Set Free

"W-What are you doing here?" I pressed my hands together, trying to calm myself but, I couldn't help but feel scared. I looked outside, and the two cops were there guarding us.

He wouldn't dare to hurt me here.

He didn't answer, but instead, he walked slowly towards me. My eyes widened. I was suddenly alarmed.

"Stay right there! Don't come any closer!" I shouted.

It was like the scene back where he hit me, and I stabbed him.

I looked at him, frightened. He stopped and looked at me with a pained expression.

"I won't hurt you. Just ... Just calm down, please," he pleaded.

I was shaking my head. I heard that line a couple of times from him before but whenever I listened and believed that he wouldn't do it, he would still do it. Just like the last time.

I gasped when he suddenly kneeled down in front of me. I was confused. Why was he kneeling down in front of me?

"W-What are you doing? Stand up and stop this drama, Nicholai! Why are you here? Are you here to see me personally imprisoned? Are you happy now? Are you happy that I am suffering here?!" I couldn’t help but cry.

"I-I'm sorry," he suddenly said. He raised his head and looked at me and I was flabbergasted that he was crying.

"W-what?" The only word that came out of my mouth.

"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for hurting you not just emotionally but also physically. I know my sorry will never be enough. And I know that you will never forgive me for the things that I did to you. Everything that I did to you was unforgivable."

I cried even more at what he said. I could feel that he was sincere. I could even see the pain in his eyes while saying every word that came from his mouth.

"I'm sorry for being blinded by my jealousy. I was blinded by my love for you. I love you so much that it blinded my reasoning. I love you so much to the point of forcing you to be with me even if you don't love me at all,” he added, that made my heart constricted.

I was just looking at him while my tears were running down my face as I listened to what he was saying.

"I didn't even consider your feelings because I am so focused on my own happiness. I didn't even notice that I am the only one that felt happy while you felt miserable with me. I know that my love for you is so selfish. And I realize, love shouldn't be that one way. Love shouldn't be selfish so I am here to tell you that I am setting you free." He got up on his knees and returned to the table. He took an envelope and handed it to me.

"I want you to be happy. Even if it won't be with me so I am setting you free," he said while still holding the envelope and handing it to me.

I was hesitant to take it.

"What is that?" I asked out of curiosity. I wiped my tears as I watched his every move.

"Inside the envelope is our annulment paper. I already signed it," he said with a strained smile on his lips.

My eyes widened and checked if it was really our annulment paper. I scanned the document and it was really it with his signature below it.

“If you thought I would forgive you for this, you were mistaken,” I said stiffly.

I saw pain in his eyes but I ignored it. I just couldn't forgive him now. The scars that he inflicted on me were too much.

"I know. I am not asking you to forgive me right now. I know the wound I left on you is so deep. And I know it will take time. But you don't need to worry. I'm leaving. I'm going out of the country. I will also put myself in rehab. I know I became an alcoholic after your accident and I also wanted to heal myself. I hope ... I hope the next time we meet you will forgive me and come back to where we were before as close friends. I am hoping for that,” he said sincerely. "Goodbye, Cris. I wish you nothing but happiness." The last words that he said with a genuine smile before he left me in the room.

I sat on the chair while processing everything that Nicholai said. I couldn’t believe he was able to kneel in front of me and apologize for everything he did to me.

It was like he was back to the old Nicholai that I knew. My childhood friend, Nicholai.

I was startled when the door suddenly opened. It spat out the whimpering Philip. He took big steps as he crossed our distance and hugged me tightly. I was surprised at what he did. My heart was beating so fast. It was as if something was racing inside my chest as he hugged me tightly.

"Thank God! You are fine. I was so worried when I received a message that the asshole Nicholai was here," he said in relief. He let go of me and then cupped my face. "Are you okay? Did he do something—"

"Relax." I held his hand on my cheeks. "I'm okay." I gave him a reassuring smile and I heard him let out a sigh. He looked more relieved from what I said.

"What was he doing here? He had the guts to visit you when in the first place it was his fault that you are here in jail," he said looking so annoyed.

"He gave me this." I gave him the documents and I saw him scan it with his eyes. I saw how his forehead creased and then looked at me with a confused expression.

"Am I reading it right? Did he really sign your annulment paper?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes. It's not just that. He even said sorry for everything that he did to me," I said seriously.

"He did? Maybe he is planning something. Maybe it wa all for the show—-"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "He was sincere, Phil. He cried and kneeled in front of me. He's already regretting what he did to me."

"I just couldn't believe that he did that," he said incredulously. “So what now? Did you forgive him—- " He stopped when we heard his phone ringing.

He fetched it from his pocket and looked at the caller. I saw that it was Atty. Montreal calling.

"Answer it. It might be important," I told him. He sighed and answered the call in front of me.

"Montreal," it replied.

"What? Are you sure about that?" He looked shocked. He looked at me and pressed his temple.

"Okay. Should I say thank you to him?"

I could hear the sarcasm in his voice. What were they talkingabout? It was one way because he didn't put the call on the speaker, so I didn't really know what it was.

"I know, fucker. Thanks. Bye." He dropped the call and then looked at me. "Sorry about that," he apologized.

"Is there a problem again? Why did Atty. Montreal call?" worried, I asked.

"No. No problem. Actually, it's good news," he said smiling. "You are free," he added.

"Yes. I know I'm going to be free. The annulment papers said so."

"No. I mean, you're free. Nicholai dropped the charges against you. You're free from this prison. You can go home now, Cris. You are free."

I couldn’t help but hug Philip tightly because of the good news he said.

Nicholai did really set me free. For good.