The Devil's Trap

Chapter 40: Easy Way Out

Chapter 40: Easy Way Out

Hinintay ko si Yllona sa isang coffee shop. Kailangan kong malaman kung ano'ng nangyayari. Hindi ako maniniwala sa aking nabasa hanggang hindi ito nagmumula sa kanya.

Pumarada ang familiar na sasakyan ni Yllona sa parking lot. Lumabas siya suot ang casual na button-down white blouse and ripped jeans, partnered with black heels. Yllona looks like a model off-duty.

Ang dati niyang pixy-cut na buhok ay mahaba na ngayon at hanggang balikat. Parang kailan lang noong una ko silang nakilala ni River sa isang party sa mansion ng mga Monaghan.

"Hey," bati niya nang makita ako.

Umupo siya sa tapat ko. There's smile on her face, but I could tell that it's not her usual dazzling smile. She must have known what is happening.

"Yllona, is Landon okay?" tanong ko.

Sandaling natigilan si Yllona bago sumagot. "He's... okay."

Kahit paano ay nakahinga ako nang maluwag sa nalaman. He's okay. And whoever the reason why, whether it's Helena, it doesn't matter. As long as he's fine.

"I heard about the engagement."

Doon nabigla si Yllona. "What— How—"

From the looks of it, mukhang balak nilang itago ang impormasyon na ito sa akin.

"Look, Denise-" Mabilis niyang sinabi. "No one knows what's happening inside the family island. Hindi na kami nakatapak dito mula noong kaarawan ni Lolo. This is unlikely for Landon to have this kind of decision without telling us."

I tried to smile. "It's okay."

Yllona blinked. "No, Denise. It's not!"

"Don't I have the right to take the easy way out?" I asked. "Don't I have the right to say, hey this is fucking painful so I should probably give up before I lose my fucking mind!"

Tuluyang tumulo ang luha ko. Yllona stared at me. Worry, confusion, and pity poured all over her face.

"I'm sorry," tahimik niyang sinabi. "I always thought that it's selfish for you to give up easily without hearing anything from him. What I didn't realize is how much you're hurting since this chaos started, or how much you're losing who you are in this process of getting him back."

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang pilit pahirin ang luhang tuloy tuloy na pumapatak sa aking pisngi.

"You know, we are rooting for you, right? Me and River. We always got your back. Pero kung nauubos ka na dahil sa laban na ito, papayagan ka na namin na umalis."

Yllona held my hand. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this family, Denise."

Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago ako kumalma.

"So, what are your plans now?"

Umiling ako. "I don't know," sagot ko. "I applied for a exchange program in the university. Kapag nagrant ito, gusto kong umalis sa lugar na ito."

"Are you going to come back?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

"Would we still hear from you?"

Tinitigan ko si Yllona. "Promise me one thing, Yllona," I said. "Never mention anything to Landon, even to River. Hindi mo alam kung nasaan ako."

Yllona was about to counter what I said, but then she sighed and nodded. "I promised."

I smiled at her. "Thank you."

"Will this be our last meeting?"

I feel sorry for Yllona. She almost looks like someone who lost a best friend.