Chapter 62 Truth Over Blood #2
It's not that easy on her part, pero ginawa niya pa rin ang tama.
After a while of just standing there outside, inaya ko na siya pumasok sa loob. "Iris, let's get inside."
Tumingin naman siya saakin, and just gave me a smile. "mkay, love."
After Attorney Vìllor drove off, we walked back inside the house quietly. No one spoke, but I could feel it, malayo ang iniisip niya, even though we were right next to each other.
I was still holding her hand, pero pakiramdam ko nasa ibang planeta siya ngayon. So many things must be running through her head. I wanted to ask, but I understood. Sometimes you just need to be quiet and breathe. So I let her be, at sinabayan nalang siya maglakad ng mahinahon pabalik sa loob.
Nang makapasok na kami sa bahay, nilapag niya lang ang phone niya sa sala at lumapit saakin.
"I'm just gonna take a nap," she said softly, looking at me gently. "Would you wanna take a nap with me?"
I shook my head a little. "Can we take a nap later?"
She raised an eyebrow slightly, looking worried. "Why? Gutom ka na ba? Do you want me to cook for you or order something?"
I shook my head again at hinawakan ang mga kamay niya. "No... can we talk, Iris?"
"Oh... sure. What is it about, hmm?" She just gave me a forced smile.
She stepped a little more closer to me. Gently, she brushed away the strands of hair falling over my cheeks, then kissed my forehead lightly.
"What is it, baby?" she asked softly.
"Upo ka muna," I said.
We sat down on the sofa, and I slowly leaned against her shoulder, still holding her hand tight. It felt so warm and safe, kahit magulo pa rin ang lahat.
"Can we stay like this for a bit?" I whispered.
"What's the problem, Zarya? Do you have anything in mind? Sabihin mo sa akin." I felt her thumb rubbing the back of my hand slowly.
I took a deep breath before answering. "Sigurado ka ba talaga dito?"
"In what?" she asked.
"Dito mismo... sa lahat ng 'to," I replied quietly. "Alam kong mahirap din kasi sayo 'to, eh."
I felt her hold me a little tighter. "This is nothing compared to what you have experienced, my love. You've done so much... you've sacrificed so much, too much already. Itong ginagawa ko? Wala lang 'to eh, kung tutuusin lang."
I shook my head quickly and looked up at her. "No... don't say it like that. Sobrang naa-appreciate ko na nandito ka ngayon sa tabi ko. I couldn't wish for more."
"Tomorrow, we're going to face my father. the one who killed your sister... and the one who killed my brother. And I promise to you... ipaglalaban kita sa kanya, okay? Don't overthink things... and don't mind me, hmm?" She stroked my shoulder gently as she spoke.
I nodded, even though my chest felt heavy. She kissed my forehead again, longer, softer, then pressed a gentle kiss on top of my head.
Maybe... maybe I should tell her about Aria now. Maybe it's time she knows everything...
Then I hesitated, and looked down a little. ...But she's already carrying so much right now. Sobrang gulo pa ata ng lahat para malaman niya ang tungkol kay Aria, baka I'll just make it harder for her?
Sa susunod na lang, when everything feels calmer
Then Iris spoke, breaking the silence. "Nasaan pala si Xylla? I thought magkasama kayo."
I shook my head slowly. "No... we never really actually lived together... or whatever kung ano man yung iniisip mo dati. We lived separately. I'm sorry... sorry for making you think the worst."
She cupped my face gently. "It's okay. Let's focus on what we need to do now. Kasi nararamdaman ko... talagang gusto ka niyang tulungan. And I'm grateful na nandito siya during those times na wala ako."
"She's been really good to me," I said honestly. "She saved me in so many ways."
"I know." she answered softly. "Kaya nga nagpapasalamat din ako sa kanya. If it weren't for her... hindi ko alam kung makakaya mo ba. I know you're strong, Zarya... but I also know that you always needed someone by your side."
She smiled, that genuine smile I've missed for so long. "... but I'm here now. I will take care of you. Ako na gagawa ng mga bagay na dapat ako naman talaga ang gumagawa, okay? Don't worry about anything. We will win this case... we will go back to the Philippines... at we will live together."
"Thank you... for finding me, for looking for me, for waiting... and for hoping." I felt tears prickle my eyes from relief and happiness.
"No... thank you for loving me endlessly. Even when times where I don't feel like I'm being loved." She shook her head and squeezed my hand gently.
I sat up slowly, fixed my position, then held her face carefully. I leaned in and kissed her lips softly, slowly, and gentle. It was full of all the things we couldn't say, all the gratitude and love we've held back for so long.
When we pulled apart a little, we rested our foreheads against each other. Wala saamin ang kumawala sa isat-isa. We just stayed there, breathing the same air, holding each other like this was the only thing that mattered.
How did I get this lucky? In the middle of all this pain, all this mess...andito pa rin siya. Even when she knows it's hard... even when she knows she'll get hurt...she chose to stay.
Nothing is perfect, and I know we still have a long way to go. But as long as I'm holding her hand... I know I can get through anything.
Lumapit ako nang dahan-dahan, then wrapped my arms gently around her from behind. I pressed soft, slow kisses sa leeg niya, tapos sa pisngi, then on her forehead—isa-isa, dahan-dahan lang para hindi siya magulat.
"Hmm..." She stirred, letting out a soft little hum, and slowly opened her eyes. "Good morning," she mumbled, voice still sleepy and warm.
"Good morning, my love," I whispered back, brushing the hair away from her face. "Tara, get up na. We need to get ready, we have to go."
She turned around fully to face me, then pulled me close and hugged me so tight, parang kumakapit siya sa akin para humugot ng lakas.
"Hmm... can we stay like this for another five minutes?" she asked softly, her face pressed against my shoulder.
Gusto ko talagang sabihing oo. Gusto kong manatili na lang dito muna, yakap-yakap siya, far from everything we need to face today, pero alam ko ring hindi pwede.
"I wish we could... but no, we can't." said gently, rubbing circles on her back. "Attorney is already waiting for us. We really need to go. And you know how important today is... ito 'yung araw na 'yon."
She sighed softly, then nodded against me. "Okay... fine."
Slowly, we both sat up and got out of bed. But even as we stood up, hindi niya binitawan yung kamay ko. And I didn't let go either.
Whatever happens today... whatever he says, whatever he does...as long as nandito si Iris—I'm sure everything will go well.
_______
When the car finally stopped in front of the station, parang tumigil din saglit yung tibok ng puso ko.
The air felt so cold, everything around us was quiet, but inside me—my heart was beating so hard, like it was about to burst out of my chest.
When we stepped out, I saw Attorney Vìllor waiting right there outside, standing straight, looking serious like he had been there for a while already.
We walked over to him, hindi na kami magkahawak pa ng kamay ni Iris for formality. But we kept glancing at each other.
"Attorney," I called out softly.
"You're right on time." He looked at us and nodded slowly.
"Is he already here?" Iris asked immediately, her voice a little shaky.
"Yes," Attorney Villor answered clearly. "Authorities took him straight into custody the moment he landed. He's already inside the interrogation room waiting for us. We can go in now."
Iris just nodded back, but I noticed it right away—her jaw was trembling slightly, at parang namumutla siya.
I could see how much she was hurting, how heavy this was for her.
But even when she was clearly struggling, she turned to me, at hinawakan niya ng mabilis ang kamay ko, and looked straight into my eyes.
"Are you okay, Zarya?" she asked gently, like she was the one worried about me, even though she was the one about to face her own father like this.