a/n: a smol 🤏🏻 reminder to pls be kind to my characters. ty! :)

* * *

[DIALOGUE]

< HOSPITAL. LATE AFTERNOON. >

Mila
Bilis ng pag payag ni Mommy, ha. Sobrang tiwala sa 'yo.

Jachin
Ako pa ba? Syempre aalagaan kita at ibabalik in one piece. Maingat ako magmaneho, alam niya 'yon.

Hinawakan ni Mila ang kamay ni Jachin.

Mila
I'm hungry na.

Mila
Nag text pala si Rigo. Sabi hinihintay na lang tayo. Nagugutom na raw siya kaya bilisan natin.

Jachin
'Di ba siya nanguna do'n at kumain?

Marahang pinalo ni Mila ang balikat ni Jachin.

Mila
Stop being mean kay Rigo. He's your best friend.

Bahagya ginulo ni Jachin ang buhok nito.

Jachin
Sige na nga, tara na. Kuhanin ko lang sasakyan tapos i-text kita para lumabas ka na sa harap. Maulan din, by. Wala akong payong na nadala kaya mauulanan ka kapag sumama ka.

Mila smiled and nodded.

Mila
Okay. Kiss ko lang si Mommy and make sure she's all set to sleep.

Jachin took a step closer to her to kiss the top of her head. It was tender and comforting. It was just what she needed.

Jachin
Okay.

* * *

Ipinarada muna ni Jachin ang sasakyan sa harap nang magtext siya at hindi sumagot si Mila.

Nagpaalam siya guard na nasa entrance.

Jachin
Pa-park lang po saglit! May susunduin lang po sa loob. Saglit na saglit lang.

Nang sumilip siya sa kwartong nakabukas, hindi niya mapigilang mapakinggan si Mila at ang ina nito.

Mom
That guy loves you 'no? Always here to take care of us. I should make him something 'pag okay na ako.

Mila
Yeah. . .

Mom
O, bakit malungkot ka?

Mila
Kasi alam kong nahihirapan din siya. He's walking on eggshells around me.

Mom
Sinabi niya ba sa iyo 'yan?

Mila
No, and that's the thing. He is so stubborn na hindi niya sasabihin sa 'kin 'yon.

Mila
But I'm not blind. I can see it.

Sandaling natahimik ang dalawa at tanging tunog lang ng mga makina sa loob ng kwarto ang naririnig.

Mila
And the guilt is eating me.

Mom
Guilty of making him do this? Hindi naman niya gagawin ito kung hindi ka niya gusto, anak.

Mila
No, no. It's not that—It's—ugh.

Mila
What if he finds out na ginawa ko 'to—I asked him to be with me—because I didn't want to lose him to someone else?

Mom
Mila. . .

Mom
Why did you do that?

Mila
I was just—I was just so afraid, Mom.

Nabitawan ni Jachin ang doorknob and immediately saw Mila turned to the door.

Narinig niya ang yabag nitong patakbong hinabol siya.

But he was already running.

Mila
Jachin!

He had heard enough. He had heard enough for his heart to break.

Jachin hurriedly pulled the door of his car, went in, and slammed the door shut. His tires screeched against the cold and wet asphalt as he pressed the gas.

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#ATSWHIwp