Chapter 12: Depressed

'D-Divina?", a man behind her approached her. Divina was shocked to see Marco there. 'M-Marco…", Divina cried. 'Why are you crying?", Marco asked worriedly. 'DIVINA!", Alfredo suddenly appeared there. He had caught up with Divina. 'Divina… let's talk, please! I beg you…", Alfredo desperately begged. 'Were you crying for this man, Divina?", Marco sounded angry. 'Be-because…", Divina tried to explain. 'Divina, I beg you… please wipe your tear. Don't get jealous because of Belen, that desperate woman. You are the one that I love!", Alfredo continued to beg. Marco was surprised to hear Alfredo's words. Divina truly loved this man and he felt that he is in no position to be there… he shouldn't be there. Even though the place is big but… it is too cramped up with the three of them being there. Even though it breaks Marco's heart to see Divina crying, he has no right to be in between these lovers. 'I think… both of you should talk…", Marco gives way, acting as if he was defeated. 'M-Marco…", Divina wanted to beg him to stay because she doesn't want to be left alone with Alfredo but Marco had hurriedly left already. 'Divina…", Alfredo cried as he hugged Divina tightly. Until the end… your tears are only for him, my Beloved., Marco sadly thought as he looks at the lovers from afar and with a broken heart, turned his back from them and left. 'Alfredo… let's stop this.", Divina said as she tried to free herself from Alfredo. 'Why Divina? Is it Belen? What she was saying is not true. She's lying and she just wanted to separate us desperately---', Alfredo's words were interrupted when Divina began to speak. 'No, Alfredo… the truth is, I am really grateful for all the sacrifices you did because of me but…", Divina tried to build up her premise and tried to be sincere as much as she could as to lessen the possibility of hurting the man in front of her. 'BUT…", Alfredo caught up her point but he was willing to listen. 'I am no longer the same. I had been hiding myself for a long time because of you, Alfredo and even up to now, no man had replaced you of becoming my lover. But, Alfredo… do forgive me because my heart no longer belongs to you anymore. If you had just arrived earlier… I was sure that my heart would've still chosen you. But I don't want to fool myself anymore, Alfredo… I don't want to fool you too. I want to be honest because you had been so good to me.", Divina explained with full emotions. Alfredo was speechless as he still tries to grasp where their situation is going to end up. 'So, just like how I had set you free, three years ago… I hope you will do the same with me too because the relationship will not end well if only one person is in love and the other is not.", Divina used the opportunity of Alfredo's silence to explain more. Alfredo's tears suddenly fell like rain. He couldn't hold back his emotions, it also made Divina cry. She feels painful to see the man who loves her dearly breaking in front of her. 'W-who is it, Divina? Who is this lucky guy who now owns your heart?", Alfredo continued to cry. Divina refused to answer. 'It's Marco.", Alfred deduced. Divina abruptly stared at Alfredo who is already looking at her. Their eyes met and Alfredo had confirmed he was right. 'It is.", Alfredo confirmed with a broken heart. Divina silently nodded as she admits to herself too. 'Can't we really be…?", Alfredo continue to beg as his tears continually fell too. 'Forgive me… Forgive me.", Divina cried too as she felt pity for the man she had loved once. After a few moments of crying, Alfredo sighed deeply then touched Divina's cheek for one last time. 'Thank you, Divina, because you had given me a chance to be with you… even though I had already felt that your heart is no longer with me. I couldn't admit it and I continued hoping that we could still go back. This is so hard to accept… I didn't know I made you feel this so much pain before.", Alfredo sadly said, breaking the silence between them. Divina just looked at him with pity. 'If you are able to pass through this, Divina… I hope I could too. This is really difficult, Divina but what good will it do if I am to force myself with you? I would be really too cruel if I would become an obstacle towards your happiness. I love you so much, Divina and there's nothing I want more but only your happiness.", Alfredo broke into tears again as he said those words. Divina cried too but it was mixed of emotions, thankful for Alfredo's easy acceptance and willingness to let her go, relief because a big burden had been taken off her chest now, but also sad as this was the indication to say goodbye with the love they once had, the bitter-sweet first love. 'Thank you, my Divina… I am sincerely hoping for your happiness… with the man you truly love.", Alfredo said with sincerity as he showed his bitter-sweet smile to the woman he loves dearly. 'Thank you… Alfredo.", Divina sadly smiled back at him. Alfredo avoided her eyes as it might make him cry even more and he sighed deeply once again instead. 'I think… I won't be able to see you happy in the arms of another man, Divina. That's why I will be leaving. I hope you'll be truly happy with him.", Alfredo sadly said as he stood up, still avoiding Divina's eyes. '…Farewell.", Alfredo sighed, he doesn't want to feel regretful of his decision now but he was regretful of what could've been. Alfredo wanted to hug Divina one last time but it is too painful, he might end up eating back his words so he decided to hurriedly leave the place. Divina felt so happy to be free and she wanted to tell Marco as soon as possible. She plans to confess tomorrow immediately. The next day… 'Mr. Salvador hasn't arrived yet. It's already late, maybe he won't come today.", Maria commented as she notices Divina continually glancing at Marco's office. 'Why?", Divina asked curiously. 'I saw him…", Marta interrupted Maria and Divina. Both Divina and Maria know Marta loves to gossip, but Divina was interested to hear what she was to say about Marco anyway. 'She is with a woman. I think she is his lover.", Marta added. Divina was so shocked by what she has heard. 'L-lover?!", Divina was surprised and the thought made her shiver. 'Yes. She looks lovely too, like one of those we see at the movies. Her skin was glowing and her apparel was glamorous. If she's not a movie star then maybe a rich heiress.", Marta answered. Divina felt a sharp pain in her chest. It seems like someone had already captured Marco's heart. Divina felt so sad with the news. 'It was good for him to find the woman he will truly love forever.", Divina commented without realizing as she was still in shock. Maria stared at her unusual comment but she thought maybe it was the time to tell Divina about Alfredo's infidelity. Maria waited for Marta to leave first before opening the topic to Divina. 'By the way Divina, we should talk alone…", Maria insinuated but since Divina is still in shock, she doesn't think much of it and had just followed her friend. 'Divina… I hope you won't get mad at me…", Maria tried to gather her strength to tell Divina, but Divina remains uninterested in what Maria is about to say. 'Alfredo, your lover… I saw him being kissed by another woman. Then she slapped him. That's why I think… that this man is boating in two waters.", Maria worriedly says. Divina is sad too but not because of what Maria had said but because of what Marta told them earlier. Divina remembered what she and Alfredo had talked about yesterday. She confessed to him that the one she truly loves is Marco and Alfredo had accepted it, setting her free… but to her dismay, Marco is already committed to another woman. It felt like fate had been joking on her, it made her smile bitterly. Maria became worried about Divina's reaction. 'D-Divina? Are you okay?", Maria asked, worried that what she had just told her might affect her too much, looking at her now smiling instead of crying, Maria felt somehow disturbed. 'I think it was Belen. She is obsessed with Alfredo.", Divina answered. Maria was surprised that Divina knew all along. 'Y-you knew?", Maria reacted in disbelief, wondering why Divina had come to tolerate her lover's infidelity. Divina nodded. 'Yes. That woman was a witch. She even attacked me yesterday, causing a scene… no, It was a scandal. She yelled at me…Degraded me. It was humiliating. Everyone around us thought I was Alfredo's mistress. Just remember how those people glared at me… embarrassing.", Divina laugh as if she was telling Maria a joke while she explains what happened to them yesterday. This only made Maria worried for her even more. She was not acting normal. 'And you're okay with that?!", Maria protested. Divina just nodded her head. 'There's nothing I could do anymore. It already happened. I couldn't turn back time.", Divina answered and let out a deep sigh as she remembers her happy memories with Marco… the memories they shared together but could never go back. Maria noticed the sudden shift in Divina's emotion. 'Maria… It's better if I should go home. I am not feeling well at all.", Divina sadly said and she is just fighting her tears not to fall. Maria felt sad for her friend and just agreed with her because sadness is evident in Divina's eyes. Maria thought that Divina was sad because of her lover, Alfredo. 'Yes, you should. It's better if you should take a rest, for now, Divina. Please, be well soon.", Maria sincerely said. 'Thank you.:, Divina answered as she lazily prepares her things to go home. When Divina entered her room at their boarding home, she immediately let all her emotions out. She wanted to cry earlier and now she did. She is brokenhearted and sad, she felt like she will never be complete again. That is why her absences had accumulated from one day to another and another… until it has been almost a week since she last entered the school premises. She knows that she wouldn't let her be affected too much like this but just like how it took almost three years to cope up and move on from Alfredo's heartbreak before, it is not an easy task to just let go of everything as she had just barely moved on and yet had managed to break her heart again. Divina is too confused, with Belen's accusations, how Alfredo is coping with her rejection, how people see her now, her family in the province… and above all, Marco. She couldn't tell anyone about her dilemmas and had chosen to carry the burden alone. She knew she can pull this through, all she needs is time. She just needs to wait until she feels a little better, hoping it would come soon… but it has been a few days but she had just felt worst. She felt as if she had lost her face to everybody. She has lost her strength. She is unhappy and depressed. It felt like she no longer has a motive in life, she couldn't smile every single day that passes by.