Garden of Wounds (Panacea Series #1)

Chapter 6

I let go of the things that I was holding. I tried to talk but no words came out of my mouth. Mas'yado pa akong gulat sa nakita. Hindi ko maproseso ang lahat!

I can't even move my feet because I was so shocked to witness that kind of shit. Elaine isn't like that. Hindi 'yon magsisinungaling para lang makipagkita sa kung kanino man, lalo na sa lalaki! And she wouldn't ditch her class because every classes is important to her!

"Hindi ko alam na gan'yan ang Ate mo..." Margarette spoke. "Nagbubunyi 'yong loob-looban niya kapag ikaw ang minamata ng Mama niyo pero tingnan mo naman siya, may mga hidden agenda pala. Siya dapat ang minamata ng magulang niyo," iritado niyang dagdag.

Hindi na ako sumagot pa. Kahit ang pagbuka ng aking bibig ay hindi ko magawa dahil nawalan ako ng gana sa nakita. Nakatitig pa rin ako sa papalayong pigura ng dalawa habang hawak ang isa't-isa. Elaine looks different. Nakakapanibago na makita siya nang gan'to... dahil kahit ang pagdikit sa lalaki ay ayaw niya.

Margarette was too quick to call her service. Mabilis kaming sumakay upang sundan ang papalayong kotseng sinakyan nina Elaine at ang kan'yang kasamang lalaki. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nanginginig ang aking buong kamay habang iniisip ang daang kanilang tinatahak. I have something in my mind... but my mind can't accept the fact.

Because it's my sister, and she isn't like that!

"Kuya, stop the car!" She informed the driver.

Natigilan ako nang makumpirma ko ang aking hinala. Halos hindi ko magalaw ang aking mga kamay at paa dahil sa aking nakikita. If I'm not mistaken, they are in front of the famous motel. Of course, I know this. Ambrielle once invited me here!

Everything stops for a moment when I saw them approaching the motel. Tuluyan na akong nanghina nang hindi ko na matanaw ang kanilang pigura. I was about to break down but Margarette gripped my arm to give me a support.

"Nagmo-motel pala ang kapatid mo?" She asked me carefully. "May inabot na card 'yong lalaki, o. Sa tingin mo bayad 'yon sa kan'ya?"

"I don't know," my lips shivered. "Maybe we are mistaken. Baka mali lang 'yong nakita natin. Baka hindi 'yon si Ate..."

"That's Elaine, Elvira. Stop making an excuses to lift up your mood. Si Elaine 'yon!" She said, making me realize that it's really my sister who entered the motel. "So... your sister is selling her body to someone?" She raised a brow. "For what? To have a money? May pera naman kayo, ah!"

I gritted my teeth. "Whatever it is, we shouldn't judge her quickly." I uttered and told the driver to continue driving.

Ayaw ko nang maalala pa kung ano ang nakita ko ngayong araw na 'to. Kung ano man ang dahilan ni Elaine para gawin 'yong bagay na 'yon, hindi ko na papakialamanan pa. She knows what she's doing. I won't judge her... dahil kahit ako na kapatid niya, hindi alam kung ano ang totoong nangyayari sa buhay niya.

Ngunit kahit na gano'n, hindi ko pa rin maipagkakaila ang katotohanang nagulat ako at nag-aalala para sa kan'ya. She's willing to lose her dignity... for what? For money? I want to confront her ngunit pinapangunahan ako ng takot, takot na baka mas kamuhian niya ako kapag ginawa ko 'yon.

"So you already found out..." Zavion's familiar voice reaches my ears.

For how many days that have passed, lagi akong nakabantay kay Elaine. Lagi ko rin siyang nahuhuli na pumupunta roon. Same scenario. Man will give her a money then after that, they'll enter the hotel. It breaks my heart seeing my sister being like that... because I know that she's not like that!

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Zavion na may hawak na coffee. I scan him from toe to head. Naka-long sleeve na naman siya. Gano'n ba talaga ang taste niya sa fahion? But I can't deny the fact that it suits him... it is just that, hindi lang tugma sa panahon!

"You know about this?" I asked, nilipat ko ang aking tingin sa kan'ya nang makita kong tuluyan nang makapasok sina Elaine. "But you didn't tell me? Matagal na ba 'tong ginagawa ni Ate?"

"I don't give a fuck about other's business, Elvira," he said simply.

"Then why are you here if you don't give a fuck about other's business? Halatang nagmamatyag ka rin kay Elaine..." I said and rolled my eyes.

"What? No!" He answered quickly. "Are you stupid or you're really stupid? Just to inform you, our school is just right there. Walking distance lang." He explained. "So I bought a coffee because it's our break," he added and showed me his cup.

My cheeks flushed because of embarrassment. Of course, of course, walking distance nga pala rito ang school nina Elaine. Gano'n na ba kaokupado ang isip ko para hindi ko mapagtanto ang bagay na 'yon?

"Pumapasok pa rin ba siya?" I asked again, pouting.

"Yes, but she's always late..." He sighed and took a sip on his coffee. "Want to have a cup of coffee with me?"

My eyebrows narrowed at him. "Sorry, I don't drink coffee."

Napanguso siya at dahan-dahang napatango. "Never mind that. What do you want to eat, then?"

"Wala akong gustong kainin. I'm full. I'm just here to check my sister," I uttered. "Just take your time. Saglit lang ba ang break niyo?"

"I can manage..." He answered. "Besides, I want to invite you to have your breakfast with me."

"If that is your way of saying sorry to me because of what you've did, then you are forgiven," I smiled warmly.

Walang kuwenta kung magtatanim ako ng inis sa isang tao. I just want to be free... and have an inner peace.

His eyebrows wiggled. He bit his lower lip and formed it into a smirk. His eyes never left mine as he sipped on his coffee again before opening his mouth to speak.

"Next time, wala ka nang magiging excuse sa akin..." Malalim ang kan'yang boses nang sabihin niya 'yon. "You will have your lunch with me... and that's an order," nawiwili niyang saad at marahang tumawa bago niya ako iwan na nagtataka.