Laging may dalawang klase ng kaba — 'yung nakakakilig... at 'yung nakakabiyak ng kaluluwa.
At ngayon, habang nakatingin si Aila sa salamin ng CR ng hotel function room kung saan gaganapin ang team dinner, alam niyang ito na 'yon — the second kind. The soul-shattering one. The kind you feel right before you break someone you were never supposed to love.
Hindi na siya makahinga.
"Sabihin mo na," bulong niya sa sarili, pinapahid ang luha bago pa ito masira ang makeup niya. "Bago pa siya marinig kay Angela. Bago pa siya saktan ng ibang tao."
Her phone buzzed. A message from Audrey.
You got this. Kung hindi mo kaya para sa sarili mo, gawin mo para sa kanya.
Malalim na hinga.
Lumabas siya ng CR. Dumeretso sa hallway, tahimik, habang sa kabilang dulo naririnig na ang tawanan ng team. The dinner was starting. Ian was already there. She could almost hear his laugh — rare, genuine, the kind he only shared with her these past few days.
At least, until now.
Pagpasok niya sa private dining room ng restaurant, tumigil ang mga kwentuhan saglit. Angela shot her a smirk. Ian met her eyes—warm, curious.
She wanted to run. But she stayed.
"Aila!" si Maila, masigla. "Dito ka sa tabi namin—"
"Hindi. Kailangan ko muna siyang kausapin."
Tumayo si Aila sa harapan ng team, sa mismong gitna. Andiyan si Angela, ready to pounce. Andiyan ang mga kaibigan niya, tahimik na sumusuporta. Andiyan si Ian—na hindi pa niya kayang tingnan nang diretso.
"I know this isn't the right time," panimula niya, hawak-hawak ang baso para hindi manginig ang kamay niya. "Pero bago pa may ibang magsabi... ako na."
"Ano ba 'to, awards night?" sarkastikong sabat ni Angela. "O confession night?"
Hindi siya pinansin ni Aila. "Nagsimula ang lahat bilang... laro. Bet. Challenge."
Ian's brows furrowed.
"Ako ang nag-volunteer. Ang goal: to make you fall in love with me in ten days."
Tahimik.
Walang gumagalaw.
Parang biglang lumamig ang buong silid.
"Pero halfway through..." tuloy ni Aila, nanginginig na ang boses, "hindi ko na alam kung alin 'yung totoo at alin 'yung palabas. Hanggang sa hindi na siya bet para sa'kin. Kasi totoo na 'yung nararamdaman ko."
Finally, she looked at him.
"I'm sorry, Ian."
Tahimik pa rin.
And then slowly... Ian stood.
His face — blank. Calm. Too calm.
"You used me," he said flatly. "As part of some office dare?"
"No, I—"
"Nung nagsabi ako ng mga bagay na never ko pang sinabi kahit kanino, naglalaro ka lang?"
"Ian, hindi ko na siya laro that time. Totoo na lahat!"
"Pero nagsimula pa rin siya sa kasinungalingan." He shook his head, chuckling bitterly. "I knew it was too good to be real."
Tapos lumingon siya kay Angela.
"Ikaw ang nagsabi sa kanya?"
Angela raised her glass, proud. "I just love transparency in the workplace."
Lumingon si Ian ulit kay Aila.
"Sayang. Akala ko... for once, may totoo."
And just like that — he walked out.
No shouting.
No drama.
Just silence.
And that was what broke her more.
Later that Night
Aila sat on the hotel rooftop alone. The night wind was cold, pero mas malamig 'yung iniwan ni Ian.
Tumabi si Kimberly at si John sa bench.
"He left agad after dinner," sabi ni Kimberly, halos pabulong. "Didn't even say goodbye to anyone."
Aila didn't respond.
"Masakit 'di ba?" John said. "Pero at least, ikaw ang nagsabi. Hindi 'yung galing sa iba."
"Tama si John," dagdag ni Kim. "You tried. That's more than what most people do."
Aila finally looked up at them.
"Pero mali pa rin, 'di ba? I played with fire... and I burned him."
"At sarili mo," Kim whispered.
She nodded. "Yeah. Pero kung kailangan kong masunog para matauhan... okay lang."
Tahimik.
Hanggang sa nagsalita ulit si Aila. "Kim?"
"Hm?"
"What if I wasn't faking it anymore... way before I even realized it?"
Kim gave her a knowing look. "Then, mahal mo na nga siya."
"And if he never talks to me again?"
"Then you'll live with that. But at least, hindi ka na nagtatago."
Meanwhile, Somewhere Else
Ian sat in his car, parked on a dark roadside.
He didn't go home.
Didn't go back to the hotel.
Nakatulala lang siya.
His phone buzzed.
[Draft Message, Unsaved]25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9QfmXnn2H
I think I'm falling for her.
He stared at it.
Then deleted it.
He wasn't ready.
Not tonight.
Maybe not ever.
End of Chapter 10
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy37t5BoRp0
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