The Bet Filipino/Tagalog

Kabanata 16

VOICE RECORD

TO:MARCO

"It was nice meeting you Marco Alvarez. I know na ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. We were so inlove at tinaya ko lahat knowing that you were true to me. After that night which I thought we will spend the night together sharing stories and endless laughter, you showed me the heir of Alvarez Hotel Chains that had been already engaged to someone modest and same as you are. I trusted you. I waited for you to open the gate and say It's a prank!!! pero wala. I needed you. Anyways, thank you Marco for letting me open my mind to new things. I wish you all the best specially to your wedding. Good bye.

*Call ended

MARCO'S POV

PRESENT

Hindi ko na mapigilang lumuha dahil sa voice mail na pinadala sa akin ni Bernadette 5 years ago. I was so confused the first time I heard this but I love listening to her voice sounding sweet yet sad. I lost her. I was so stupid for letting her go. Alam ko na ako yung first love niya, she trusted me so much kaya she was open to me. I did not reach her until I decided to talk to her.

FLASHBACK

"MOM I NEED TO FIND HER!" I shouted cause I need to explain everything to her but my Mom is blocking my way.

"Look Marco, she did not even try to pass through me. Hindi niya pinatunayan na siya yung minahal mo unlike Thea. She proves me that she deserves my only son." pag diin pa ni Mom.

"Ma Bernadette doesn't need to prove anything. If you only let me introduce her to you. Makikilala niyo yung girlfriend ko."

Last night was the worst night I ever had. Hindi ko akalain na pupunta si Bernadette dito sa bahay. YES, pumayag ako na makipag kita kay Bernadette somewhere except here at the house. That's where Thea sneaked into my phone and messaged Bernadette to come and bring pizza. I was pretending to be nice towards Thea that night so that my Mom will let me go and I can see my love. But everything was not on track. I know na kasalanan ko. Sinabihan ko si Bernadette ng mga masasakit na salita para umalis siya. Alam kong ipaglalaban niya yung meron kami but I b***h her out. Nanonood si Mom sa gilid ng gate obviously ako lang ang nakakaalam kasi hindi makikita ng taong nasa labas. Kung hindi ko siya paalisin gagawa si Mom ng bagay in her black perspective. And I am wrong, naduwag ako hindi ko man lang siya ipinaglaban. Naguilty din naman si Thea sa ginawa niya kay Bernadette, she told me na sinubukan niya lang si Bernadette and few more explanations that she told me girls will understand.

After I settled everything sa bahay I got the car key and turn to the drivers seat. Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang aking pinakawalan bago buhayin ang makina. Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung paniniwalaan pa niya ako. I was a jerk. Pupuntahan ko si Bernadette sa bahay nila para malaman niya na she is the only one for me. On my way to Bernadette's home I saw an accident. Yung taxi nabangga ng track sa passengers seat. Probably yung pasahero yung mostly affected. The weather is rainy, kaya prone sa accident ang mga vehicles. I reached my destination, Bernadette's house. I tried ringing the doorbell pero walang response. Walang tao. I called her through social media pero hindi siya naka open. I decided na mag hintay nalang sa kaniya hanggang sa inabot na ako ng umaga dito sa tapat ng bahay nila naka upo sa side walk.

"Iho, matirik na ang araw ano ba ang ginagawa mo diyan?" tanong sa akin ng ginang na nag didilig ng kanilang bakuran.

"Hinihintay ko po si Bernadette Smith, naka uwi na po siya?" tanong ko sa kaniya

"Matagal ng hindi umuwi si Bernadette dyan. Naaksidente kasi yung mga magulang niya kinalaunan pumanaw na. Hindi ko lang alam kung saan yung batang yung naka tira ngayon." paliwanag pa nito. Matagal na pala siyang hindi naka tira dito ngunit tuwing nagpapahatid siya sa akin dito yung tinuturo niya. Nanigas yung buong katawan ko at nanatiling naka tingin sa ginang na umiling ang ulo bago pumasok sa loob ng kanilang tahanan. Saan ko siya mahahanap?