After a chaotic night went by, I started my day without eating and even skips my sleep. Hindi ko alam kung anong maramdaman nang iwan kami ni Ate. My parents left home, too. I think iniwan na din nila ako. Pagkatapos umalis ni Ate ay nag-impake sila at umalis na din. Without leaving words.
Tell me this isn't real.
I didn't ask for this kind of family. Bakit malas ako sa buhay? Malas ba talaga ako ipinanganak at habang buhay akong magtatanong kung bakit hindi ako katulad ng ibang tao na perfect at masaya lang.
Sana hindi nalang ako nabuhay.
Naglakad ako papunta sa school kasi maraming tanong ang school staffs tungkol sa suspected use of drugs ni Maro. Maro may look like he is using kasi palagi siyang walang tulog— all I know is that he always plays games on his phone and staying up all night or gumagala.
If my parents are lacking to take good care of us. Am I also lacking at the part where I should've take good care of Maro as his sister?
Yes.
Masasagot ko naman ang mga tanong na iyan. But I didn't just left Maro all alone. He just doesn't want me to take good care of him. He lives life on his own.
And now my family is separated.
For how long?
I closed my eyes and gasped when someone suddenly bumped at me.
Napatingala ako.
He sighed.
"I was always trying to tell you." Sabi ni Zadist. He is holding his camera with him and he sounds sorry. "Come with me."
Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at dinala sa parking lot ng school. He took out a key from his pocket and opened a car.
"Kaninong kotse 'to?" I asked. I assume he is always using Jeepneys.
He sighed again.
"Are you coming with me or not?" He asked.
Umiling ako.
"Well, M, I don't take rejections from you anymore. You are coming with me or you are coming with me." Sabi niya at saka ako pinapapasok sa sasakyan na hindi ko alam kung kanino.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
Nagmamaneho na si Z.
"Come on, Z. Mag-start na yung class. Saan mo ko dadalhin? I just arrived at school." Sabi ko at medyo naiinis sa kanya kasi mas binilisan niya pa ang pagtakbo ng sasakyan.
Natahimik ako ng inig-nore niya ako.
And then we arrived at a quiet yet elegant place. Malaking bahay. More like a mansion. Yung bahay na parang may royalty. Old pero yung mga details ang ganda.
Napadpad kami sa gate.
Z stopped the car and had his window scrolled down. I saw a speaker. Ewan parang speaker na box. Parang mailbox na parang hindi. Napatingin ako sa paligid ng gate and figured na wala namang ka-tao tao ang malaking bahay na ito."
"It's Zadist, Bobot."
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang automatic bumukas ang gate.
Napatingin ako kay Z and he was smiling.
Napataas ang kilay ko.
"Okay, now who's house are we breaking into?"
"Grew up in a Modern Technology adoptive environment. Don't be surprised." Sagot niya which I never understand.
Nag-park siya sa front ng bahay. Hindi ako makalabas sa kotse while he waits outside.
"Where are we?" I asked.
He sighed. "It's my place. I lived here with my family."
Hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi magulat. I never thought Z could be this rich when he was so...
Naalala ko yung sa Jeepney, sa street foods, and all— when I think he can afford a whole jeepney with a status like this.
"You need to come with me." Sabi niya at saka niya binuksan ang pinto.
Natahimik ako sa pagpasok sa bahay. Sana kung may trabaho na ako, I could build a house as grand as this one. Naglalakad kami papunta sa...
Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta until Z talk.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Sabi niya. "My room."
He opened the door for me.
Pumasok kami and he made me watch every picture he took na nakasabit sa isang corner. The light in that corner was kind of blue while the other light of the room lits up in golden.
"I saw him last week." Z began.
"Maro." Banggit ko habang tinitignan ang mga larawan na nakasabit. "You saw him? Where?"
"City. I usually went out at night para maggala. Fun shoot. Pero nakita ko siya."
"You know him?" I asked.
Napaiwas siya ng tingin. "Not as a stalker ha, but I kind of lookup for you at school. Ang hirap mong hanapin online."
I smiled. "Of course. Wala akong phone. Wala akong social media accounts."
His smiled fades. "You're joking."
Umiling ako.
Napatango lang siya pagkatapos.
"Talking about Maro, might he go to jail?" Sabi ko.
Napasinghap siya ng hangin. "May results na ba if he is using any? Kasi based on the pictures I took he was just— like dealing it."
With the information I gathered, I realized it doesn't just affect my family. Makakaapekto din ito sa academics ko. I don't think it's a good idea to run as a President of SSC next year.
"Hey."
"Hindi ako umiiyak." Sabi ko. Pero napayuko ako at pilit na pinigilan ang luha kong kusang lalabas.
I see where this is going.
I can see my opportunities and all will be gone to waste. Is there any more worst than this?
"Hindi ko naman tinatanong kung umiiyak ka ba pero just to let you know were alone in this room and no one can hear us. But me."
"Huh?"
Napatingin ako kay Z.
He smiled.
"What I'm trying to say is that—" Bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. "You can cry."
Napaiyak ako.
"Or maybe you want some drink?"
YOU ARE READING
Thorns After Everything (Completed)
Romance"Bakit tayo iniiwan ng mga taong nagsabi sa ating 'wag natin silang iwan?" - Zadist Thorns After Everything follows the story of Maris, a young girl who has always looked up to her sister as her role model in life. But as Maris begins to discover h...
