Chapter 19 – Don’t tell anyone.

"Allison!" Mahigpit siyang niyakap ni Shanna. Napabunghalit ito ng iyak sa labis na pagtataka ng lahat.

But to give them privacy, Bea allowed them to leave the event first.

Wala ng nagawa pa si Ally. She wanted to appear strong in front of Ethan's cousin na sa maikling panahon noon ay naging tunay niyang kaibigan, pero luha lang din ang naging tugon niya sa parang batang pag-iyak nito.

Right. Aside from her family and Ethan, she also hurt Shanna when she suddenly disappeared from their lives. Siguro pati rin sina Zion at Leio. Idagdag pa sina Katie at Michael.

God. How selfish and cruel was she? Anong klase siyang kaibigan?

"Ally, sa wakas nakita rin kita ulit!" Hawak-hawak ni Shanna ang mga kamay niya habang humihikbi pa rin ito. "Hinanap kita, alam mo ba? Kasi hindi ako naniwala kay Ethan. Alam ko, hindi ka aalis nang walang matinding dahilan. And I was right."

"I'm sorry," she apologized. Shanna deserved her apology. Hindi niya dapat ito idinamay sa mga tinanggal niya sa buhay niya.

But that time, cutting off everyone from her life made sense.

"Oh, Ally... You should've told us. We could've helped you. You were more than a friend to us, sa tingin mo ba, kung sinabi mo ang totoo, pababayaan ka namin?"

"Shanna..." She was right. But she was wrong at one point. Oo nga't mayayaman ang mga ito at kung nagsabi lang siya, sana naagapan ang sakit niya.

With their money and influence, baka ngayon okay na siya. But they were just the rich kids then. Fresh graduates at wala pang sariling mga pera. Everything they had was their parents'.

Kaya nga naging isyu noon na binigyan siya ni Ethan ng bahay. Dahil kahit nag-iisang anak at tagapagmana ito ng kayamanan ng pamilya nito, he was just the Billionaire's son. Hindi nito sariling pera ang ginastos nito.

Kung nagsabi siya noon, tiyak na lalong masusuklam sa kanya ang pamilya ni Ethan.

"I'm sorry, pero hindi ninyo ako obligasyon, Shanna..."

"Ano bang sinasabi mo, magkaibigan tayo, Ally. Why would you think like that?"

"Ayokong maging pabigat... Kahit na kanino, kahit kay--"

"Kahit kay Ethan?" Shanna met her eyes. "Kung sa tingin mo, hindi namin dapat nalaman, sana kahit kay Ethan lang ipinaalam mo ang totoo. Why did you choose to make him hate you, Ally? Ethan of all people would kill to stay beside you. Why did you drive him away?"

"If I told him, he wouldn't become the successful man that he is right now. I don't have regrets, Shanna."

Sa loob nang maikling panahon, nagawa ni Ethan na maging successful. Kilalang-kilala ito kahit sa labas ng business world. Para na nga itong celebrity katulad ng current girlfriend nitong si Felicity na isang actress.

Pero bago pa man nagkabalikan ang dalawa, sikat na si Ethan dahil sa mga achievements nito at his age of under twenty-five years old. He was no longer the Billionaire's son. He was a Billionaire himself...

At proud si Allison sa mga na-achieve ni Ethan na wala siya. He wouldn't have become who he was if she stayed beside him. Masakit mang makita itong may mahal na ulit na iba, naniniwala ang dalaga na tama ang desisyon niya.

"Two years, Ally... That man you call successful because you left him, changed to be the worst man I've ever known!"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. What was Shanna talking about? Ethan was just fine. Hindi ba nga't masaya na ito sa piling ni Felicity?

"He's already happy. I still see him in the news. And I can say na tama ang desisyon ko." Matigas pa rin ang paniniwala niya sa kanyang sarili.

"Hindi na siya ang dating Ethan, Ally... Siguro akala mo nakabuti sa kanya ang pag-alis mo. Kahit siya, 'yon ang akala niya. Pero kami na nakakakilala sa kanya dati pa, we can see through him. He's no longer the Ethan we used to know."

"Baka akala ninyo lang 'yon. Sila na ulit ni Felicity. I remember when Zion told me that he really loves her. I'm happy for him. You should, too." Sinikap niyang sabihin iyon na walang kahalong sakit sa tinig niya.

"Arghhh, Felicity. That thick-skinned woman. Never mind her. I don't think Ethan still loves her."

She offered Shanna a forced smile. If Ethan no longer loves Felicity, hindi ito makikipagbalikan sa babae. But Ally knew him enough to know that maybe somehow, he still does love her to allow her in his life again.

"By the way, kumusta sina Zion at Leio?" Pag-iiba niya ng usapan. Halatang nadismaya si Shanna pero hindi na rin ito kumontra. Besides, kahit ano pa man ang totoong saloobin ni Ethan kay Felicity, hindi magbabago ang katotohanan na sila na ulit at ang Ally sa buhay nito noon ay isa ng malupit na alaala. Ethan hates her. That was the fact.

"Zion is good. I guess, on and off pa rin sila ni Analise. Like, kami na lang ang napapagod sa instability ng relasyon nila. Leio is focusing in their family business. Himala nga na hindi na siya nagdi-date," tugon ni Shanna.

"Baka hinihintay niyang lumambot ang puso mo sa kanya," she teased her.

Inirapan siya ni Shanna pero nakangiti naman ito. "We aren't each other's type. Or else, matagal na dapat naging kami. Hello, we've known each other since we're kids. We're good friends even though we banter a lot."

"Why aren't you dating?" Tanong niya. Bukod sa interesado naman talaga siya, she was trying to stir the conversation away from Ethan. "You're old."

"I'm happy being single, duh!" Tapos ay napapitik ito sa ere. "Ally, I forgot to tell you, your best friend, Michael, he works for Ethan."

"Talaga? He must be earning a lot," aniya. Ethan's business was a huge one.

"He does. Tell him to treat you." Tumatawa nitong dagdag.

Nawala naman ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. Tell him? No...

"Shanna," she said her name. "Could you promise me one thing?"

"What is it, Ally?"

"Don't tell anyone about me... Please?" Pakiusap niya.

"But why? I'm sure they'd be happy to see you, Ally," giit ni Shanna. "Don't you think it's about time?"

"Please," tears started rolling down her cheeks again. "Shanna, I don't have much time left. I don't want to hurt everyone again. Hayaan na natin na hindi nila alam. Ayoko nang guluhin si Ethan. Please, I beg you..."

"What are you saying, Allison?" Nakatingin sa kanya ang kaibigan na parang hindi ito makapaniwala.

"'Wag mong sabihin sa kanila..."

"No, not that... What did you say about not having much time left?"

It was Ally's turn to hold Shanna's hand. Mukhang hindi nag-sink in kanina rito ang kalagayan niya. Maybe she thought that she was still curable.

But the harsh reality was, it's almost over for her.

"Shanna, I'm dying..."

"N-no," bumagsak ang mga luha nito. "You're lying..."

"It's the truth. So, please. Tama nang ikaw lang ang may alam ng tungkol sa akin. Don't tell them..."

"Am I too late?" Hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Shanna. Parang hindi nito naririnig ang mga sinasabi niya. "Ally, I can help you. I'll get you the best Doctor. Gagaling ka pa!" Shanna cried.

Niyakap na lang niya ito. Shanna was shocked. Pero later on, matatanggap din nito ang katotohanan.

"Why? You have to live, Ally!"

She smiled bitterly. Hindi kita ni Shanna iyon dahil yakap-yakap niya ito. This was the reaon kaya ayaw niyang may makaalam ng sitwasyon niya. Ayaw niyang may umiiyak at masasaktan. It would make it harder to leave.