The Man Of Her Dreams (COMPLETE)

Chapter 39

PRESENT TIME

Nabangga mo siya, Diadem..." Ang sinabing iyon ni Vince ay tila sirang plakang paulit-ulit na umalingawngaw sa kanyang isipan. The recollection of what had happened on the parking lot haunted her like her worst nightmare. She had just realized that she bumped at Winona on that fatal day. Tinakpan niya ng palad ang kanyang bibig upang supilin ang malakas na paghikbi. Ang mga luha niya ay parang bulwak ng talon na ayaw na yatang tumigil sa pagpatak. She was blinded by her tears, her breath was stuck in her diaphragm. Her world totally quaked in terror.

"Oh my God!" She didn't know what to do now. "I killed Winona?" It wasn't a question, but a realization.

"She didn't die on the spot, if it would make a difference," he said in a sympathetic tone. "Nadala pa sa hospital si Nanay Winona, Diadem, but eventually, she died. Her body was too weak already to sustain the fracture that she got from the accident. Napag-alaman kong madalas siyang magkasakit sa kulungan noon dahilan para humina ang resistensiya niya."

Mas lalo pa yatang bumigat ang kanyang dibdib dahil sa sinabing iyon ni Vince. Kahit aksidente ang pagkakabangga niya kay Winona, siya pa rin ang dahilan kung bakit namatay ito. Pinakulong niya ang ina. Nagkasakit ito sa kulungan. Pagkatapos ay nabangga pa niya. Anong klase siyang anak? Parang sasabog na yata ang lahat-lahat sa kanya. She just realized that she hadn't been breathing for a moment. And with the kind of ordeal that she had now, she just wished that she wouldn't ever breathe again. But her body was clamoring for oxygen. Mahigpit na napakapit siya sa kanyang dibdib habang wala sa sariling pinihit ang doorknob ng silid at lumabas. Pakiramdam niya ay ang sikip-sikip ng lugar para sa kanya at walang hangin doon.

"Diadem!" Vince was very worried when he ran after her.

She avoided him. Mabilis siyang lumabas ng condo unit nito habang marahas na binabayo ng kamay ang kanyang dibdib. She was rushing in the hallway to go to the elevator when he got behind her.

"Diadem!"

"Stay away from me, Vince!" malakas na sigaw niya. "Stop torturing me!" Sobra-sobra na ang paghihirap na nararamdaman niya sa ngayon dahil sa malagim na katotohanang ipinagtapat nito sa kanya. She couldn't afford to take any more truths. Her body would surely detonate.

Inabot siya nito at mahigpit na niyakap. She felt his strong hands around her. "Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry for hurting you..." He was crying as he rained kisses over her head.

But she pushed him away. "Let me go!" she wailed. "I can't breathe! Let me go!" There was nothing that he could do to comfort her. There was nothing that he could do to make her feel better and forget the tragic result of her wickedness. Pinakawalan siya nito. Her breathings were labored when she struggled to walk to the elevator. Hindi siya makahinga nang maayos. Kung siya nga lamang ang masusunod ay ayaw na niyang huminga pa. Pero kailangan ng hangin ng kanyang katawan.

"Are you okay?" worried na tanong nito habang sinusundan siya.

"Of course, I am not okay!" ganting hiyaw niya. "No one's gonna be okay after what you have told me!" Pero hindi niya nililingon ang lalaki. "Stay away from me, Vince! You're going kill me!" Marahas siyang napapasinghap habang emotional na sumisigaw. She had to wipe her eyes with her fingers so she could see her way. Her tearducts had completely malfunctioned that it wouldn't stop secreting nasty tears anymore. At para na siyang masisiraan ng bait!

"Diadem..." His voice was so soft that she barely heard him.

Nakarating siya sa elevator. Bumukas iyon at may lumabas na dalawang tao. Mabilis siyang pumasok sa loob at pinindot ang close button. Papasok sana si Vince nang bulyawan niya ito. "Stop following me, Vince! For God's sake, let me breathe!"

His body stilled. Nanatili lamang itong nakatayo sa harap ng pintuan ng elevator. Magkahinang ang mga mata nila nang sumara ang dahon ng pinto.

She could see pain and regret in his eyes, but it wouldn't ever match the level of regret and pain she felt that was gripping her body and soul. Pakiramdam niya ng mga sandaling iyon ay siya na ang pinakamasamang tao sa buong mundo. At gusto niyang isumpa ang sarili dahil sa kasamaang nagawa niya kay Winona. Pinahirapan, pinakulong at napatay niya ang sariling ina! May mas masahol pa ba sa kanyang nagawa? She broke down inside the elevator. Napaluhod siya as she buried her face in her palms, her tears spilling on the floor, her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably.