Hey readers, ayan na naman. Natagalan na naman akong mag-update. Nakakaloka na talaga. xD Well, sana patuloy parin kayong magbasa ng storyang ito. xD Malapit na itong matapos kaya please naman, konting pasensya nalang. [hr] [hr] [b]Chapter 14[/b] Hindi ko alam kung pano ako babawi kay Vince, but he has been one of my best-est friends lately. Bea stopped covering for me. Hindi niya na raw kaya na nakikitang pinasisinungalingan niya ang mga taong nagtitiwala sa kanya. I didn't get angry. I know what she feels. Kahit ako masakit din sakin nagsisinungaling kay Dad, but I just have to. I don't want to lose Rhys. "Vince.." I sat beside him. "If you're going to ask me again na ilabas ka so that you can go out with Rhys today, pwede pass muna ako?" He stared at me. "I-I'm tired." "Vince, I'm so-" "Yana.. I like helping you. Hindi ako madamot sa tulong. If you need something or someone, I'm always here for you. But.. please don't take me for granted. It hurts more than being rejected." He smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry." He smiled at me and stood up then he went away. That was our last talk together. At katulad kay Bea, Vincent Yap gave up on me. At ngayon, I only have Rhys to deal with this stuff. Pero hindi niya alam kung anong nangyayari. Hindi niya alam kung ano rin ang pwedeng mangyari sa kanya. After some sleepless nights, I finally got into the decision na kelangan kong sabihin kay Rhys.. one way or another. So the very first thing I did the next day was to go out of the house -- one way or another. "Yana.. what's with the call?" He smiled while sitting down at KFC. "I'm sorry.. but I just really have to talk to you." "Is there a problem?" He asked worriedly. "Rhys.. do you really love me? Mahal mo ba talaga ako?" "Of course." He put his right hand on mine. "Mahal kita." Tears started to fill my eyes. "Is that love enough, para ipaglaban mo ako?" I asked him while crying. He looked at me in the eyes and smiled. "Yana.. I know what's happening." "Rhys-" "And I won't let go." "Rhys.." "Promise." He said in a firm and sincere voice. Then Rhys enwrapped me in a warm hug. [b]I knew then that he won't ever let go.[/b] [i]We won't.[/i] [hr] I used to believe the saying "love conquers all". I wasn't able to really prove this myself, but I guess I will - soon enough. And the challenge for proving this saying started at the 24th day of January. "Vince.. si Rhys?" Hinintay ko talaga si Vince sa labas ng school nila para itanong kung nasaan si Rhys. 2 days na siyang di nagpapakita sakin or nagtetext or tumatawag. I tried calling his place pero binagsakan lang ako ng phone ng sumagot. I have a big feeling na kumilos na si Dad ko kay Rhys. And I fear the thought na baka totoo ngang kumikilos na talaga si Dad. "Well.." Vince lowered his head before answering. "Well.." "Well-what?" I asked impatiently. Huminga ng malalim si Vince bago ako sinagot. "Dalawang araw na siyang di pumapasok sa class. Kahit si Paolo, two days narin na hindi pumapasok." Sabi ni Vincent at nagsimula siyang maglakad. "I guess, alam na nating lahat kung bakit." He then looked at me. "Hindi naman sigur-" "I don't think so." Umiling-iling si Vince at sumakay na kaagad sa kotseng naghihintay sa kanya. Nakatayo lang ako dun habang nakatingin sa kotseng kumakaripas ng takbo palayo sa kinatatayuan ko. "Hindi. Nagkataon lang di sila pumasok. Siguro may pinuntahan lang or something." Sabi ko sa sarili ko trying to convince myself na wala pang masamang nangyayari. I went home feeling all down. I tried calling Rhys pero "cannot be reach" ang cellphone niya. No, don't panic Yana. Siguro nga absent lang talaga silang dalawa. Just plain absent. Two days later. "Vince!" I called up habang tumatakbo papunta sa kanya. "S-Si Rhys?" Vince looked at me. "Wala parin eh." "Hmm.. can't you contact him? Ano na ba ang nangyayari sa kaniya? Si Paolo, ang brother niya, pumasok ba?" "Hindi pa din." He said. "Sige, I'll just.. I'll just try to contact him. Don't worry, he's fine." He smiled and went inside his school. "Thanks." Hindi ko alam kung ano na talaga ang nangyayari, pero biglang naglaho si Rhys. Ni hindi na siya nagparamdam, nagpakita or kahit anu pa. I was so damn worried kaya I have to ask my Dad na. "Dad-" Krriinggg. Krrriiinnnggg. Krrriiinnggg. Kumaripas naman kaagad ako ng takbo papunta sa telepono. Ewan ko ba pero I felt like I needed to answer the phone. And thank God, I did. "Yes, good evening." I answered. "Y-Yana?" "Rhys.." I almost whispered. "Can we talk? Somewhere? Now?" "Sure, sure." He then gave me the name of the establishment. Gabi na nun, but I really need to go out. Kaya dating gawi, tumakas na naman ako sa bahay without them seeing and noticing me. When I arrived at the Bay, I saw him sitting by himself. "Rhys.." "Yana." He smiled. I hugged him. "Geez, you really missed me, huh?" He grinned. "Meanie." Hinampas ko siya ng mahina. "Apat na araw ka nang absent." "Sorry. May mga family matters lang na dapat ayusin. But I'm back." He smiled. "Really?" I smiled. "Yeah." He smiled. He suddenly cleared his throat and looked serious. "Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. It's late in the evening and I want to talk to you about this, Yana." Bigla namang lumakas at bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko. I felt my knees weaken and my mouth shivering. I looked at Rhys, my eyes fixed on his face. "Your dad doesn't like me so much, right?" He looked at me. "He doesnt like you hanging out with me, moreover hindi niya ako gusto as your boyfriend. But Yana.." He held my shoulders and looked me in the eye. "..kahit anong mangyayari, I won't let go of you. So Yana.. sana ganun din ang gagawin mo." I looked at him and tears started to fall from my eyes. [i]"I won't let go."[/i] He smiled and hugged me so tight. [hr] Pumasok na ulit si Rhys. Hindi ko na siya natanong kung anuman yung "family affair" na yun, pero I have a big feeling na may kinalaman na si Dad doon. And, unfortunately, this is your typical cliche telenovela when the lovers fight for their right to be with each other. [i]And then let go.[/i] [hr] [i]CHAPTER 15 [/i] [spoiler][quote]RHYS' POV I've noticed her even before I knew na kilala siya ni Vince. Siya lagi yung hinihintay kong lumabas sa Lourdes tuwing hapon. Everytime na may makikita akong babae na may dalang libro na nakatakip sa mukha nito, alam kong siya na yun. I never had the courage to ask her name though. I'm the resident "playboy" (pero hindi naman talaga ako playboy) parang playboy lang ang dating kaya nakasanayan ko ng tinatawag nila ako sa ganyan. And everyone would be really surprised kung malalaman nilang I'm interested with her. And I heard she's really smart and also rich - sobra. According to Vince, she belongs to the Star Section, and only the best of the best can get in there. Bumabawas lang daw yung section na yun ng mga studyante, pero never na dumadagdag. Did I mention that her father is a real-estate business tycoon? I'm not after her riches or anything, but I really find her amusing. It's not everyday that you meet someone like her. Kaya naman nung nalaman kong kilala pala siya ni bespren, mas naging interesado pa ako sa kanya. "Pare, kilala mo?" tanong ko kay Vince nung umalis na ang sundo ni Yana. "Oo. Kababata ko yun tsaka close talaga family namin." Vince said excitedly. "Ahhh.. ano naman pangalan nun?" "Juliana. Yana." Ngumiti si bespren at dun palang, may nahalata na kaagad ako sa kanya. TO BE CONTINUED >>[/quote] [/spoiler]