PROLOGUE

"KATRINA, please... Don't... don't do this to me," pagmamakaawa ng lalake habang may luhang namumuo na sa mga mata nito. "I'll talk to my dad about this. I'll... I'll clear this one out—"

"No," agad na pigil niya rito saka pinatigas ang mukha — ang puso. "Nothing else matters, Vynzent. I have already made up my mind. I'm breaking up with you."

Nakatalikod na si Kai nang may maramdaman siyang dalawang braso na yumakap sa bewang niya mula sa likod. A face was then buried between her neck and shoulder as she felt that part of her body suddenly getting wet. "Please, Kai. 'Wag mo namang gawin sa akin 'to. No one else matters, Kai. Just you and me, so please, 'wag ka namang magpaapekto sa sinasabi nila. Hindi... Hindi ko kakayaning mawala ka ulit sa akin." He was crying. Her Vynzent was crying.

Katrina had to fight her arms not to hug him back, her tears not to fall, and her heart not to soften. She never wanted to do this in the first place. Mahal na mahal na rin naman niya ang lalake pero hindi talaga pwede. Mukhang ayaw talaga sila maging masaya ng tadhana. "Let me go, Vynzent," habang kaya ko pang pakawalan ka. "You have to let me go."

Umiling naman ang lalake saka mas hinigpitan pa ang pagkakayakap sa kaniya. "No. Nangako tayo, Kai. Nangako tayong hindi natin pakakawalan ang isa't isa kahit anong mangyari. Nangako tayong hindi natin sasaktan ang isa't isa, pero anong nangyayari? Ba't... Ba't mo 'ko sinasaktan nang ganito?"

Tuluyan nang nakatakas ang ilang luha ni Kai. He was right. She was hurting him too much. She was breaking their promises. But what can she do? Mas lalong ayaw niyang mas masaktan ang lalake sa posibleng mangyari dito kapag nanatili pa rin siya sa tabi nito.

She had to decide what was best for them — for him. And right now, keeping what they have would be the very thing that would completely break her man. I'm sorry, Vyn.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Katrina felt very weak at the moment but she had to gather her remaining strength to hold his arms and pull them away from her. I'm really sorry. With no other words leaving her mouth, Kai ran as fast as she could toward her car and asked the driver to drive her home.

Naririnig niya pa ang sigaw ni Vynzent mula sa labas ng kotse. She could hear him shouting, calling her name. And when she looked in the mirror, she could see him running after her car until he finally couldn't. I'm so sorry, Vynzent. I love you.

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