Irresistibly Yours, Enemy Mine

Chapter 14

“You’re unbelievable,” Stine said, shaking her head in disbelief, her voice rising. “You kept that room—that f*cking room—knowing na darating ang araw na may makakakita no’n!”

“Hindi ko pinaplano na makita mo ‘yon!” Alaric shouted back, voice no longer calm. “I forgot it was even open!”

“Oh wow,” she scoffed, arms folded tightly. “Ganun lang? ‘Nakalimutan’? That’s your defense?!”

“Because it’s part of my past, Baby! Hindi ko na ‘yon pinapasok, hindi ko na iniisip, ni hindi ko nga alam na meron pala nun, i totally forget about that room—”

“You held onto it like some twisted shrine! Hindi mo ‘ko pwedeng mahalin habang bitbit mo pa lahat ng multo mo!”

“Baby believe me, ikaw lang ang mahal ko!”

“I don't believe you, hanggat hindi mo tinatanggal ang mga memories ng mga babae mo!”

His jaw clenched. “Wala akong ginawang masama sa’yo.”

“Exactly!” she spat, bitter tears stinging her eyes. “Wala kang ginawang masama—pero lahat ng ginawa mo sa kanila, ginagawa mo rin sa’kin! Kaya paano ako maniniwala na ako lang ang mahal mo?!”

Alaric stared at her, chest heaving. “I’ve never fought this hard for anyone, Baby. You’re the only one I ever wanted to stay.”

“But I don’t feel safe with you anymore.”

Tahimik.

That line cut deeper than any scream.

“Baby…” his voice trembled.

She stepped back. “I’m exhausted, Alaric. And right now, being near you just makes me feel… disposable.”

Then, she turned around, walked to the door, and opened it.

He didn’t follow.

He couldn’t.

And when she left, slamming the door behind her, the silence that followed was louder than any of the shouting had been.

SLAM.

That was the last sound.

Sumara ang pinto na parang gunshot sa kaluluwa ni Alaric. Hindi siya gumalaw. Hindi siya humabol. Hindi niya sinubukang pigilan si Stine.

Because for once, he thought… maybe she really needed space.

But the second the door closed, something inside him shattered.

He stared at the doorknob. Tulala. Para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig, pero sa loob siya nagyeyelo. Slowly, he backed away from the entrance and collapsed onto the couch—elbows on his knees, both hands gripping his hair.

Tangina.

She walked out.

And he let her.

Hindi niya alam kung tama ba ang ginawa niya. Kasi lahat ng sigaw ni Stine, lahat ng luha, lahat ng tanong—lahat ‘yon totoo. And the worst part?

He didn’t know if he could ever make her feel safe again.

His eyes landed on the hallway leading to that room.

The goddamn room.

He stood up, stormed toward it, and slammed the door shut.

"Putangina ka," he whispered to himself, fists clenched. "Dapat noon mo pa ‘to binura."

Galit siya sa sarili niya. Sa pride niya. Sa mga desisyong akala niya ay walang epekto. And now, the only woman who mattered was gone.

He walked to the kitchen like a zombie, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and stared blankly at it.

She had every right to be mad. To leave. To question everything.

Pero sakit pa rin.

A tear slipped down his cheek before he even noticed.

Alaric Ybañez—business tycoon, playboy, heartbreaker—now alone in the condo he once thought was his kingdom.

Without her, it was just four walls and empty air.

She said she didn’t feel safe anymore.

That line haunted him.

Because how do you love someone so much… and still make them feel unsafe?

It was raining.

Perfect, ironic timing. Parang soundtrack ng puso niya na basag-basag na. Walang payong, walang direksyon, wala ring lakas—pero pinilit pa rin niyang makarating sa condo ni Theo. Kahit hindi siya sigurado kung bakit doon ang punta niya, katawan na mismo niya ang nagdesisyon.

Pagkarating sa unit, halos wala siyang naramdaman habang pinipindot ang doorbell. Basang-basa siya. Nanginginig sa lamig. Pero mas malamig pa rin ang dibdib niya.

Pagbukas ng pinto, si Theo.

“Celestine?”

Agad niyang nakita ang pagbabagong ekspresyon sa mukha ni Theo. From sleepy to alert, calm to panicked.

Pagkatapos no’n, wala na siyang nasabi.

Pumutok ang luha.

“s**t, baby girl…” bulong ni Theo habang mabilis siyang niyakap.

Niyakap siya ni Theo ng buong higpit. Walang tanong. Walang judgment. Hinayaan siyang humagulhol ng buong lakas sa dibdib niya. ‘Yung iyak na hindi mo mapigilan kahit anong pigil mo. ‘Yung iyak na galing sa kaluluwa.

“Sshhh… I’m here. Sige lang… Iiyak mo lang ‘yan.”

Parang basang sisiw si Stine habang nakasandal sa kaniya. Hinihimas ni Theo ang likod niya, dahan-dahan, steady—parang sinasabi ng kamay niya, you’re safe now.

Nang medyo kumalma siya, hinila siya ni Theo papasok at pinaupo sa couch. Inabutan siya ng tuwalya, tsaka ng malambot na kumot. Tahimik siyang pinunasan sa ulo at balikat.

“Wait lang,” bulong ni Theo. Kinuha ang phone at tinawagan sina Jace at Ram.

A few minutes later, dumating si Ram, sumunod si Jace. Pare-parehong naka-joggers lang, mukhang galing sa pahinga pero hindi ininda ang abala.

“Tin…” tawag ni Jace, mahina ang tono. “We’re here, okay?”

“Anong nangyari, baby girl?” tanong ni Ram habang lumapit. “You wanna talk?”

She tried. She opened her mouth. Pero luha ulit ang lumabas.

“Okay lang,” sabi ni Theo, agad siyang hinawakan sa kamay. “You don’t need to speak. Just breathe. Just feel.”

At doon, tuluyan na siyang bumigay.

Umiyak siya. Umiiyak talaga. Buong lakas. Umiiyak sa lapag ng condo ni Theo, habang nakaluhod, habang nanginginig. Lahat ng sakit na hindi niya kayang ipakita sa harap ni Alaric, dito niya inilabas. Sa harap ng mga lalakeng alam niyang hindi kailanman gagamitin ang kahinaan niya laban sa kanya.

“Putangina, anong ginawa ng gagong ‘yon?” Ram asked, trying to keep his voice calm, pero halata ang galit.

“May ginawa ba siyang masama?” tanong ni Jace, lumuhod sa harap niya, eyes scanning her face gently.

Huminga si Stine ng malalim, nanginginig pa rin ang labi.

“He… he kept a room,” she said, between sobs. “Full of memories. Of other women. Perfumes. Letters. Frames. Mga regalo. Parang… parang altar ng lahat ng babae sa buhay niya.”

Nanahimik ang tatlo.

“Kilala mo naman ako,” bulong ni Stine. “Hindi ako selosa… pero… I thought I was different. Akala ko ako lang.”

Theo gently pulled her close again. “You are different.”

“Then why do I feel so damn replaceable?” she snapped, pain etched in her voice. “Parang… I was just next in line. Another girl to love and eventually leave behind.”

“Hindi ka next, Stine,” Jace said firmly. “You were always first in our eyes.”

“Kami lang ‘to, ah,” dagdag ni Ram. “Walang agenda. Walang bullshit. Kapatid ka naming babae. At kung sinaktan ka niya, we’ll be the wall you lean on. Every time.”

“Kung kailangan mo ng tao na magpapaalala sa’yo kung gaano ka ka-worth it, kami ‘yon,” Theo said gently, brushing hair away from her face. “You don’t have to be strong here. We got you.”

At doon siya umiyak ulit.

Sa dibdib ni Theo. Hanggang sa sumakit ang lalamunan niya. Hanggang sa mapagod ang katawan niya sa kakaiyak. Pero ni minsan, hindi siya binitawan. Ram quietly handed her a mug of chamomile tea. “Painit, para kalma ang dibdib,” he said gently.

“Thank you, Ram,” she whispered, her voice almost gone from crying.

Nakasandig pa rin sya sa dibdib ni Theo. Jace sat nearby, humming a low tune as he scrolled through her favorite Spotify playlist, queuing up something mellow.

“Stine, gusto mo bang maligo muna?” tanong ni Theo. “I will prepare the tub for you. May bath salts ako dyan, lavender ‘yung gamit ko. Pamparelax.”

She blinked at him, surprised. “May bath salts ka?”

“Baby Girl, ako pa,” he smirked. “You think I don’t prep for your dramatic breakdowns?”

Despite herself, she smiled. Kahit konti.

“Halika na,” dagdag pa ni Theo. “Para gumaan kahit paano ang pakiramdam mo. I’ll give you towels. Alam mo na kung nasaan ang drawer mo.”

Oo, may drawer siya. In fact, lahat sila may drawer siya. Kasi ever since college, kapag inaabutan siya ng emotional storm or modeling gigs na malayo, palaging may isa sa kanilang tatlo ang inaabutan niya. Kaya lahat ng condo nila, may gamit siya—pangligo, pambahay, kahit underwear. Gano’n sila ka-close.

Nang pinapasok sya ni Theo sa bathroom, namangha siya.

Soft yellow lights. Steam from the tub. Lavender-scented candles on the sink. May robe na nakasabit sa pinto. Warm slippers by the mat.

This boy really outdid himself.

She slipped into the tub. Warm water wrapped around her like an embrace. Tulad ng pagyakap nila kanina—steady, tahimik, buo. Tumulo na naman ang luha niya. Pero this time, hindi dahil sa sakit. Relief. Pagpapakawala. Pagtanggap.

After a long soak, she stepped out in clean clothes. Nakita niyang hinanda na rin ni Theo ang oversized shirt na favorite niyang suotin sa condo niya.

Paglabas niya ng room, naamoy agad niya ang lutong pagkain.

“Chef Ram at your service!” ngumiti si Ram, hawak ang spatula, nakasuot ng apron ni Theo na may nakasulat na ‘Drama Queen Feeder’.

“Anong niluto mo?” tanong niya, medyo natawa na.

“Your fave—beef tapa, garlic rice, at itlog na maalat with kamatis.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I love you.”

“Alam ko naman,” ngumiti si Ram, “pero friends lang tayo. Sorry.”

Tumawa si Jace, sabay lapag ng pitcher ng juice sa mesa. “Kita mo, kahit giba ka na, may buffet ka pa rin.”

She sat at the dining table, surrounded by the boys who never left her side—not even when she was at her ugliest, weakest, and most broken.

They didn’t ask for more details. They didn’t prod for drama. They just made space for her pain.

After dinner, Jace offered her his pillow on the couch. “Pero kung gusto mo sa guestroom, free naman ‘yon.”

“I’ll stay here,” she smiled softly. “Comforting ‘yung couch ni Theo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.”

“May magic ‘yan. Isa ‘yang certified heartbreak couch,” Theo teased from the kitchen.

“Kaya pala may mark ng iyak si Ram dito noon,” sabat ni Jace.

“Ulol ka,” sagot ni Ram, pero natawa rin.

Stine curled up with a full belly, clean skin, warm blanket, and a full heart.

And that night, for the first time since walking away from Alaric, she felt okay.

Maybe not whole yet.

But okay.