The Virgin Lies (Published under LIB)

Chapter 47

I was sitting on a metal chair outside Dylan's unit. It had a balcony with massive pool, overlooking the whole city.

The sky was cloudy. The wind was a little bit cold, creeping onto my skin. Sa totoo lang, maganda para sakin ang panahon at ang paligid pero hindi ko ito maramdaman at makita dahil sa lungkot na aking nararamdaman.

Hawak hawak ko ang aking cellphone at umaasang sana tumawag o kaya mag-text sa'kin si kuya pero isang linggo na ang nakakaraan at wala parin akong kahit anong natatanggap mula sa kanya.

Dylan was at work. I, too was supposed to be working but I was so depressed that it drained my energy. Yung mga maids ay umalis na matapos maglinis at magluto. May dalawang naiwan para mautusan ko pero hindi ko naman sila ganong nakakausap kaya mas lalong nakakalungkot.

I stared down at my phone for the nth time hoping for a beep but still none. I hugged and buried my face on the pig head stuffed toy that kuya gave me. Pinadala niya 'to dati sa balikbayan box.

Hindi ko na matiis na hindi makausap si kuya kaya't tinawagan ko ang isang taong pwedeng makatulong sa'kin.

"What do you want?"

"Theo." I was so thankful that he answered. "Favor naman."

"No." Mabilis nitong sagot.

"Please... this is very important."

Hindi siya nagsalita. I was worried that he might drop the call that's why I started to tell him what happened. Lahat lahat. Simula noong college... kay Dylan, sa mga pictures, sa pag-alis ko... hanggang sa nangyari sa'min ni kuya. Kailangan kong sabihin sa kanya lahat dahil siya lang ang pwedeng tumulong sa'kin ngayon kay kuya.

"So, you want me to check on your big brother if he's crying and okay because you chose the man over him?"

I smiled and nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Yes. Thank you, Theo. Alam kong maiintindihan mo."

"My answer is still no."

"What?" Bigla kong sabi. "B-Bakit? Please, Theo..."

"Sigurado ka sa tinatanong mo sa'kin? I can't believe you."

"Theo naman. Hindi kita maintindihan." I was starting to get frustrated with him.

"Yeah. Pano mo naman maiintindihan kapag tinalikuran ka ng nag-iisang kadugo mo para sa iba. Of course, he won't be okay, Iara. Where's your common sense?"

"Hindi ko siya pinagpalit, okay? I didn't choose anyone. Galit siya at ayaw akong pakinggan syempre natural lang na pahupain ko un. My actions seems so but it's not. I left because I wanted to give him space for him to clear his mind."

"The point is, you shouldn't have left that instant." He countered. "Imbes na ipaintindi mo ay umalis ka. Imbes na mag-usap kayo ng matino ay tinalikuran mo siya. How old are you because that's a stupid move, Iara. Very stupid."

"I'm sorry, okay?" Tumaas ang boses ko sa prustrasyon. Hindi ko binigyang pansin ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha. "He was mad and I didn't know what to do. Gusto ko lang umalis! I was just trying to stop the hate that time. To have that heavy situation lifted! Mali ba 'yon?"

"He's a brother that's trying to protect his sister from what he think may cause her harm. Mali ba'yon? Dapat inisip mo muna ung mga bagay na ginawa niya para sa'yo no'n bago mo siya talikuran."

"You know what!? Kung ayaw mo kong tulungan, edi wag. Sana sinabi mo na nung una palang."

"I did say no... and I won't check your brother because he's not there. Umalis siya kahapon pa at di ko alam kung sa'n nagpunta. Don't waste my time again."