'll never be strangers but I don't want you to remember that you loved me.