It's Too Late

*Theia's POV*

"There are a total of 5 entrances/exits on the maze." Sabi ni Ms. Ces. "You will each use a different way to enter."

I can't help but look at Ry.

"To make sure that you won't be lost, the girls will tie a string of their team's color on her hand." She said. "This string will help you find your way out."

I know he's disappointed but I didn't have a choice.

"I will blow the whistle after 20 minutes and you need to return. Is that clear?"

Kung ito yung gusto ni Gabby, I'll do it.

I'll play his game.

With Nate.

"Theia?"

"Huh?" Napatingin ako sa kanya.

He grabbed my hand.

"Ready, set.. Go!"

*fweet*

Hinatak niya ko papasok sa maze.

I was just staring at his hand habang naglalakad kami.

"May problema ba?"

My mind was too preoccupied to answer his question.

Hawak hawak niya parin kasi ako.

When he suddenly stopped, napahinto rin ako at humarap siya sa'kin.

"Did you even know that we already had this much?"

Nate opened his right hand. May mga hawak na siyang white ribbons.

Was I too distracted?

Hindi ko napansing nasa gitna na kami nung maze. Nandito rin yung fountain na sinabi sa'kin ni Gabby.

Napatingin lang ako sa kanya when he started caressing my wrist.

Hindi na masyadong kita yung pasa tulad dati.

"I'm sorry I did this.." Sabi niya. "I'm sorry sinigawan rin kita kanina.."

Hindi niya na kailangan mag sorry..

"Masakit parin ba?"

"Hindi na."

"I'd understand kung galit ka sa'kin." He said. "After what I did to you, hindi ko alam kung mapapatawad mo pa ko."

"It's okay.."

I already forgave you, Mio.

"Then why aren't you saying anything?"

"Kasi.."

Bakit nga ba?

"Is it Ryan?"

Ry?

"You don't want me to be your partner do you?"

"Nate.."

"Is that his fault?" Tinuro niya yung braso kong may bandage. "Did he hurt you?"

"No. It was an accident." Sagot ko. "Hindi niya sinasadya."

Seeing Ry like that made me realize na baka ganun din yung itsura ko kapag kausap sila. Kung ayaw ko silang makita na ganun, I'm sure they feel the same way fowards me.

"Kailangan ko ba talagang iwasan ka?"

His question made me look at him.

Oh, Nate..

Ayaw ko rin pero kailangan.

"Paano kung gusto na kitang maalala?"

Hindi pwede.

Binawi ko yung kamay ko tsaka lumayo ng konti sa kanya.

"Don't."

He should stop thinking about this.

It's too late.

Huli na para maalala mo pa ko.

"It's for the best, Nate.."

"Pero--"

"Don't worry." I tried to smile at him. "Hindi ako ganun kaimportante."

Mas magiging masaya ka sa taong hindi mawawala sa tabi mo.

Ivy knew how it felt to lose you. I'm sure she wouldn't do the same mistake twice.

Hindi ka na niya iiwanan ulit.

Wala nang rason para maghiwalay pa kayo.

Mawawala na naman ako.

"Does he make you happy?"

Naiiyak ako.

"Y-es.."

"Of course." He said. "Ry wouldn't hurt you like I did."

Oh, Nate..

Hindi yun yung ibig kong sabihin.

Any minute now, tutulo na yung luha ko.

"Masaya ako para sa inyo, Theia." Sabi niya. "I wish you happiness."

He started to leave.

"I'm sorry.."

Tumigil siya saglit.

But it wasn't enough to make him stay.

Hindi ko alam na ilang beses ko siyang makikita na naglalakad papalayo sa'kin.

I fell on my knees and started crying.

Bumuhos nalang bigla yung malakas na ulan.

This is exactly how it happened in my nightmare.

It was raining nung iniwan niya ko at hindi na siya babalik.

"Theia?? Theia!"

I heard someone calling my name.

"THEIA!" Lumapit siya agad sa'kin. "Okay ka lang ba??"

I couldn't speak.

Nanginginig lang ako at umiiyak.

I couldn't breathe.

Ryan hugged me tight.

"Shh.."

"Ry.." I whispered. "He's gone.."

"..."

"He left, Ry.." Sabi ko. "I told him to leave.. I made him leave me.."

Ayaw ko sanang saktan siya pero kailangan.

I didn't want to push him away pero mawawala rin ako.

Wala ring kwenta kung ipagpipilitan ko yung sarili ko sa kanya..

He needs to accept this.

Pero bakit ako mismo hindi yun matanggap?

Hindi ko matanggap na hanggang dito nalang kaming dalawa..

******

*Ivy's POV*

I was watching them from afar.

I knew he will do something and I was right. Pinipilit niya talaga silang magsama.

He's going to continue his plan.

I needed to find a way to stop it.

"What did you tell him, Tita?"

Sinubukan kong tawagan siya kanina but no one answered. I waited for her to call me back.

Kailangan kong malaman kung anong sinabi niya kay Gab.

"Ai, don't do this."

"Tita, please." Sabi ko. "Help me just this once. Ano pong sinabi niyo kay Gab?"

"This is wrong."

It doesn't matter if it's wrong.

I love him.

Yun lang ang mahalaga.

"You knew what this felt like, Tita." I said. "Wag niyo naman hayaan na maranasan ko rin yun."

"Pero iba 'to, Ai." Sagot niya. "You need to do the right thing kahit gaano pa kasakit yun."

"I just can't, Tita.."

Hindi ko talaga kaya..

"You're all asking me to let him go." I said. "Pero paano?"

Paano ko pakakawalan yung taong mahal na mahal ko?

"Would you still do this kahit alam niya na yung totoo?"

"..."

"Can't you see?" She said. "Kahit sabihin ko sa'yo yung nalaman ni Gab, it doesn't matter."

"What do you mean..?"

I heard her take a deep breath.

"He knows the truth, Ai."

Alam niya na?

Naaalala niya na?

"I asked you about him, Ai. Hindi mo ba maalala?"

"How is he?"

"He seem okay, Tita."

"Is there anything weird about him?"

"Wala naman po." I answered. "Bakit po?"

"Nevermind."

"I'll ask you again, Ai." She said. "Wala ba talagang nagbago?"

Marami. Maraming nagbago.

Yung araw na hinatid niya ko.

"Speaking of driving, ngayon lang ba nangyari 'to?"

"Pakiramdam ko, this happened before." He said. "Where were you when I had the accident?"

"Hindi ba tayo magkasama?"

I even wondered kung bakit niya tinatanong.

Pati yung araw na sinabi niya sa'king susubukan niya.

"She asked me to give her a chance.."

"And? Anong desisyon mo?"

"I've decided to try."

"I really don't understand pero there's a part of me that wants to get to know her."

Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit.

"I've given you hints pero hindi ka nakinig sa'kin." Sabi niya. "I'm sure he asked you some things. Wala ka ba talagang napansin?"

I couldn't answer her.

Natatakot ako.

"You have to stop, Ai." She said. "Kailangan mo na sabihin sa kanya yung totoo bago pa niya maalala lahat."

Bago pa niya maalala lahat?

"He doesn't remember everything?"

"..."

"Tita, anong hindi niya pa naaalala?"

"Ai, what are you planning??"

"I need to stop him."

"You can't." Sabi niya. "Lalo mo lang pinapalala yung nagawa mo."

"No, Tita." Sagot ko. "I'll return everything to the way it was."

"Ai, stop---"

I hang up.

Kung alam niya na hindi ako yung taong naaalala niya, bakit hindi niya pa ko kinakausap tungkol dun?

What's missing?

He still doesn't recall what happened that day.

I just needed to ruin that.

If he doesn't see the evidence, then he'll never remember.

Pero paano?

I don't have the locket anymore..

******