Chapter 45: Towards Their Own Paths

"Make your own path instead of following one that is already made"

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Nakatulala si Eiffel sa asul na kalangitan habang nakaupo sa bintana niya, nakaangat ang paa niya sa ere at isang maling galaw ay maari siyang mahulog mula sa ikatlong palapag nang kanilang mansyon. Ngunit sa ngayon ay wala siyang pakelam. Wala sa sariling napahawak sa brasong may gasa.

Its been three days since she arrived in her father's homeland, Britain. At hangang ngayon ay hindi parin siya lumalabas ng kanyang kuwarto.

Narinig niya ang pagkatok sa kanyang pintuan "Come in" saad niya at pumasok ang secretarya ng kanyang namayapang ama dito sa Britain.

"My lady! Please be careful!" nagaalalang lumapit sa kanya ang successful middle aged woman.

Eiffel gracefully jumped on the floor and stood up "I'm ok Mrs. Heatherson" nakangiting aniya with her British accent ngunit kapansinpasin ang walang buhay na tono ng binibini.

Eiffel was wearing a white off shoulder dress with golden flowers patterns at the hem of it that reaches her toes. Her wavy black hair adorned with a ribbon full of real pearls falls above her waist perfectly and her cerulean blue eyes that she inherited from the bloodline of Sinclaires. She looked like a small doll inside a big castle. A noblety indeed.

Humahangos na pumasok sa loob ng kuwarto niya ang isang pamilyar na aso.

Gulat kinuha ni Eiffel ang aso at niyakap "Puffy! What are you doing here baby?" nagtatakang tanong niya habang dinidilaan siya ng aso.

"Mistress Pauline sent your dog lady Eiffel." sagot ng mayordoma.

Malungkot na niyakap ni Eiffel ang asong niregalo sa kanya ng asawa.

"Mrs Heatherson, is everything arranged?" seryosong tanong ni Eiffel, binaba ang aso at lumabas ng kuwarto.

"Yes my lady" sagot nito habang sinusundan ang munting binibini.

"You are already officially enrolled in the most prestigious all girls school here in Britain, we already arranged your tutors and all the rights in the Sinclaire properties all over the continent is already in the process. It's only just a matter of time for you to earn the tittle as the 16th Countess of Campbell." Dagdag nito.

Nagpatuloy sa paglalakad si Eiffel with her chin up at lahat ng mga nakakasalubong na kasambahay ay yumuyukod sa kanya bilang pagbibgay galang.

"How about my late grandfather's Shipping Company?"

"Yes my lady, your family's trusted attorney is already working on it. You as the rightfully heiress, have the right on everything the late Lord had. Aside from that, the investments and shares Lord Raven invested in other companies are also passed down to you."

"That is perfect, from now on I want to continue exporting our family's famous wines. Kindly inform the employees in the vineyard to increase the grape seedlings. We need to multiply our harvests. We will start exporting it also in the middle east."

"Yes my lady."

"And also, call the Veterinarians in the ranch. Our horses must be properly examined." Utos niya.

"Pardon me my lady, But I don't understand your motives about the ranch"

Eiffel smiled "I'm planning to start an Equine related business, after all, this industry is starting to conquer some parts of Asia as well. We will be breeding high classes of stallions and we will start venturing and importing . I believe that we are most suited for it since we have hectares of lands that can accommodate the facilities that would be built. But right now, it's still just a plan of mine for the future"

"That's a magnificent idea my lady."

Huminto sa harap ng isang magarbong pintuan ang munting binibini.

"Is it ready too?" tanong nito at tumango ang mayordoma "Yes my lady"

Binuksan nito ang pintuan, Eiffel took a breath before entering the room.

Hey blue eyes scanned the entire room. The room itself was extravagant. There were black linings on the walls, white curtains veiling the big windows and a chandelier in the middle of the ceiling. A perfect Corinthian inspired room.

Countless canvass are arranged on the table near the big window. Paint brushes and other tools are also neatly arranged in the stand near the table.

"Everything you needed is already inside the room my lady."

And Eiffel nodded "you may go" utos niya na agad namang sinunod nito.

Kasama ang kanina pang sumusunod na aso ay lumapit si Eiffel sa isang nakahanda na blankong canvass.

Wala sa sariling napahawak sa kwintas na nakasuot sa kanya.

Nang papasok na siya sa eroplano noong araw ng pagalis niya ay narinig niya ang boses ng binata, ang pagtawag nito sa kanya. Ngunit inakala niyang guniguni lamang iyon..

Bakit siya hahabulin ng taong pinagtabuyan at sinaktan siya? It doesn't just make sense.

She was hurt. Very hurt and now she's afraid. Love is such a powerful thing that can destroy her. She slowly locks her heart inside a golden box. Where no one can hurt it and break it into pieces again.

This is where everything will change. Eiffel will no longer be the old Eiffel. Nangako siya sa sarili niya na hindi na siya magpapakatanga sa pagibig. Babangon siyang muli, ipapakita sa lahat kung gaano katatag ang isang Sinclaire.

She will be successful on her own, a queen in her own castle. And she will make sure that no one will look down on her anymore. Pagbabayaran ng mga taong nangapi sa kanya ang mga ginawa nila. Pagsisishan nila... Pagsisihan niya ang pananakit sa kanyang damdamin. She will live her life the way she wants, not for her father or mother. Not even for him.

The pain in her heart is still there, but hopefully, as time will pass, those feelings will also fade along with her love for him.

"He loved me, lied to me, and cheated, he broke my trust and trashed my world... But I'll get over it... I have to" saad sa sarili at napatingin sa singsing na nakasukbit sa kwintas.

Next time I see him, I will make sure he will regret everything...

'''""""

"Brad sigurado ka na ba talaga?" tanong ni Willam sa kanyang kaibigan.

Clyde smiled and nodded. Tadtad ng band aids and mukha ng binata at nakasuot din ito ng shades para maitago ang black eye niya. Hatak hatak ang maleta niya ay lumabas na siya ng kuwarto niya at nagtungo sa sala.

"Last year pa ako nakapasa sa Entrance exam ng Harvard University at malapit na ang umpisa ng klase. It would be such a waste kung hahayaan kong masayang ang chance ko na makapasok sa isang prestigious school and I guess it's time for me to get serious. After all, ako ang susunod na CEO ng kompanya" he explained and took his coat.

"Clyde... tungkol sa nagawa ko-"

"It's ok, I understand and I deserved it," putol ni Clyde sa kaibigan.

Napabuntong hininga si Willam at napakamot sa batok, halatang pinagsisihan ang nagawa sa kanyang kaibigan.

"How about Elizabeth? That crazy woman believed that you really chose her over Eiffel, and I'm sure magwawala yun oras na malaman niya ng pagalis mo, baka sundan ka pa niya sa America"

"I'll be staying in the dormitory. The security there is tight and I'm sure I'm safe from her."

"Clyde... Are you really ok with this?" puno ng kalungkutan na tanong ulit ni Willam. Alam nito ang kalungkutan ni Clyde sa nagyari. He lost the girl he loves and now is being hated by her.

Clyde scanned the entire house. This is their lovenest. Dito siya tumira kasama ang pinakamamahal na asawa.

Clyde knows that he can no longer stay in this house for every memory hunts him down...

Naaalala niya ang pagluluto ni Eiffel habang nakatungtong sa maliit na upuan sa kusina. Ang paghahanda ni Eiffel ng almusal nila, ang pagsasampay ni Eiffel ng labada. Ang panonood nila ng movies, ang tawanan at pamamahalan nila at ang ibat iba pang alaala na pinagsaluhan nila.

It was only a short time, but every moment that happened inside this house will remain in his heart.

Clyde turned the lights off and went out with Willam. He took the keys and locked it.

"It would take a while before I return inside this house..." nakangiting saad niya ngunit halata ang kalungkutan sa kanyang boses.

He took a deep breath at tumalikod na.

And I will make sure that the next time I enter it, she will be beside me once again...

Kasama ni Clyde si Willam na nagtungo sa airport. At nagulat ang binata nang makita niya ang kanyang pamilya na naghihintay sa kanya.

"Woah, what's goin' on?" natatawang tanong niya.

Tinakbo siya ng dalawang magkamukhang magkamukhang babae at sabay na niyakap siya.

"You're so stupid Couz!" they shouted in unison and looked at him.

He gently stroked the twins head and smiled. "I'm sorry"

"Ano bayan! Hinid kami sanay na ganito ka kabait!" maluha luhang saad ni Rene.

"Kaya nga! Ilabas mo ang Clyde na kilala namin! We demand a proper burial for him!" segundo ni Lene.

Clyde just chuckled "Yeah. I'll miss you too" puna niya at kumawala na sa dalawa, sunod na nilapitan ang ina at ama.

Niyakap siya ng ina na kanina pa umiiyak "M-Mom, I won't stay there forever, babalik po ako"

"You're so unfair Clyde Dale Fuentabella, kababalik lang ng dati kong anak at ngayon ay aalis ulit siya" humahagulgol na sabi nito.

Clyde hugged her mother back "I will return. I promise" pagpapatahan niya at tumingin sa ama.

"Anak, I don't know kung matutuwa ba ako o magaalala ngayong sineseryoso mo na ang pagiging tagapagmana ko. But always remember, no matter what happens-"

"I am your son" putol niya sa ama at niyakap di nito "I know pops" and smiled.

Lumapit sa kanya si Pauline at aminado ang binata na nagulat siya sa presensya ng kanyang pangalawang ina.

"Good luck Clyde." Nakangiting saad ng ginang at niyakap niya ito "Thank you for everything Mama"

Lumingon si Clyde at nilapitan ang matalik na kaibigan "Wag kang mangbabae doon brad. Kundi sisiguraduhin kong lilipad akong papuntang America para dagdagan yang mga pasa mo" biro nito at natawa siya "Thank you for being my friend Willam "

"B-Brad, wala namang ganyanan! Parang di na tayo magkikita niyan e!" naluluhang sita ni Willam at tumalikod para maitago ang kalungkutan sa pagalis ng matalik na kaibigan.

Napailing nalang si Clyde at hinawakan ang balikat ni Willam bilang paalam. He looked at everyone and smiled, appreciating their presence. Maghawak kamay ang kanyang mga pinsan at pilit na pinipigilan ang mga luha nila, ang kanyang ina ay yakapyakap ng kanyang ama, nakangiting lumingon sa kanya si Willam at nakangitng kumaway si Pauline.

"Sige mauuna na ako" paalam niya at tumalikod na, waving his left hand without looking back as he walks away.

From afar, they can see the glistening ring in his finger. They all know that years will past but that ring will forever be the reminder of his love for a certain girl.

'''

Paglabas ng Boston Logan International Airport ni Clyde ay tumingin siya sa paligid, this is America.

Dito siya mananatili ng ilang taon, away from his family, friend... And away from her. Humangin ng malakas at napatigil siya sa kinatatayuan. Dahan dahang napatingin sa asul na kalangitan...

Samantala, humangin din ng malakas at malayang tinangay ang mahabang buhok ni Eiffel na nakaupo ulit sa bintana ng kanyang kuwarto. Tulad ng binata, dahan dahang napatingin din siya sa kalangitan...

Pareho silang napatulala sa iisang asul na kalangitan.

Iniisip ang bawat isa...

It will never be easy for them to forget each other.

All the memories they had shared. All the laughters and smiles that were embedded in their hearts will never vanish.

The moments they treasured will forever stay in their hearts.

But...

This is the path they chose... A path without each other.

Sa segunodung yun ay sabay silang nagsalita.

"Till the next time..."

The End

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