One Night, One Lie (GLS#2)

Kabanata 55

"You're here for dinner," he announced.

Nag tiim bagang ako. I am not quite sure if he cared that I was finally there and I don't care anymore. "Where is Arielle?"

Pati si daddy ay nagulat sa tanong ko ngunit bumalik din sa dati ang ekspresyon. "If you're here to raise some hell again, Avon, then please, stop it-"

"I want to know where the damn hell is your daughter, dad!"

"Why? For what? Para masaktan mo siya? She's got enough pain already, Avon," may bahid na pagsusumamo ang tinig ni daddy sa akin. It was as if he was too tired to get into an argument with me.

"I am asking you, dad! I am not going to inflict anymore pain so I hope you stop giving me pain too! Where is she now?"

Tinitigan ako ni daddy. Kasabay niyon ay ang pagtunog ng aming telepono sa kusina. Nilingon ko ang telepono at kumalabog ang puso ko. For some reason, I just know who or what probably prompted the caller to call.

Hinimas ni mommy ang aking likod habang sinasagot ni dad ang telepono.

"Hello? Yes, this is Guillermo Pascual." Nanlaki ang mata ni daddy at nag angat ng tingin. "What?"

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Binaba ni daddy ang telepono at umigting ang panga niya.

"What is it, Guillermo?" tanong ni mommy.

"Dinala sa St. Luke's si Arielle."

"What? Why?" tanong ni mommy.

"She tried to take her life." Nanginginig na sinabi ni daddy bago siya umalis sa aming harapan at dumiretso sa kwarto.

Gumalaw din si mommy habang ako ay naestatwa sa kinatatayuan ko. Nagmadali si mommy sa pagsunod kay daddy patungo roon sa kwarto at sa isang iglap lang ay pareho na silang naka jacket at naghahandang umalis. Nilingon ako ni mommy pero kung kakausapin niya pa ako ay iiwan na siya ni daddy kaya iminuwestra niya na lang ang buong unit bago siya umalis.

I was once again left all alone.

Nagpakamatay si Arielle? Bakit niya gagawin iyon? Why would someone try to hurt themselves? I just don't get it. If she was so very scared of hurting, why would she even try to hurt herself?

Was it that too depressing? What was depressing? She's got my dad.

Unti unti kong naalala ang nangyari kaninang umaga nang iniwan niya kami ni Brandon. Brandon's face flashed on my mind. He was damn scared and guilty when he left me. He was guilty!

Nahirapan akong lumunok. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. Suddenly, the condo unit was too lonely for me. Pupunta ba ako sa ospital? What is her current condition? Should I text Brandon?

Tinipa ko sa aking cellphone ang pangalan ni Brandon para makapag text. Alam kong alam niyang kanamumuhian ko si Arielle but I never wished her to be in pain whatsoever.

Ako:

I heard from dad. Is she okay? Are you okay?