I took the handkerchief from my pocket and wiped the tears in my eyes. I tried to calm myself but I couldn't, the pain was too much to bear. "Mum.. I.. I'm in B-busuanga.. Could you book the nearest flight here? I'm so hurt, mum.. Tyler cheated on me.. He cheated on me with Rach.e.l.le.. I didn't know what to do when I saw them in his apartment.. So I.. I ran away.. I got on a t-taxi and went straight to the airport.. I don't know what came into me, I still boarded our flight even without my luggage," I managed to say in between sobs.

"Shh," she comforted, "Don't cry. I'll be there in a few hours, I promise. Go to the hotel Ruth booked and wait for me." The Ruth she was referring to was Tyler's mum.

"O-okay," I hiccuped. "Thanks, mum."

The moment I saw my mum, I started bawling again. The next three days came and went, when we returned to our hometown I got a call from the company who had offered me a job on my last semester in university. They wanted me to start as soon as possible. Initially, I wanted to rest and enjoy having nothing to worry about. I wanted a breather before immersing myself in the corporate world but because I wanted to some form of escape from my current reality, I told the Human Resources representative that once I've completed the necessary pre-employment requirements, I'll start working. I asked them to give me three to five days to do so.

Since I caught him cheating, Tyler has been calling and texting me nonstop. A week after that painful day, I finally sent him a reply. I told him to meet me in our favorite cafe.

He was early, as usual. He gave me a warm smile and offered me the seat opposite his. I felt nervous. I didn't know how this talk would end. Will I leave the cafe with a broken heart or will things turn out fine?

"Thank you for finally agreeing to meet me, Nat. You have no idea how much I've missed you," he took my hands from across the table and kissed them. "Please hear me out, let me explain everything."

"Okay. Tell me what happened," I didn't pull my hands away, for some reason I just let him hold them.

He recounted how it all began. He first met Rach.e.l.le in the flesh (he's heard of her through me) when Charles brought her and Joan to join their study group. "At first, everything was fine but then I'd 'accidentally' b.u.mp into her at the hallways, the cafeteria, the library, even outside the men's room of the Engineering building. The timing was always pefect, we're never together. I was always alone. That was how I knew something was up. I started avoiding her, whenever I'd see her approaching I'd hurriedly run the other way or turn to a corner."

"Go on.." I said.

"And then she changed tactics. That girl is something else, remember when I made you wait for the first time during our second anniversary? I b.u.mped into her at the cafeteria that afternoon.. Literally. She is crafty as heck because she managed to make me accidentally spill the contents of her food tray on her. I decided to spare her the embarra.s.sment by going with the flow. I apologized and even offered to pay for her ruined dress and wasted food but she declined. Her sidekick suggested that I accompany her to the clinic instead because the coffee scalded her hand."

"And then?"

"I did just that. After her hand was given first aid, I immediately left. I ran to the school chapel to meet you and I almost ruined our special day," he smiled weakly.

I remember that day vividly, his excuse then was that Charles borrowed his car and had to wait for him to return it by the university gate. "How many more lies did you make just to cover up for Rach.e.l.le?"

"Babe, she was never my reason for not telling you!" He covered my hands with his. "I swear it was because she is insignificant, that's just it." Seeing me unconvinced, he continued, "Nat, I swear I'm telling you the truth. Let me make it up to you. I'll do whatever you want, just please forgive me."

My heart ached seeing him that scared to lose me because I felt the same. I didn't want to lose the love of my life. However, I still need to clarify some things. "Why was she at the party and how did you end up sleeping with her?"

"The party wasn't just for Alpha Gamma Omega graduates only. Big Brother Bryan is Joan's sibling. He invited them and a few other members of Aplha Delta Chi, our sister sorority. One of the girls offered me a drink, I thought nothing of it because it was a party sponsored by our fraternity. We always party 'clean' but when I woke up I was in bed with Rach.e.l.le."

"Did you really have s.e.x with her?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"I.. I honestly don't know, Nat," he hung his head in shame. "What happened after I finished my drink is all a blur to me.. I really wish I can answer you with a definite no but I might be wrong. I don't want to hurt you even more. I love you too much!"

"So what happens now, Ty? I love you but I really hate you at the same time. You're a victim, I'm a victim as well. I wish things are as easy as me forgiving you and moving on but a part of me resents you and want to make you pay. You messed up, big time."