Chapter 26 – The one that got away.

"I'm sorry, Ethan. I overslept," Felicity apologized to him when she arrived.

He stood up and pulled a chair for her then gently planted a kiss on her cheek.

"It's fine, Siti," he answered, returning to his seat.

"So, why did you move our date to breakfast? You know I'm not a morning person. But don't get me wrong. I am not complaining," she said with a smile. Maybe she was just really curious.

Mabagal siyang ngumiti. He was contemplating on his mind how to tell her that he already wanted to end things with her.

"I know that smile, Ethan," nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ng babae. For a moment, Ethan thought she appeared insecure. "I hope I'm wrong. But, I'm starting to feel bad about this breakfast. You have something to tell me, don't you?"

"How about we eat first?" Malumanay niyang sabi. Ayaw naman niyang hiwalayan na agad ito nang pareho pa silang walang kain.

Tumango si Felicity. Pero malungkot na ito. Wala na ang confident nitong ngiti kanina nang dumating ito roon.

Tahimik silang kumain. Though he would sometimes ask her about her work, sasagot naman ito pero maiksi lang. Ramdam talaga nito na mayroon siyang sasabihing hindi nito magugustuhan.

When they were young, Ethan really did love Felicity so much. Sa lahat ng paraang alam ng batang siya noon. It was a pure love that he really thought would last until forever.

But she sold their love. Five million pesos. Iyon lang ang halaga ng pagmamahal nito sa kanya. And unlike Ally, she really used the money. Kaya ito nakalayo, at nakapag-umpisa ng buhay na wala siya.

When she returned to his life, he was at a point where his heart was being rebellious. He accepted her apology though just to prove to himself that he could forgive anyone but Allison. They dated again. But he knew in his heart that he no longer loved her.

And not just because she sold their love for five million in the past, kundi dahil kahit itanggi niya, ang puso niya ay talagang pagmamay-ari na ng iba.

"Ethan, what do you really want to tell me?" Parang maiiyak nang usisa ni Felicity. Alam niyang halos hindi na nito malunok ang kinakain nito kaya tinigilan na lang nito ang pagkain.

Kahit siya naman, hindi rin makakain kahit pa napakasarap sana ng almusal nila.

"Siti," he started after wiping his mouth. "There's this girl that I met after you left me," hindi niya alam kung paano niya dudugtungan iyon. Masyado bang malayo ang pinagsimulan niya?

Besides, he was also concerned about what Siti might feel.

"Allison," she said.

Napatitig siya kay Felicity. She knew? But he never told her about Ally before.

"Analise asked about her when we were at the bar," ito na rin ang sumagot sa tanong na hindi niya maitanong. "The way you reacted at the mention of her name bothered me a great deal, Ethan. I knew right then that I had to know about her. So, I asked Analise. Well, she didn't tell me much kasi hindi rin siya updated. All she told me was that she used to be your girlfriend."

"And that was all I needed to know to feel insecure. I wished I don't know you well. But I do. And so, I know that once you fall in love, you meant the purest love you can give," patuloy pa ni Felicity. May poise pa rin pero bahagya nang nagpupunas ng luha kahit wala pa man siyang sinasabi.

"I've found her again, Siti," he said. "And I'm so mad at myself that I let her go when she ended things between us. It's my biggest mistake…"

"You weren't that regretful when you lost me, Ethan," she said bitterly. "But it's my fault. I was the one who broke us."

"I did love you, you know that."

"And I was so stupid to have sold our love!" Napahikbi ito.

Ethan realized that it was the first time that they talked about how they parted. Nang bumalik kasi si Felicity and she tried to explain, sinabi lang niyang hindi na mahalaga iyon.

Pinatawad niya ito agad. Wala ng saysay sa kanya ang paliwanag nito dahil bukod sa nangyari na, hindi na rin siguro talaga siya interesado pa -sa paliwanag at kay Felicity mismo.

"You thought it was the best for us. And I don't blame you anymore, Siti. Maybe, things were really bound to happen the way they did."

"Because you have moved on. That's why you can say that… But you are right, Ethan. Perhaps, I made that wrong decision because we needed to part ways. Because we aren't meant for each other," tinuyo nito ang mga tumulo nitong luha habang pinapanatili sa mga labi nito ang isang ngiti. "I guess, I came back too late. I should've returned to you before you met Ally. If that were the case, maybe, things would be different now."

"Maybe," he agreed. But not because she was right. Ethan only wanted to make it easier for Felicity. If that would help her ease the pain, sure, why not?

But well, she could be right. But before he met Allison, he was no longer serious in how he sees a relationship. He did not want commitment anymore. He only wanted to have fun. He became a male wh*re, didn't he?

And then he met Allison. And that was when he decided to be better. Because he realized that Ally deserved someone who would love her seriously. And he couldn't be that person if he would continue playing games.

So, the question was, if Siti returned before Ally, would he have changed for her too? Ethan couldn't be sure. Ang alam lang niya, ito ang dahilan kaya pumangit ang tingin niya sa pag-ibig.

Winasak siya ni Felicity. But Allison brought the pieces of his heart back together…

"Then, is this already goodbye, Ethan?" She asked bitterly.

"I tried to give us a chance, Siti."

"I guess you are officially my the one that got away now," Felicity tried to laugh but a sob escaped her lips instead. She held a hand over her mouth as she tried to stay composed.

"Thank you for coming back into my life. I want you to know that I've already forgiven you. And Siti, I do not regret loving you back then," he said.

She was his first love and that truth would forever remain. But then hanggang doon na lang. Dahil ang buong puso niya, buong pagkatao, kasama ang lahat-lahat sa kanya, pagmamay-ari na ni Allison.

That woman who was insisting she was going to die soon.

Ethan's heart constricted inside his chest. Hindi niya papayagang mangyari 'yon.

"Please, allow me to walk away," Felicity stood up. She wanted to save her pride and Ethan would grant her that final request. "I love you, Ethan. This would really hurt me. But, I am not selfish to keep you knowing that your heart belongs to someone else. Thank you for the chance that I did not deserve. Goodbye…"

Ethan watched Felicity walk away. He smiled sadly in his heart. She was his friend before they became lovers and so he wished he could still do more for her than cause her another pain.

But maybe, hanggang doon na lang sila.

Ethan took bills from his wallet and put them on the table before he left the place. He was off to see Allison again.

Sana, hinihintay siya nito.