The Monster Café (2021)

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

"PINAG-ALALA MO KAMI, HAVEN!" Zech immediately went over to hug Haven as soon as she entered the cabin. "Saan ka nagpunta?"

Haven looked... different. Kung kanina mukhang galit na galit siya, ngayon ay parang nawalan siya ng motibasyon para mabuhay sa paningin ni Soul. Her eyes looked solemn like she just encountered a mid-life crisis kahit pa 19 years old pa lamang siya. Fuck. Ito ba ang naging epekto ng pagiging insensitive nila ni Mnemosyne?

"Nagpalamig lang ako. Sorry for worrying you, Zech." matamlay na sagot nito. "If you don't mind, I'll go sleep."

"Um, okay... Rest well."

Katahimikan ang naghari matapos makapasok ni Haven sa kwarto. Nagkatinginan lang sina Soul at Mnemosyne, then their stares went to Zech who looked so stressed out. He gestured them to sit and so they did.

"Nakatulog lang ako saglit tapos magigising ako na ganun ang itsura ni Haven? Ano bang nangyari?" Hilot-hilot nito ang kanyang sentido. Kinabahan si Soul. For Zech's reaction to be like this, he guessed they really made Haven mad.

"Well..." And so, Mnemosyne explained what happened, making the part where they wanted to kill someone as a joke, since he couldn't know what they were really talking about. Matapos niyang sabihin lahat, Zech heaved a sigh. "I see. So that's what happened."

"First time kong makitang magalit si Haven. I didn't know what to do... Soul chased after her, but he lost her. Hindi na namin alam kung anong nangyari matapos no'n. We just figured she needed her space." dagdag ni Mnemosyne.

Tumango si Zech. "Yeah, ganun 'yun. Bihira lang talaga magalit si Haven. She only got mad at me once sa loob ng halos dalawang dekada naming pagkakaibigan. She wasn't even mad at the time because I did something wrong to her, nagalit siya... because I tried to take my life."

"Zech!" Mnemosyne gasped. Mukhang hindi niya alam ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon. Her eyes immediately teared up. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang kamay ni Zech na nakapatong sa mesa.

"Nah, I'm okay now, love. Hindi ko na uulitin 'yun. Haven's really scary when she's angry. She becomes a bit aggressive later on even when she's not mad at you anymore." Tumingin siya sa'kin. "Sa kaso ninyo, I think she's not even that angry. Nainis lang 'yun. And I'm betting that she's overthinking the situation again and is most likely ashamed to face the both of you."

Kumunot ang noo ni Soul. "Bakit naman siya mahihiya?"

"Kasi nagalit siya sa inyo. L-O-L, right? Kayo na may mali, siya pa ang nahihiya." Bumuntong hininga uli siya. "Haven's a difficult one, she couldn't even fully understand herself at times. Aside from that, she really values life. So joking about it must have made her mad."

"Why, though?" Mnemosyne probed.

"Her parents really wanted a son. And they got one, kaso may "sabit",... si Haven. But the parents didn't mind it, as long as magkakaroon sila ng anak na lalaki. After five daughters, they're finally going to get a son." Zech's eyes became watery. "Kaso noong ipinapanganak na sila, Haven's twin brother didn't make it. Sa kanilang dalawa, si Haven ang nabuhay. That's why her parents were so hostile towards her. Sa kanya lang talaga grabe ang pakikitungo nila. They had another daughter, the youngest, but they treated her normally. Soon after, their father died and their mother didn't remarry. Haven didn't want to live with them anymore, so she moved here."

Hindi alam nila Soul na ganun pala kahirap ang dinanas ni Haven. You really wouldn't know what a person's suffering is if no one tells you. Soul thinks he understand her more now. He gets why she's so mad. Baka iniisip niya na kung nabuhay ang kambal niya, her parents could've been nice to her. Pero sa tingin ni Soul, imposible iyon. Most humans are only kind to their fellow men when it benefits them.