Before I called Enzo's number, I drove to his parent's place since that was the place he's staying at the moment he left the condo to my care. Alam ko kasi na hindi siya papayag na makipag-usap sa akin, given the way that we parted ways the last time we saw each other. It wasn't a good farewell for the both of us kaya ramdam ko nang hindi siya basta makikipag-usap sa akin.

But I'm so eager to leave. I wanted so bad to leave. I've been doing stuff to finish all of my unfinished business here for almost two months already.

Two months . . . since the last time Grayson and I saw each other.

After this . . . we will be together once again . . . and this time, we will make it last.

As I was on the driver's seat, I called Enzo's number. It rang for so long before he picked it up and answered.

"What do you need?" he asked.

"Can I talk to you?"

"I'm busy."

"I'm outside."

He went silent because of that. Ilang sandali pa, nagbuntonghininga siya bago ibinaba ang tawag. Naghintay ako sa loob ng sasakyan habang nakatingin sa labas, hanggang sa lumabas na siya ng gate at dumeretso sa pagpasok sa shotgun's seat.

"What's all this about, Ruth?" he asked, irritated.

I smiled. "Magpapaalam lang ako."

"What again?" He sighed. "Just do everything you want, you don't need to tell me all your plans!"

I nodded slightly. "I'm leaving Manila for good." His mouth parted. "I'll be back in Bohol."

He laughed sarcastically. "So, you've decided to live your mistress' life now?"

I nodded. "Hindi ako kabit. Kahit kailan, hindi ako naging kabit." My eyes heated. "I'm so stupid for letting all your words come and get inside me . . . destroy me . . . and make myself this way. That I kept on pushing the people I loved away from me just because your words hurt me . . . made me scared and bruised." I gulped as the tears dropped on my lap. "Hinding-hindi na ako magpapadikta sa kahit na sino, kahit na sa 'yo."

I sniffed. "Alam kong nagawaan kita ng malaking pagkakamali. Pero hindi pa ba sapat lahat ng naranasan ko? Hindi pa ba sapat na sinira ako ng lahat ng masasakit na salita mo para pagbayaran ko lahat ng 'yon, Enzo?" I sobbed. "I don't care about all of the things that you will say to anyone who knows the both of us. Tell them that I am a mistress, I don't fucking care anymore. I just want to be with Grayson."

He scoffed. "Hinding-hindi kayo magiging masaya. Lalo ka na. May pamilya kang sinira, Ruth."

I shook my head. "Jenna was the one who pushed me into doing this, Enzo. Sa ngayon, wala na akong pakialam kung magiging masaya pa ba ako o hindi. Ang mahalaga na lang sa akin ngayon, bumalik sa Bohol . . . at makasama si Grayson."

He laughed sarcastically. "I don't fucking see the point of you, coming all the way here, just to tell those things to me."

I nodded slightly before I took the keys from my bag. "It's my respect for you as my long-time boyfriend before." I gave him the keys to our condo unit. "And I am giving the condo back to you. I won't be needing that anymore."

He took a deep breath as he held the keys so tight. "Ruth . . ."

"I am serious, Enzo. My life already belongs to that province you kept on insulting before. My life is there. My home is there. I've never felt that way here. I've never felt so warm in Manila. Bohol is the place that I know is for me."

He was silent after that. He kept on panting like he's stopping himself from saying or doing something. Right now, wala na akong pakialam kahit na anong masakit na salita ang sabihin niya o kahit saktan niya pa ako. I just need to do this. Out of respect for the relationship that we had, he needs to know my plan.

"You're going to regret it, Ruth. You're going to regret choosing that guy over me."

I nodded slightly. "I will never. I never had any regrets when it comes to him. And I know that choosing him is the best decision that I can make for myself . . . after all the hardships that I put myself into."

Enzo just sighed violently before getting out of my car and shut the door so hard. He quickly went inside the gate and never came back anymore. And because of that, I heaved a deep sigh. A sigh of a fucking relief.

Well . . . I guess all I need now is to talk with my parents. I don't know how they will react but I know, for sure, that they won't make me stop what I want to do with my life. I'm already 27 and I have all the rights to decide for myself.

I love them but this time, I need to decide for myself.

I drove away from Enzo's place to go to my parent's house. My hands are getting cold because of the nervousness that I am feeling but I know that I need to do this . . . para makaalis na ako bukas na bukas din.

Nang makarating ako sa harap ng bahay, ramdam ko pa rin ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko. Seeing my father's rage on me once again is making me very nervous. He was never like that for my whole life and seeing that side of him that day when I got back from Bohol made me think that I didn't know him yet.

I took a deep breath as I unbuckled my seatbelt. I opened the door and got out of my car. I walked to the doorbell and pressed it twice. I waited for a few minutes before my mom opened the gate for me.

"Oh, Ruth? Gabi na, ah?"

I gulped as I smiled at him. "M-May kukuhanin lang ako, 'Ma."

Tumango siya bago ako pinapasok sa loob. Tahimik akong naglakad hanggang sa makarating ako sa loob ng bahay. Nakita ko si Papa na kumakain sa dining area ng dinner nila. Noon ko lang na-realize na hindi pa ako kumakain.

"Hello po, Papa," I greeted him.

Tumango lang ito at hindi na muling tumingin sa akin. Si Mama din ay dumeretso na sa dining area para magpatuloy sa pagkain ng hapunan nila. Ngayon ko lang din nakita na wala si Manang. Kaya pala si Mama ang nagbukas kahit na dinner time na nila.

Dumeretso ako sa k'warto ko at tiningnan ang mga gamit kung may mga dapat pa ba akong dalhin doon o kung iiwanan ko na lang din ba. My things here are not that necessary anymore. Some are duplicates of what I have in condo para hindi ko na kailangang maghakot ng gamit doon kapag uuwi ako dito.

I smiled as I looked around my room. I saw on the side of the bed as I remembered how I decorated this room with everything that I wanted. I was the happiest before . . . lalo na noong tinulungan ako ni Enzo na mag-paint ng wall. That was the first time I got my paycheck on my very first job. Sobrang tagal na pala.

After a few minutes of reminiscing about the happy moments in the past, I took the small luggage below the bed and filled it with some clothes and things I find important for me. I have a lot of things to keep since I am very sentimental person so, yung akala ko na wala na akong kukuhanin dito, scam pala. In the end, napuno ko rin ang luggage na kinuha ko sa ilalim ng kama.

Nang makuha ko na ang mga dapat kong kuhanin, ni-zip ko na ang luggage. Hinila ko ang handle pataas at dinala palabas ng k'warto. Pinatay ko na muna ang ilaw bago isinarado ang pinto. Bumaba ako dala ang luggage na puno ng mga gamit ko dito.