#MultiverseInterlude03

"Be careful next time," he added. "T-thank you," I stuttered and looked away from his deep stairs at me.

Magkaharap kami ngayon sa iisang table, kinakabahan at hindi alam ang tamang bagay na gagawin sa harap niya.

All I could feel is fear.

Sa takot na baka makilala niya ako, yung totoong ako; ang taong minahal niya sa nakaraang hindi madaling kalimutan.

"Nice meeting you in person Ms. de Perio, I've been wanting you to meet in person since then." Napalingon ako sa kanya at nakaramdam ng sakit na parang tinamaan ng pana sa aking dibdib.

It sounded so romantic to some people, but for me, it's not.

Things are way more different in the past than in the future. You may expect things in the past to be still the same in the future, sometimes it's the opposite.

"Ah okay," tanging sagot ko na lang dahil sa naghihiyawang emosyon sa 'king dibdib.

"I would like to apologize to you for making that article, I was just doing my job and I swear hindi iyon bias." Nag angat ako ng tingi sa kanya ang ngumisi. 

"I appreciate your apology Mr. Martinez, and there's no way it was biased— I'm sure you were guessing that I'm thinking your article in that way," I sounded like I'm about to burst out in tears.

I mean, how could you face the man you've hurt and even talk to him like nothing happened? How could I face his innocent and wounded soul when I killed myself in front of him?

How shameless of you Alyona? Don't you dare expect something for him that he will forget what happened to the both of you.

But there is a part of me hoping that I could go back to the deepest buried past; the beginning of my life that I wished I could change if I were given a chance again.

Sometimes, I regret choosing the future— knowing I left that one multiverse with a heavy heart from the future.

"Are you okay? You seem uncomfortable around me eh," I cleared my throat and faced him again. "N-no, no it's just I'm tired," I lied and faked a smile.

"Then I should take you home to your unit so you can rest?" I bit my lower lip as I scratch my thumb under the table until it bleeds.

"I'm fine Mr. Martinez, don't mind me, and thanks to your offer but I'm not buying it." Ngumiti ako at nagtaas naman siya ng kilay.

"My offer is not for sale ma'am," Kinunotan ko siya ng noo at nagtaas ng kilay.

"Okay, if that's the case I still don't accept offers from anyone." I looked up at the ceiling trying not to roll my eyes.

"Are you sure?" Mariin kong pinikit ang aking mga mata at sa pagmulat ko ay ngayon nakangisi na siyang nakatingin sa 'kin. 

"What if offer something that has been arguing in your mind since yesterday? I know you are not dumb not to realize what I was referring to," I rolled my eyes and yawned in between my realization.

Was he referring to my recent issue?

Sandali... ibig ba niyang sabihin 'dun ay e take down niya yung article? O baka may kapalit naman sa huli? Ayaw ko sa ganoon pero kung kaya naman yung kapalit ayos lang.

Should I act dumb and dumber instead or should I just accept the offer?

Nah, keep your pride on top babe.

Bumuntong hininga ako at sinagot siya.

"I'm sorry but I'm too dumb to know what you're talking about," I confidently said as took a sip on my champagne glass. "Then I should tell you what I want you to do to me,"

"And why do you think I should do that?"  I smirked behind my cheeks and in between the verge of the champagne glass.

"It's for your own good, ma'am." He said emotionless while cutting the steak. "Why do you even care for my own good when you don't even know me dearly?" then he stopped after hearing what I just told him.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit iyon ang lumabas sa bunganga ko.

"So, what's the point of holding a meeting with me if you don't care at all? Naniwala pa naman akong hindi totoo ang  salitaan nila sa 'yo," dismayadong sabi niya at pinasok sa gilid ang hiniwang steak.

I cleared my throat and gulped before I could even talk again.

"Hindi lang ako sanay sa mga taong katulad mong may pusong tumulong sa situwasyon ko," alam kong hindi totoo ang sinabi kong hindi ako sanay sa taong katulad niya, dahil ang totoo nami-miss ko na siya sa buhay ko dahil antagal ko ng nawala sa piling niya.

It's hard to admit, and I don't want to admit it at the same time either. Perhaps, I don't want to miss him every day because I always remind myself that I don't deserve him. I forbid myself from falling in love over and over again.

Deserve niya ng ibang taong hindi siya iiwan. He deserves someone who trusts him hardly to the point they wouldn't fear anything if something happens in their life.

"You should be from now on. I'm willing to help you clear your name with all of my heart, I know how it feels to be accused of some things you didn't even do." I bit my lower lip trying not to show a wide smile.

"Thank you," that's the only thing I can say right now.

I have no other words to express my gratitude toward him because of the tension of my emotions— all over my body.

"My pleasure," the last thing he said before we finished our dinner, together.

We left the party and walked together back to our homes. Now we are an inch apart from each other while walking in the hallway, quiet and peaceful. But the atmosphere feels suffocating after all.

Back then in my end, we used to be each other's home. We used to be each other's comfort, affection, and peace. 

Pero ngayon ay nalunod sa poot ang dalawang damdamin na sinira ko.

Buong akala ko ay magiging masaya na ako dahil sa ginawa ko noon, pero maling akala lang pala iyon. Ang wasak na wasak na kaluluwang walang landas sa paglunas ay mas lalong nawasak sa dulot ng pagsisisi.

All I could think was to be happy, but I didn't think of healing.

"Anything you want me to do in return?" Bigla akong nagsalita nang palapit na ako sa aking unit.

He stopped walking and then he looked at me with his eyes and deepened his stares on mine.

"As I told you earlier I'm helping you with all of my heart with no things in return," emotionless. "I've heard you say that I'm capable of doing things you want me to do?" I assured.

"Ah... that one? Well, it's not about money or either my own benefits for you to do to me in return, ma'am." Kumunot ang noo ko at nagugulohan sa kanyang sinagot. "Then what is it?" I couldn't help anymore not to roll my eyes.

A smirk formed on his cheeks and smiled widely.

It used to be cute back then, but right now? It's creepy and gives me shivers all over my body.

"The only thing I want you to do is to be happy and heal your broken soul that was broken since then. no one can save you, not anyone else or either me, but you know who can do that? You. Only you." He sounded sincere towards me.

Pero napatawa ako ng malakas sa kawalan ng buong hall way at gumewang-gewang na paglakad dahil sa epekto ng mg na inom ko. Umiikot na ang paningin ko at natapilok at nahulog sa kanyang dibdib, kumalawa ulit ako ng isang mahinang tawa at tinignan siya.

"I can't even save myself b-but y-you..." natabunan na nang hiningal ko ang mga salitang mga gusto kong ipaliwanag sa kanya. "Y-you're telling me save me? I'm sorry Mr. Martinez but are you out of your mind?" I asked; sound annoyed.

"Yes. I am, whether you like it or not." I gulped hard while looking at him in the eyes, he began walking toward me as I slowly walk backward; I stopped, and then he tempered his knees— leaning his face on mine and barely breathing some air.

"I will be with you through the affair in many ways of your own of healing, it may be boring and not so important to you but— I'll be with you through thick and thin." And that's when I knew that I fell in love with his solace idiom, again.

Dahil sa sobrang lakas ng tama sa 'king ng mga ininom ko kanina, ay nagawa ko nang hawakan siya sa mukha. Ngumiti ako habang hinihimas ang kanyang pisngi, nanatiling walang emosyon ang kanyang mukha pero nakikita ko naman sa kanyang mata ang kuryuso sa pag-akto ko.

I drew out a deep breath and snaked both of my arms onto his neck, I looked down at his red lips as I slowly lose my mind and didn't even hesitate of sealing his verge with my sinful mouth. I shamelessly bit his lower lip 'till I tasted the metallic taste of his blood and after that, I unlatch our chain.

He didn't kiss me back, but that was fine.

"Why do you care?" A tear escaped from my eyes. "Ano ba ang pakialam mo sa 'kin? Why does it sound like you're very sincere even though you just met me tonight?" I fell into his chest and burst out in tears.

"Hindi mo naman ako kilala ng gaano, bakit ba ang dali sa 'yo magkaroon ng pake sa taong kagaya ko?" I added and even cried more. "You don't even know my true self, and you don't even know how sinful I was to myself and to you back then? Did I remind you of someone else who was also like me?" at naramdaman ko na lang niyakap niya ako pabalik, leaning his chin on my head as he rubbed my back again with his thumb and arms.

"Yes. But sometimes I'd convince myself that she was you so that I can save you from the possible things that you might do like what she did to herself.  I failed to save her years ago and this time I'm longing for both of us,"

AVRLBNZ