Monasterio Series #5: Risks and Chances

Kabanata 14

"Was that scene made you angry?"

"You keep on saying that I'm angry when clearly, I'm not. Naiinis lang ako dahil-"

Shit. Bakit nga ba ako naiinis? Wala namang dahilan para mainis ako sa kaniya, o magalit. I keep on saying to myself that what I saw that day was nothing to me. Na maaaring naiinis ako sa kaniya dahil ang tanga niya. Dahil nagpapakatanga siya sa babaeng paulit-ulit siyang sinasaktan. He's too much for a girl like Trish who made him feel like a trash.

I wanted to get mad at him for giving everything to her to the point of not leaving even a bit to himself. I want to punch him on his face and tell him to atleast have some self worth!

Damn it. Kailan pa ako nagkaroon ng pakielam sa kaniya? Ano naman sa akin kung magpakatanga siya roon? Maybe it's just really unusual to see a man like him lose his worth just because he loved.

"Dahil?" ulit ni Alas ma pumutol sa pagiisip ko.

Lumunok ako, hindi agad nakaapuhap ng dapat isagot. I gritted my teeth and eyed him with full intensity.

"Dahil tanga ka. Sobrang tanga mo."

He chuckled. "You keep on saying that and I couldn't even get mad at you," naiiling na sabi niya habang may ngiti pa rin sa labi. "Am I still an idiot if I already gave up and finally let her go?"

"What?"

Ininom niya ang alak sa harapan niya at pinangalahatian ito. His lips became moist as he diverted his eyes to me and smiled wryly.

"She didn't want me anymore, Zeph. I'm tired of fighting for myself. If she still loves me, she won't let me beg for her love," he chuckled. "I've had enough."

Nagkatitigan kami ilang sandali bago ako naunang nag-iwas. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko magagawang titigan siya kabila ng lungkot na lumalangoy sa mga mata niya. I've seen him being sad a lot of times and his eyes never deny it. But tonight is different. It's too much.

"Should we celebrate, hun? I finally woke up from my idiocy." He laughed but I know it's not genuine.

"Don't try to pretend-"

"I'm not. I'm trying to accept that she will no longer be part of my life from now on."

Pasimple akong humugot ng hangin. The ambiance suddenly feel heavy. I sip from my drink and sighed. Aaminin kong nawala ng bahagya ang pagkainis ko sa kaniya at napalitan ng awa. I slowly put my gaze to him. He's staring at his drink, serious but dark. He looks like a warrior, sitting on a corner - badly wounded and bruised but trying very hard to heal on his own.

How I wish every man is like you, Alas. Sana lahat ng lalaki ay kagaya mo na totoo at matindi magmahal.

"O to the M to the G! Rainbow!"

Sabay kaming napabaling ni Alas sa likuran ko nang marinig ang matining na boses na iyon. My eyes widened when I saw Tate looking happily at Alas. But what really caught my attention was my twin brother who's also looking at me - curiosity was roaming around his perilous eyes.

"Zeph? Hala! Kayo?" usisa pa ni Tate nang ako naman ang makita. "Omg! Nahuli ako sa balita! Ito kasing si Zadriel wala ng ginawa kung hindi ang solohin ako sa dilim."

Halos mapapikit ako ng mariin matapos marinig iyon sa bibig ni Tate. She's really the woman who would tell the world what's going on with her but you won't find her annoying. She's too loud but honestly fun to be with.

"Hi, Tate." it's Alas who's now embracing Tate.

Don't tell me close sila?

"And what is my sister doing here with Trajano?" si Zadriel, nakalapit na sa akin nang hindi ko namamalayan.