While waiting for our flight, an urgent need to use the restroom suddenly struck me. I had to find the nearest women's bathroom quickly. As I entered the comfort room and finished my business, my cellphone rang. It was my dad calling, and perhaps this would be our first and final conversation. Summoning my courage, I answered the call and put the earpiece on.
"Krystal..." his voice trembled with emotion.
Despite the expected compassion, all I felt was boredom. It was too late for him to feel guilt. If I were a less restrained daughter, I would have told him to stop with his dramatics because they no longer amused me.
But he was still my dad, even though the image of the loving father from my childhood was now dead in my memories.
"Why?" I inquired.
"Are you really leaving?" he asked, sounding pained.
"Yes, I'm leaving you, Dad," I replied, striving to conceal the pain and bitterness in my voice.
"Don't leave me alone here," he pleaded.
"You won't be alone. You chose her, right? You have a new family now," I couldn't help but let my anger seep into my words.
"If we could talk, I could explain myself," he insisted.
"Dad, do you think there's any justification for cheating? There isn't, Dad. Spare those tears, because Mom shed more tears than that."
"Krystal..."
"Sorry, but my dad is already gone. Have a nice life with your new family," I said, ending the call.
Overwhelmed, I locked myself in a cubicle for a moment and released all the pain through tears. How could he do this to us? To my mom, especially?
My mom had done nothing but love him, all the while unaware that he was indulging himself with his secretary. I didn't care if I left with resentment, but I had reached my limit.
After crying it all out, I left the bitterness behind in the Clayland.
Returning to where my brother was waiting, our flight was announced.
My swollen eyes and runny nose caught my brother's attention. Even Alice noticed my somber mood.
"Why are your eyes swollen? Did that idiot Logan call you?" my brother asked, surprising me.
"Why would he do that, kuya? He's happy with his first love," I replied.
"Then what's with your eyes?" he pressed further. Feeling compelled, I shared what had happened in the comfort room earlier.
"Dad called earlier. He asked if we could cancel our trip to Azura, as if she has the power to stop us," I spoke bitterly.
"You're right. As much as I don't want to condone your anger towards Dad, I can't scold you because even I don't know if I can forgive him."
Finally, we boarded the plane. As usual, I sat next to my brother, deliberately avoiding the couple. They were too wrapped up in their own happiness, a feeling I couldn't relate to. I was fine being alone. I had grown accustomed to it.
Watching the Clayland grow smaller from the plane's window, I closed my eyes and embraced the feeling of finally being free from the pain of the past.
I knew I couldn't erase the fact that those two men were once part of my life, but I hoped that someday I wouldn't encounter anyone like my dad and Logan.
Years passed, time flew by. I didn't realize it had been five years.
It had been five years since I last returned to the Clayland, five years without communication with my dad. It had been five years since I heard any news about the life we left behind in the Clayland.
Mom was getting better, and I could truly say she had moved on from Dad. I was genuinely happy for her.
As for me, I could say that the wounds I had before had healed, but the scars remained. It's hard to believe, but I hadn't entertained any romantic relationships since then. I hadn't trusted any man.
If you were to ask me what I was currently doing now that I had finished my degree, I was a renowned fashion designer in Azura. I managed our Clothing Line business while my brother oversaw our food manufacturing business.
I was at the office when Alice knocked on the door. She was now my secretary, despite having finished her management course.
"The troublemakers are here," Alice said, and my two supermodels entered my office.
Since we brought them from the Clayland, we decided to make them our models. They were also instrumental in our success, the faces of our company.
Additionally, Kyla was present as part of the design team.
I informed them that we were all together in Azura, having been apart for a few years to pursue personal growth. Now, we were excelling.
"How was the photo shoot?" I asked them.
"It was fantastic! We're still creating quite a buzz," Christian replied, looking entirely different now.
Yes, he was the same mestizo guy, but he had grown tall, with broader muscles and shoulders. He took great care of his body because modeling was his investment.
"You're so arrogant! You didn't even know how to wash briefs before," Alice teased, making all of us laugh.
"You're teasing me again, Alice!"
Their sense of humor amazed me. They were such creative minds.
"You know, our sales have been skyrocketing in the past few weeks and months. I think we deserve a break!" I declared, and we all enthusiastically agreed. "Let's have dinner at our favorite place," I announced.
So, we rented the whole place near our building and threw a party to celebrate the success of our business.
"Let's eat!" Lance exclaimed, and we all dug into the food. I relished my precious single life.
As we enjoyed the meal, Kyla brought up an intriguing topic about me.
"So, Krystal, how's it going with the guy who's been courting you? The half-Japanese son of a renowned business tycoon? Handsome and wealthy! And it's obvious he's head over heels for you, mare," she said.
I shook my head. "I haven't entertained him. Besides, I don't have time for those things." I admitted that I had trust issues with men. You know, I've had experiences that I want buried six feet underground.
"Oh no! No time? Girl, your business is flourishing, your life is going great, and all your suitors are lining up for you, not to mention that you've completed your studies! You can already get married," Kyla remarked.
Alice playfully hit her. "Married already? She doesn't even have a boyfriend yet!"
"But seriously," Alice continued, "we're getting worried about you, Krystal. Maybe you have no plans of having a boyfriend. Not all men are like them," my best friend said.
"I know that, but I just have a deep-rooted trust issue."
We changed the topic as it was becoming too heavy.
Our nights had been enjoyable so far. I hadn't expected us to delve into love lives. Whenever that topic arose, I consciously avoided it.
I returned to my condo to sober up. I needed to rid myself of the effects of alcohol, as we had also indulged in some beers. I believe I had consumed the most, and I owned up to it.
While I was sobering up, I couldn't help but recall the day Rhaena Krystabella warned me to stay away from them. But why would she give me such a caution? Was I worth it? Weren't they happy before? I couldn't comprehend the logic behind her words.
Then my thoughts drifted to the fact that it had been over half a decade since I last saw his face. I knew he had matured. Perhaps he was married and had children with Rhaena Krystabella.
And I don't know if it was due to the alcohol-induced intoxication, but I found myself crying once again. I wanted to go mad and blame myself. I had been hurting for so long! I was young back then, but my love for Logan was profound. He had been the center of my world, and a small flicker of hope still lingered in my heart.
All I wished for was love; all I wished for was to move forward.
Unbeknownst to me, I fell asleep in my drunken state. In my dream, I didn't realize that I would return to this place.
It was around 5 pm, with a beautiful sunset painting the rice fields in golden hues. The mild warmth of the wind against my skin felt pleasant.
I was riding a horse, with Logan driving. I embraced his body, feeling the warmth just like before.
I wanted to cry because I didn't know, yet I knew it was all just a dream. I was scared to pinch myself and wake up from this beautiful dream.
"Logan," I whispered his name.
"Krystal, I missed you," he said, a phrase I had yearned to hear for so long.
Even now, the lingering questions haunted me. The "what ifs" inside of me. What if I had gone to Logan's place? Would anything have changed? What would he have said on that day?
As we reached the top of the hill, he hugged me tightly.
"I'm here, and I won't let you go."