Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Love Like Hell: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

• Jade's Point of View •  Months passed by, and I think i'm finally doing great. Humupa na rin ang mga taong tsismosa tungkol sa break up namin ni Leroi. It's probably because he started dating another girl again, pero di ko na masyadong inintindi 'yon dahil i've got my own things to focus on. "...perfect! You did a great job, Miss Garcia." Sabi ng music teacher namin ng matapos ko na ang isang piece sa piano.   Bumalik na 'ko sa pagkaka-upo at nagpatuloy lang ang music classes. And when it was Ruben's turn, nakinig lang ako sa kaniyang pagtugtog. If there's one thing I couldn't move on from, it's Ruben. Hanggang ngayon namimiss ko ang bestfriend ko.   He's the wound that's so hard to heal. Gusto ko mang ibalik sa dati ang lahat kaso ayaw na sa akin ni Ruben. Ayoko namang ipagpilitan pa ang sarili ko sa ayaw sa'kin. Maybe it's best this way.

• Ruben's Point of View •  Two months later "...everything that they had seen and heard was just as they had been told." Then the guys who were playing shepherds got out of the stage. Then that was it. The christmas skit we were all working hard for finally ended. The audience applaused and I was ready to leave. I decided that I won't attend the after party for this play. Habang nagliligpit ako ng gamit ko, nilapitan ako ni pres para kausapin. "Hey, aalis ka na kagad Ruben?"   "Yeah, may gagawin ako sa bahay." I lied. Gusto ko na din na magpahinga. "Eh?! Ayaw mo kumain muna sa party mamaya? Maya-maya ka na umalis." "Sorry pres, but I really have to." "Ang kj mo talaga." She pouted. Then unexpectedly, lumapit sa amin si Eliza. "Hey guys! Another successful play, congrats sa'tin!" Aniya.

• Ruben's Point Of View •  The prom night. As I stepped out of my car, nadatnan kong nasa labas na si Eliza sa kaniyang bahay. Napangiti ako ng makita ko sya. She smiled back and quickly went towards me. "You look beautiful in blue." I told her. I really liked how she's dressed tonight, at di rin matanggal ang tingin ko sa mukha nya. There's really something about make-up that makes girls look like some goddess that descended to earth. Parang nahiya naman sya sa pagkakatingin ko sa kanya kaya natawa sya't sabay palo sa braso ko.   "I know, you don't have to remind me that i'm beautiful though." Iba din ang confidence ng babae na 'to minsan. "Pfft, yeah right. Just always remind me that I don't have to do that." "Okay, if you say so." She giggled.   Binuksan ko naman ang pinto ng kotse ko para sa kanya. "No

• Ruben's Point of View •  As I take off the mask, napapunas na lang ako sa mga luha ko. Tinapon ko na din yung maskara as I decided to throw away the feelings that keeps hurting me.   I know i'm a jerk for using Eliza as something to numb the pain, but I think it's time to see Eliza as she is. Not as a replacement. Pagkabalik ko sa kanya, kagad syang napatingin sa akin while talking to some other members from the theatre club. "Oh tagal mo sa cr ah?" Napangisi lang ako. "Yeah, andaming gumagamit eh. Sorry I made you wait." "It's fine, let's just dance again!" Then she pulled me back to the floor to dance. Tonight turned out to be great. Like the heavy thing in my chest is finally gone.   As tomorrow came, my morning was a bit nicer than usual. Maybe it's because of what happened last

• Ruben's Point of View •  "Sir, hindi po pupwede na kumuha basta-basta ng warrant without evidence or any proof that can be held against your suspected person." "Damn it! There's no need for fucking evidence sir, the guy i'm pinpointing just harassed that missing girl a month ago! He's definitely the guy who kidnapped her as well." I told them. The lazy fucking police gave me a disrespectful look. "Alright sir, we might take note of that. But it'll take time to find and interrogate the guy you're suspecting. Ina-assure ko din po na ginagawa namin ang lahat ng makakaya namin para hanapin ang kaibigan mo." And there I was dismissed. I looked at Allan with disbelief. "I guess we should get home now, sir." "No fucking way! Why are the police fucking useless, Allan!? Why!?" This made me feel desperate, knowing the people I thought I can count on be this awful.