The Virgin Lies (Published under LIB)

Chapter 40

Ang problema ko kay Dylan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako makatulog ng mabuti nitong mga nakaraang araw. Lagi ko itong iniisip.

I was at lost.

It made me physically, mentally and emotionally tired. Sumasabay pa ang bigat ng trabaho ko. This made me felt like I needed a break from life.

I sighed and plopped down on the sofa. Kakabalik ko lang galing sa trabaho at talaga namang pagud na pagud ako. Tapos di itong problemang iniisip ko ang nakakadagdag sa aking pagod.

I wanted to make it right between us. I knew my goal but I didn't know the process. So pa'no na?

My mind drifted to Dylan. I was not sure if his disappearance was a good thing or bad thing. Tatlong araw na siyang di umuuwi. Pinapunta daw siya ng TV station sa kung sa'n para sa interview.

Wala naman akong matanungan na iba kung anong nangyayari.

Iba nga lang ang sitwasyon sa'kin dahil buksan ko lang ang TV ay nakakakuha na agad ako ng impormasyon kung sa'n siya naglalagi.

Other than a couple of 'hi', 'hello' and 'how are you?' from Shiela, I didn't have any contact from him. Ewan ko kung iniiwasan niya 'ko o ano. Ako naman ayokong mag-initiate ng conversation na hindi ko alam ang sasabihin. It would only be awkward.

Without getting any word from him these couple of days, I started to doubt if all that happened between us were real or not.

In one point, it was a mirage but then, the feeling of being abandon was reminding me that it was all real.

This must be the feeling he had when he didn't hear from me for two days.

This situation sucked.

"MaiMai, okay ka lang ba?" Kuya Icio's voice pulled me out of my deep thinking.

Sinulyapan ko lamang siya at kinuha ang isang throw pillow para yakapin. "Wala."

"Sus wala daw." He sat beside me as I reached for the remote of the TV to turn it on. "Nag-break na naman ba kayo ni Theo."

"Hindi." May katamaran kong bulong.

"You look like you just had a break up."

Naiinis akong napabuga ng hininga. Ang nga mata'y nakatutok sa telebisyon. "Hindi nga."

Tinawanan niya 'ko kaya hinampas ko siya ng throw pillow. Lalo lang siya natawa na mas lalo kong ikinainis.

"Hulaan ko, nag-away kayo at dahil sa nagawa mong 'di mo alam kung ano?"

"Ako talaga? Sino ba'ng kapatid mo dito?"

"Well, matigas ang ulo mo at sobrang sensitive sa sarili mo."

"Wow ah. Sabi ni kuya Randell nag mature na 'ko."

"Maturity only makes you think things deep and act responsibly. Hindi 'yon para umiwas sa maling desisyon. Minsan, sa huli, kahit ga'no kapa talagal mag-isip, pareho lang din pala kayo ng pinili ng isang batang biglaan lang nagdesisyon. At saka hindi naman ibig sabihin na kapag umakto kang seryoso ay mature ka na."

Iniwas ko ang aking ulo dahil ginugulo niya ang aking buhok. With a huff, I frowned with a playful glare.

Hindi naman ako mananalo sa kanya.

"So what happened, MaiMai. Care to share?"

Gone with his playful tone. Ngayon ay hindi ko na lamang siya kuya. He changed into my guardian. The person that would always looked after me, guide me through all the challenges in my life. Kagaya no'n hanggang ngayon.