Chapter Eleven
Last chapter
"This is the last dinner we'll spend together." Mom said with a distinct sadness in her voice. "Are you sure you want to leave?"
"Opo, sigurado na po ako." Tisoy answered before looking at me. I gave him a glare and averted my attention to my plate.
"We've taken care of you for many years. Parang anak na rin ang turing namin sa'yo. Basta kapag may kailangan ka huwag kang mahihiyang lumapit sa amin. We're here for you. Always remember that." Mom said, forcing a smile.
"Oo naman po, tita." Tisoy smiled back at her.
"Bibisita ka dito, ha?" Dad said.
Tisoy nodded at him. I could feel the sorrow hanging in there as I silently ate my dinner. I tried to ignore it but it felt really heavy. I had to stand from my seat as they chatted and I knew I had to leave. Wala rin naman akong gana kumain. I couldn't focus on my food cause all I could feel was the heaviness in my chest and the feel of my heart dropping to the pit of my stomach.
"O, Mallory. Tapos ka na?" Dad asked.
"Yeah..." Tipid na sagot ko. "I'm going to my room. Marami pa akong kailangan tapusin."
"Hindi ba makakapaghintayan yan? Tisoy's leaving tomorrow." Mom said.
"Then let him leave. The door's open for him." I sarcastically smirked. "Kung gusto niyang umalis, paalisin niyo na siya. We don't need him here."
"Mallory..." Mahinang awat ni mom.
"Why should we care if he wants to leave? Hindi niya na tayo kailangan kaya aalis na siya. Hindi din natin siya kailangan."
"Enough, Mallory!" Dad said in an authorative voice.
I threw a sharp look at Tisoy, he was looking at me when I looked at him but his eyes quickly lowered. I suddenly felt a pang in my chest. I hated him now as much as I loved him before but God, I knew I was going to miss him.
"I'm going to my room." Sabi ko bago tumalikod mula sa kanila.
I went to my room and threw my body on the bed. I didn't know how long I'd been staring absently at the ceiling. My mind wandered elsewhere.
Finally, mawawala na din siya sa buhay ko. Hindi ko na siya makikita. I didn't know what would hurt more, seeing the man who broke my heart everyday or not seeing him at all. I did my best to keep my eyes dry but nothing I do could dull the ache in my chest.
Don't cry, Mallory. I repeated over and over in my head like a mantra.
Namalayan ko lang na nakatulog na pala ako nang magising ako sa katok sa pinto. It was already morning. The sun was shining through the window in my room. I just wanted to sleep... that was what I intended to do the whole day.
I didn't want to see him go.
I grabbed a pillow and covered my face with it, trying to go back to dream land. I groaned when I heard the knock again. For Christ's sake, it was a Sunday... at ito ang araw na aalis na si Tisoy. Couldn't they just leave me alone?
"Go away!" I shouted to whoever it was.
"Mallory..." Dumilat ako nang marinig ko ang boses niya. "Mal, I just want to say goodbye to you."
I felt a new ache enter the hollow in the pit of my stomach. I found myself sitting up and hugging my knees to my chest. So this was it. He really was going to leave.
"I know you don't want to see me." Patuloy niya. "Gusto ko lang magpaalam sa'yo at humingi ng tawad. I'm sorry. I know I've hurt you and that's not what I wanted to happen. I'm hurting to but this is the right thing to do. Mallory, if you're listening please don't ever think that all the things that happened to us was just nothing to me. I treasure every moment I had with you."
I felt like I'd forgotten how to breathe. I swallowed down the lump forming in my throat and choked on air like it had somehow gone down the wrong pipe.
"Please take care of yourself while I'm gone." His voice seemed to quiver. "Don't get yourself into trouble 'cause I won't be around to get you out of it anymore. Hintayin mo ako, Mallory. Babalik ako. Babalikan kita at hindi na kita iiwan."
No matter how much I tried to hardened myself emotional, it still hurt. I tightly closed my eyes and buried my face into my knees, rocking back and forth.
Just don't listen. Don't accept. That's how I'd keep myself from crying. Refuse to feel a thing.
~~~
I waited for just like he told me to. I may not have done it conciously but I waited for him. There had never been a man after him because I waited. Hinintay ko siyang bumalik. I waited for ten long years kahit na alam kong walang kasiguraduhan ang sinabi niyang babalik siya.
He kept his words, he came back pero may iba na siya. What was worst is that they were going to have a baby. Bumalik lang siya para lokohin ako at pagmukhain akong tanga. I felt like the wound in my heart had been reopened and sprinkled with salt.
I went straight home and threw myself on the bed. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to lift that heavy weight off my chest. Binigyan ko ang sarili ko nang konting oras para makarecover. I was at fault here. Kasalanan ko kung bakit nangyayari sa akin ito at kung bakit ako nasasaktan ngayon. I was stupid to believe him.
I decided to leave. Hindi naman tama na ipagsiksikan ko pa ang sarili ko sa kanya. I did it before and I wasn't going to do it again.
I started packing my things up. As I was packing, my phone started ringing. Hindi ko ito pinansin. I just looked at my phone as it rang non-stop. I was getting text messages that I didn't bother reading and calls I didn't answer. I knew it was just Derek. I didn't want to talk with him or even hear his voice.
After about half an hour, the doorbell started to ring but I ignored it.
"Mallory!" He started banging profusely on the door. "Kapag hindi ka nagsalita, ipabubukas ko itong pinto!"
"LEAVE!" Lumapit ako sa pinto para marinig niya ako. "Leave me alone!"
"Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Open the door!!!"
"Just leave! I don't want to see you!" I swallowed back the sob rising from my throat.
"What the hell is happening to you? Akala ko ba okay na tayo? Mallory, please don't do this to me." He sounded as if he was begging. "Let me in..."
"No!" I tried hard to keep my voice from shaking. "Umalis ka na lang! Iwan mo na ako!"
"I'm not going to do it again. I won't ever leave you again." May diin na sabi niya. "Hinding-hindi na mangyayari iyon."
"This was a mistake. Hindi na dapat tayo nagkita. I shouldn't have agreed to this." I leaned my back on the door as I felt my legs turning into jelly. I felt like the gravity was pulling me down as I slid on a sitting position. "Bakit ba bumalik ka pa sa buhay ko? I was okay without you..."
"Mal, I made a promise. I keep my words." He said.
"You can take your words and shove it up your ass. Ayaw ko nang makita ka. I'm quitting my job and I'm leaving this condo unit."
"Fuck, Mallory! Ano bang problema?" That was the first time I had heard him this angry. "Hindi ako aalis at hindi kita hahayaan umalis. You're mine! You've always been mine and we both know it."
"Just leave." This time my voice choked up a bit as I felt the pressure in my chest squeeze my heart a little tighter.
"I love you, Mallory. Ano bang kailangan kong gawin para maniwala ka?" He said in a tired sigh.
Refuse to feel a thing.
That was what I told myself ten years ago when he was saying goodbye. I closed my eyes and tears fell from my eyes. It was happening all over again. I was going to lose him again...
It was my fault, I know. Ako ang nagpaalis sa kanya.
But when he was saying goodbye, I wanted to stop him then. I wanted to jump out of my bed, open the door and throw my arms around him. I wanted to beg him not to leave. I wanted to tell him that I want to stay but I was too proud. Pride was the only thing I was holding onto at that time. It was all that was left of me after he broke me.
My heart gets prideful at times and pretend to dislike what it needs the most. I couldn't make that same mistake again. I spent ten years regretting that moment and I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life regretting this too.
I pulled myself up and opened the door for him. I saw him sitting next to the floor, his back leaning against the wall. He looked up at me with with his sad honey brown eyes, his eyes were red as if he was holding his tears back. Then he quickly got up and stood in front of me.
"Mallory, I can't lose you again." He cupped my face in his hands. Tears fell from his eyes and he spoke tenderly. "I don't know how I would survive that. When I left you ten years ago, I felt like I left a piece of my soul behind with you. Ngayon nandito ka na, hindi na kita pakakawalan. I'll do everything you want me to do, kahit ano, just don't ask me to leave you again."
"What about Ellen? I heard you and Ellen talking in the office. Buntis siya." Paos ang tinig na sabi ko. I was trying hard to hold my tears in.
"What does that have to do with us?" His face crumpled with confusion.
"Hindi mo pananagutan ang bata?" My eyes narrowed at him.
"Mal, ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Ellen's my sister." He quietly said.
My eyes widened in shock at what he said. I opened my mouth but no words came out so I closed it again.
He then broke into laughter. He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "You thought I was the one who got her pregnant?" He said with an amused tone.
I slowly nodded my head, feeling a bit embarrassed. His laughter died down and he pulled me towards him.
"She's my mother's daughter with her third partner." Seryosong sabi niya. "Matagal nang wala si Emily. She died a couple of years ago and since then, ako na ang nag-alaga kay Ellen."
"I really thought..." I buried my face in his chest. Hindi ko na napigilan humikbi. "Akala ko mawawala ka na naman sa akin. I don't want to lose you anymore."
"That's never going to happen again, Mallory." He whispered with gentle voice. "Never again."
"I love you, too." I sniffled. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything. For not stopping you from leaving ten years ago. I wanted you to stay... I didn't mean what I said nung sinabi kong gusto kitang umalis." I sobbed.
"It's alright, Mal, I understand. Nasaktan kita. I never meant to hurt you but I did."
"Hindi ba sabi mo sa akin noon, hintayin kita. I did, I waited for you..." I lifted my head up to look at him and smiled despite the tears.
I didn't know how but we ended up in bed. His hands wandered all over my body with expert familiarity. He was kissing me furiously. It was hungry and desperate, full of wants and needs. Not hurting me, but still rough and deep. I could his tongue exploring the insides of my mouth, brushing against my tongue. I answered him back, mimicking the same intensity of his kiss. Our tongues swirled against each other while his hand started sliding inside my shirt.
He cupped my breast and squeezed it. I moaned, feeling his warm hand massaging me. He grew impatient and pulled my shirt over my head and threw it on the floor. Sinunod niya ang pangloob ko. He unhooked my bra, throwing it on the floor like he did to my shirt. He bent his head down, giving each of my nipples a gentle peck and softly bit the last he kissed. He played with my nipple with his teeth, softly grazing it.
His hand move down to my skirt and he pushed it down along with my panties. He took it off effortlessly. My whole body shuddered at the touch of his hot palm against my femenity.
"Tisoy..." I moaned.
"I like it when you call me Tisoy." He murmured against my breast.
His finger found my clit and circled it in wide stroke. I gasped when he held it in between his two fingers and give it a gentle squeeze.
"Please, Tisoy..." I whimpered.
I felt a finger sliding inside me which made me moan even louder.
"You're so wet... I need to be inside you, Mallory. I need you now." He said through labored breath.
I watched as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his toned and musculine body. Sinunod niya ang pang-ibaba niya. He pulled down his pants and boxers in one swift motion. He opened my legs a little wider and positioned himself.
He cupped my buttocks, lifting my legs up to his waist and not wasting any second, he plunge inside me and in that moment we were one.
Naalimpungatan ako at hinanap ko ang init ng katawan ni Derek. My hand reached out for him but all I could feel was the warm bedsheet beside me. I opened my eyes and let my vision adjust to the surrounding. I saw Derek sitting on the end of the bed with his masculine back turned to me.
A smile crept across my lips. I carefully crawled to where he was and hugged him from the back.
"What are you doing?" I whispered to his ear as my arms wrapped around his torso. I gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You still have this." He turned his head to look at me. Itinaas niya ang kamay niya para ipakita sa akin ang hawak niya. It was the paper crane he gave to me when we were little. Dilaw na ang kulay ng dating puting papel dahil sa pagkaluma.
"Yes, I've kept it." I said.
"I made nine hundred and ninety nine of these." He smiled.
"That's alot." I giggled, resting my chin on his shoulder.
"Sabi nila kapag nakagawa ka daw ng isang libo nito, matutupad ang kahit anong hilingin mo. Hindi ko ginawa ang huling paper crane dahil natatakot akong malaman kung totoo ba iyon o hindi. I know I'd be very disappointed if I make the last one and my wish doesn't come true. Can I please have this back so I can make my wish?"
I chuckled. "Sige na, ibinabalik ko na sa'yo yan. Ano ba ang wish mo?"
"Bata pa lang tayo, I've always felt something special for you." A nostalgic smile appeared on his lips. "I was a kid but I knew the feelings I have for you is something I won't ever feel for anyone. And that feeling only grew as I got older and older. I remember looking at you and thinking you're going to be the girl I'm going to marry someday. But I knew at that time, it was all just wishful thinking. You didn't like me then."
"Tisoy..." I murmured, brushing my nose against his neck. "I've always loved you. I didn't like you but I've always loved you. Natatakot lang ako sa nararamdaman ko noon para sa'yo. I was a girl and I didn't know how to deal with those feelings."
He took my hand and intwined it with his before bringing to his lips to kiss my hand.
"Mal, ikaw lang ang makakatupad ng hinihiling ko. Ilang taon kong hinintay na dumating ang araw na maitanong ko sa'yo ito." He took in a deep breath and my heart began to beat fast. Mayroon na akong idea kung ano ang itatanong niya sa akin. "Mallory del Prado, will you be my wife?"
"Oh my god, Tisoy!" Naluluhang sabi ko.
He shifted his body, turning to face me.
"Hindi ko inaasahan gagawin ko ngayon 'to. I don't have any ring with me but I promise I'll buy you one. Please, just say yes."
"Of course! Yes! Yes, I'll marry you." I got really excited and threw my arms around him. We fell from the bed to the floor with me on top of him.
___
Author's note:
Hi guys,
Gusto ko lang malaman niyo na itong The Seven Deadly Sinners Series, maikli lang talaga ang mga kwento. Pinakamarami na sa series na ito ang 20 chapters. Puro mga short stories lang talaga sila. I hope you enjoyed Mallory and Derek's story. :)
Last chapter na ito pero may kasunod pang epilogue.
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