The Heart That Belongs To Both (SSPG)

CHAPTER 8:

MHIARA CASTANIEDA'S POV

"Totoo ba 'yung narinig ko?" agad na bungad sa akin ni Ylina, kakaupo ko lang sa silya ay iyon agad ang salubong niya sa akin.

Napailing ako.

Hindi muna ako pumasok sa opisina dahil sa nangyari kahapon, tapos ngayon na nagkita kami ay ipapaalala na naman niya iyon sa akin.

"Ylina...can we not talk about this?" walang-ganang reklamo ko, pero imbes na pagbigyan ako ay mas lalo lang siyang ngumiti.

Dumukwang siya sa mesa, pilit na hinuhuli ang tingin ko kahit panay ang pag-iwas ko ng tingin sa kanya.

"Ang ganda mo talaga," she exclaimed. "Akalain mong dalawang lalaki kaagad ang gustong manligaw sa 'yo? isn't this the right time for you to have a boyfriend, Mhiara?"

I didn’t answer her right away.

Instead, I reached for the glass in front of me.

I swirled it lightly before taking a slow sip... letting the taste settle, letting the silence stretch just enough.

Then I placed the glass back down.

“I don’t have time for men,” I said flatly.

My eyes remained on the table, my tone steady, but there was something underneath it.

“I won’t waste my time and energy on nonsense things," I added.

The bitterness in my voice wasn’t even subtle.

Hindi ko na maitago, and why would I?

Ylina didn’t react the way most people would.

She didn’t get offended.

Didn’t back off.

Instead, she sighed. Softly. Then leaned back on her chair, crossing her arms as she studied me.

“Mhiara…” she started, this time mas kalmado na ang boses niya. "Hindi lahat ng lalaki ay kagaya ng tatay mo na iniwan kayo upang sumama sa ibang babae."

My fingers stilled slightly.

“And not all of them are like your ex-boyfriend either, who leaves after taking what he wants.." dagdag niya.

I let out a quiet, humorless chuckle.

“Is that supposed to convince me?”

“I’m not trying to convince you,” she shot back. “I’m trying to make you see.”

I finally looked at her. One brow raised.

“See what?”

“That you’re generalizing,” she said bluntly. “You built this wall so high, Na kahit sinong matinong lalaki…ay hindi na makakalapit sa’yo dahil sa galit mo sa Tatay at dati mong boyfriend. At ang dahilang iyon ay isa sa mga lalong nagpapahirap sa 'yo na makalimot."

I leaned back, unimpressed.

“And I think that's a good idea, Ylina." Wika ko.

She clicked her tongue.

“See? That’s exactly what I mean.”

I rolled my eyes slightly, reaching for my glass again, but she spoke before I could take another sip.

“Do you even know who those two are?”

I paused.

Then glanced at her. “I know enough.”

“Do you?” she challenged.

I didn’t answer.

Because truthfully...I only knew what was on paper.

And what I saw last night. But Ylina leaned forward again, this time more serious.

“Those two?” she said. “They’re not just random guys... na biglang na-inlove sa ’yo dahil maganda ka.”

I scoffed lightly.

“I’m not assuming they are.”

“Good,” she replied quickly. “Because they’re not that type.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Lucien Montoya… and Caelum Hale?”

My fingers tightened just a little around the glass.

“They’re both known in their circles,” she continued. “Not the loud, scandalous type, but powerful.”

I stayed quiet.

Listening.

“Wala kang maririnig na issue tungkol sa kanila,” dagdag niya. “No public scandals. No messy headlines. Nothing.”

She shrugged.

“Ang meron lang? Ay ang kanilang repustasyon," Aniya.

I lifted my gaze.

“What kind of reputation?”

Ylina smirked slightly.

“Ruthless,” she said. “In their own ways.”

My eyes narrowed just a fraction.

She continued.

“Lucien? He plays with power quietly. People don’t even realize they’re losing until it’s already done.”

A pause.

“Caelum?” dagdag niya. “He builds empires from scratch. Perfectionist. Control freak. Don’t settle for anything less.”

I didn’t react.

At least..not outwardly. But inside, I was processing every word.

“Now tell me,” Ylina leaned closer, her eyes locking with mine. “Do you really think men like that would waste their time on someone… for nothing?”

I held her gaze for a second longer, then leaned back again.

“Whatever their reason is,” I said coolly, “it doesn’t change mine.”

Her brow lifted.

"You're being too hard on yourself, Mhiara..." biglang bulalas niya na ikinatigil ko.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Looking for something to distract my thoughts... because I hated it so much everytime someone's trying to open a emotional conversation.

I hated it because it makes me feel vulnerable, and I don't want it to happen.

"Fine..hindi ko na ipipilit pa ang usapan na ito. But I just want to tell you that you can still open your heart to someone. You can love someone the way you wanted, that's why I'm asking you to give it a try...because maybe it could help you to forget the past that's caging you until now," muling usal niya.

Hindi ko pa din magawang tumingin sa kanya. Na kahit huminto na siya sa pagsasalita ay nakatuon pa rin sa ibang direksyon ang tingin ko.

Ilang sandali nga lang ay may nahagip ang tingin ko. Pigura ng dalawang lalaki, pigura na kahit hindi ko makita ang mukha nila..ay malalaman ko pa rin na sila iyon.

"Speaking of the d*vil..." rinig kong bulong ni Ylina sa tapat ko.

At kasunod niyon ay ang paglitaw ng mukha ni Lucien at Caelum. Lumikot ang kanilang tingin sa paligid, at nang napatingin sila sa direksyon ko ay sabay-sabay iyong huminto. Nakatutok sa akin.

"Please... not again..."

TO BE CONTINUED....