The one that got away

7. This is a nightmare

"Caleb Ronaldo?"

Jin Hye hissed at Calen. Hinarap siya nito matapos ang eskandalong naganap sa pagitan nito at ng madrasta nito. He never thought that Jin Hye's situation was that severe. He never thought that he will see her like that. Halos tumalon ang puso niya kanina nang makita niya itong kalakaladkad ng babaeng iyon.

Dinala siya ni Jin Hye sa may tabing dagat, malayo sa lahat. Naisip niyang baka gusto nitong makapag-usap sila -- isang bagay na pilit niyang iniiwasan. Jin Hye was still wearing the clothes she wore last night. He stared at her for a while. The Jin Hye he used to know was gone, the glitter on her eyes was nowhere to be found, the warm smiled that used to make his heart jump wasn't there anymore.

He sighed. Dapat ay wala na siyang pakialam dito. Tapos na ang lahat sa kanila and yet here he was trying to be her prince charming samantalang kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi naman mangyayari iyon. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Paalis na rin naman siya sa lugar na iyon so it doesn't matter of he answers her question or not. He shook his head and turned away from her, pero pinigilan nito ang kanyang braso.

"I'm talking to you!" she hissed at him. Pinalis niya ang kamay nito at saka tinitigan ito mula ulo hanggang paa. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang bakas ng mga pasa nito sa katawan. Kitang-kita niya ang putok sa labi nito pati na rin ang pamamaga ng mga pisngi nito. He could also see the bruises she has on her arms. Hindi niya alam kung anong magiging reaksyon niya, he really wanted to kill that guy who did this to her. 

"They wouldn't know the difference." Malamig na wika niya. 

"Of course they would! They know Caleb is my husband."

"Nakita na nila si Caleb?" He smirked. "People never noticed that Caleb and I had different eye color. And if ever they come face to face with my brother they will never notice that the gray eyes suddenly became dark brown." 

"Hindi naman iyon eh!" Napapadyak pa ito. "Why did you tell them you're Caleb, you're not him! You will never be him!"

Naikuyom niya ang kanyang palad. He wanted so much to hit Jin Hye, he wanted her to feel the pain he was feeling right now. Parang sinasabi nito sa kanya na kahit anong gawin niya ay hinding-hindi niya mapapantayan ang kanyang kakambal. He gritted his teeth and walked away. Bago pa man siya makalayo ay hinawakan nito ang kanyang braso. 

"I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I'm very sorry." She bowed her head in front of him. "I j-just want to know why you did what you did kanina." 

"Why are you letting them treat you this way?" hindi matiis na tanong niya dito. Mukhang natigilan si Jin Hye. Her expression softened, she looked away as if trying to hide the tears that were about to fall down. Mula yata nang magkita muli sila ay wala nang ginawa ito kundi ang umiyak. 

"If I don't let them, paaalisin nila ako. I don't want to leave. I want to stay here, ayokong mawala sa akin ang pagkakataong mabawi ang karapatan kong inagaw nila sa akin." 

"They will do everything just to get rid of you." wika niyang muli. 

"Alam ko naman iyon." She sighed. "Mas madali sana ang lahat kung nandito si Cale--." Bigla ay itinikom nito ang bibig at saka yumuko. 

"Si Caleb? Bakit hindi mo ituloy ang sinasabi mo?" He asked in a sarcastic tone. "You need Caleb to be with you again so you could get all the things your stepmother took from you." 

"He's still my husband." wika nito. Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang bibig. Hindi na talaga niya kaya ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. He couldn't bear standing beside her, talking with her when all he could think about was the pain, the hurt and all the things that he had lost while looking at her...