Chapter 39: His Whispers

"Bakit ayaw mo na lang kasing aminin kay Prince na ikaw si Levina? Baka maalala ka pa niya?" Tumayo si Carlo nang bisitahin ko siya sa kompanya.

I pouted and looked at my fingers. "He's getting married, Carlo. I failed to save Prince." Lumungkot ang mukha ko dahil sa mismong sinabi ko. Kahit ang puso ko, si Prince pa rin ang sinisigaw. I looked at Carlo who was staring at me. "But it's okay. I am okay with Amari. Masaya naman si Prince sa kaniya."

I failed to save our relationship because we both experienced unexpected dark days. I learned to be brave but my heart yielded. I couldn't resist watching my love looking at me like he didn't know me.

"But... Levina, he's calling you love when he calls your phone, right? Baka iniisip 'yon ni Prince na buhay ka! He came here, asking for you but I lied, Vina. Kasi 'yon ang alam ng lahat! Na patay ka na!" Carlo's eyes seem watering. Hindi ko rin maiwasang malungkot dahil sa narinig at the same time, matakot. Matakot na baka kapag maalala ako ni Prince, sisihin niya ako. He went away because he loves me. He undergoes surgery because he wants to live with me. He wants to cure his heart.

My Prince is a hero. He saved himself.

"He asked me who Levina was. But I didn't answer because... he's engaged to Amari and Rasie agreed with her, Carlo. Rasie supported his brother—"

"That's the only way to make Prince won't long for you, Levina. Kahit no'ng na-shot siya sa dibdib, pangalan mo ang huling binanggit niya." I don't know why Rasie was there. What is he doing here? Bakit hindi ko alam na nandito siya kina Carlo?

My eyes widened in shock but I suddenly averted my eyes from Rasie.

"But Rasie..." I trailed off, thinking what should I say, "He's happy right now. I-I will support him. Send my regards to Prince," I said and smiled at him forcefully.

Rasie nodded and took his coffee. "Evi? Okay evening na." He teased me.

My name Levina sounds like leave me now and my pseudonym Evi sounds envy. But it's okay. Everything will be fine soon, maybe really not now.

Tumayo na ako at nagpaalam sa kanila na uuwi. I was driving home and passed on the street where I often rode along with  Prince to his office before. I cried in misery when I remembered how he made me feel love and valued. He's the man who stood before me and accompanied me during my weakest days.

"I'm here, okay? Pshh... don't cry."

I heard a voice whispering into my mind. That's my Prince's voice. I cried when I remembered that time he said to me. 'Yon 'yong mga panahong hindi pa nakulong si Thalia.

Prince was always there for me but the bottle rolls, I wasn't there beside him while he was comatose. So what am I expecting? Na maalala ni Prince? 

I know he's fighting to save himself.

Sa tuwing naaalala ko si Prince, napatunayan kong siya nga ang kulang sa 'kin. I always wanted to talk to him, but there is something inside my heart which won't allow me to do so. So, I just quiet and keep them all.

In my whole week, I kept silent, rolling on my bed and enjoying my life before going to South Korea. Sunghoon also prepares our needs because he will be the one to send me since he was the owner of the newest and well-known mall at Korea.

As I keep on scrolling through my Facebook account, I saw a post from Prince. He activate his account and posted his pictures with Amari.

Ang daming comments ro'n. Ang iba ay nagsasabing hindi sila bagay but someone against. Well, that's true. They are suits to each other and fit to each other's shoes.

"I'm happy to meet you, love!"

That's Amari caption to her newest post. Engaged na nga sila at sa susunod na araw na ikakasal.

Ayos lang sa akin na ikasal na si Prince. At least, nabago na 'yong buhay niya. He's no longer longing for the lost Levina, and he finally found his princess.

"Are you sure you want to go abroad, Vina?" Carlo entered the Mall with Rasie on his side.

I nodded and push the cart of the grandma I'm currently helping. "Yeah. I guess, I have to go and find my lucky day. Araw-araw kasi akong bad trip sa 'yo, Carlo." Tumawa ako ngunit sinamaan niya lang ako ng tingin.

He stopped walking and so was I. Tiningnan ko siyang seryosong nakatingin sa 'kin gano'n din si Prince.

Rasie faked a cough. "Parang ang saya mo pa 'atang iiwan si Prince, Vina? Ayaw mo ba siyang hintayin?"

That words from him seemed so impossible. He's engaged at paanong hintayin ko pa siya? May puntos naman si Amari na dapat hindi na ako nagpakita kay Prince. Dapat lang na iwasan ko na siya dahil masaya na siya.

"It's pointless waiting for him, Ras. Your words are very absurd." Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad at hinatid ang matanda sa kasama niya.

The two keeps on following me. Pinasunod ko sila sa akin dahil gusto kong igala ko muna sila sa buong Mall bago ako lilipad sa Korea. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako ro'n. Ang importante, magkakaroon na ako ng promotion at mataas ang sahod ko ro'n.

"Kain muna tayo sa labas, Levina. Ginugutom ako, eh." Reklamo ni Rasie. Ganito na siya no'n. Kahit no'ng unang pagkakataon lang na sinama niya ako para kumain sa labas.

That time, binastos pa ako ng mga tambay ng tindahan dahil chix raw ako. Kaya sinuway sila ni Rasie.

"Ang takaw mo, kakakain lang natin, eh!" Sabad ni Carlo.

Siniko ni Rasie ang lalaki. "Ikaw kaya! Kanina, halos maubos mo pa 'yong kimchi na binili ko kay Amari, tapos ngayon, ikaw pa ang may lakas-loob na tumawag sa akin ng ganiyan?" Ito na naman sila, sa harapan ko ba nagbabangayan talaga?

Natawa na lang ako sa ginawa nila. Pati mga tao sa paligid namin, natatawa sa kanila. Kinalabit ko si Carlo at agad naman silang tumigil at humarap sa 'kin.

"Carlo, tara na!" Rasie said and pulled Carlo outside.

"Hoy, bakla! Tigilan mo ako!" si Carlo.

"Gusto mong ipakita ko pa sa 'yo 'tong alaga ko para mapatunayan kong lalaki ako? Baka ikaw siguro ang bakla?!" Tumawa si Rasie habang bitbit ang cellphone niya.

He looks so stunning. Dahil sa suot niyang kulay pula, mas lalong tumingkad ang kulay niya. Mabuti kasi silang magkapatid ni Prince. Pero mas gwapo lang 'yon.

Carlo shut his mouth and went inside his car. Sumunod naman si Rasie. Pero bago 'yon, pinagbuksan niya pa ako ng pinto.

Hindi nagtagal, nakarating kami sa restaurant nina Harold. We went inside and occupied the table in the center dahil 'yon lang naman ang available.

"Miss, someone is looking for you inside." Nagulat ako sa sinabi ng waiter. Si Rasie at Carlo ay nagsitinginan lang ngunit sa mga tinging 'yon ay may bahid na pagtatanong.

Nangunot ang noo ko at humarap sa muli sa waiter. "Sino po?"

"Basta sumunod lang kayo sa 'kin," aniya at naglakad na.

Tinanguan lang ako nina Rasie bilang senyales na pumayag sila. While we are waiting for our orders, pumasok na ako sa loob at sinundan ang waiter kanina.

Nang binuksan ng waiter ang VIP room, I was stunned, otherwise, shocked. Why Prince was here? Why he was drinking? Parang ang laki 'ata nang kasalan ng mundong 'to sa kaniya.

He was sitting next to...

"Hey, Merlina!" I waved my hands to her, averted my gaze from friends. Tumango ang waiter sa akin at umalis. Aba! Parang naging code na nila ang tanguan dito, ah?

Lumapit si Merlina sa akin ngunit nagnakaw muna siya ng tingin kay Prince.

"Hindi niya ba alam na buhay ka?" She almost whispered.

I shook my head to her. "Hindi siguro, Lina. Alam mo naman, gano'n na kamayaman si Evo para itago ang lahat tungkol sa 'kin."

"Baka alam niya, Vina. Kanina pa kasi siya bulong nang bulong diyan, eh." Tinuro niya ang puwesto ng lalaki na ngayon ay parang lasing na.

Merlina and I won't see each other often. Busy siya, gano'n  din ako. Kaya, I will cherished this time to talk to her.

Pero sa nakita ko ngayon, parang nawalan na ako ng gana na kausapin si Merlina dahil gusto kong si Prince ang kausapin ngayon.

"Where's Sky? I missed you na, love!" Prince said, holding the bottle of vodka while digging his nails on it. His eyes were weak and his body was shaking. He was crying.

I looked at him, my heart aching while watching him being like that. Akala ko ba masaya na siya? Bakit sa tuwing lasing siya, naaalala niya ako? Is this the chance to talk to him?

"Sige na, Levina. Kausapin mo na," utos ni Merlina sa akin at tinapik ang balikat ko.

"Pero—"

"It's the chance. Maybe he knows you now. Umaasa siyang buhay ka, Vina. Kausapin mo na, ako na ang bahala kina Prince. Ikaw na rin ang kukuha ng order ko at samahan mo si Prince." She smiled at me before heading outside.

I hardly gulped when Prince looked at me with his weak eyes. Saka ko na napagtanto na masyadong marami na ang nainom niya.

I went over him and sat to the table next to him. "P-Prince..." I called him, thus, he looked at me which made my heart race. 

"W-Why, Sky? Why you didn't introduce yourself that time we've meet? Where I cannot remember anything from you?" He sobbed, his clenched tightened. "Alam mo bang napilit akong mahalin ang ibang tao dahil akala ko...may kapareho ka? Alam mo ba kung gaano ko pinilit ang sarili na maalala ka?"

His words are likes honey yet savaged me. He talks like he finally remembered everything about me. Hindi ako nagsalita nang bigla siyang tumayo at natumba.

Tumayo ako at inalalayan siyang makabalik sa upuan niya. I widen my arms and twined to him. "Prince, get up."

"No, I won't. Let me be looks like beggar. Don't pity on me, Sky," he said as it is the final words.

"I'll help you, Prince—"

"I said don't help me!" He pushes me, my hands were detached from him and my head aching when I was hit on the table.

I felt that there was something in my nose. It was bleeding.

I sighed and trying to help him rose. I again intertwined my hands to him and helped him stood.

"Prince, listen. Even just this time, okay?" Pinakalma ko siya mula sa malakas na paghikbi at pinaupo. He looks at me like kid who's willing to listen his mother's words. "'Di ba sabi mo noon, maging matapang ako kapag aalis ka, alam mo rin bang lumaban din ako? Alam mo rin bang nalunod ako sa kawalan ng pag-asawa?" I sobbed but I bit my lips to suppress my cry.

"S-Sky..."

"Oo, Prince. Thalia hunted me everywhere I go because she loves you. But I opt to quiet until she found me and tortured like Evo. I was tortured by her. Lumaban ako no'n at nagpakatatag, Prince." Finally, tears rolling down my cheeks.

He neared himself to me, his arms widen and without minutes, he hugged me. Nang magtagpo ang aming mga mata, I saw how he longed someone. I saw how he screams the person he loved. But I know that feelings is kinda traitor. It somehow changes. That's why be crucial when you felt something.

"I love you, Sky. Akala ko kasi...kaya mo akong hintayin, hindi pala," he said.

Sa sandaling ito, napatigil ako. Hinintay ko naman siya. Pero iba naman 'yong naging asawa niya. Awts! Correction, magiging asawa pala.

"You're engaged, Prince. I know that you are sure to you words." I caressed his back. "And I didn't find someone to replace you. You still my love. But when fate deciding, we have nothing to do now instead of running and chase what we often dreamt."

"Every words can be changed. But actions cannot. I don't love Amari. She's using me again, Levina. Please...come back to me." He pleaded. Ayaw kong masaktan dito si Amari. Alam kong noon pa man, may pagtingin na siya kay Prince.

I shook my head with disagreement. "Actions can be changed, too. You are true to your words and you are an amazing person. Tomorrow is your engagement party...so, enjoy. Forget everything about me, Prince. And changed your life. Don't live in misery. Remove all your past from your heart. Change it into something new which is worth cherished."

"If you can wait for me, I'll change everything and let us live together just like before. I want to be with you, Sky. I want to let go of Amari," he said, wiping his tears from my eyes.

"No, you cannot do that. She's also amazing, Prince. Don't break girl's heart. It was pure and gold." Kumalas ako mula sa pagkakayakap at umayos ng upo.

I took my phone from the table and was about to head outside when he caught my palm. "Gaano man kalayo ang iyong pupuntahan, ika'y aking susundan."