Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 28

TW: mention of abuse and victim blaming

Kabanata 28

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Etienne. I could even feel the animosity around him. Walang gana n'ya kaming tiningnan ni CL. Tito Cruz irritatingly squealed upon seeing Etienne, hindi nito napigilan na maglahad ng kamay.

"Etienne Soteiro! I rarely see you in these events, balita ko ay may girlfriend ka ngunit bakit di ko naman kilala? Are you hiding her? That's a really mean thing to do!" nagtatampong aniya.

"I don't talk to irrelevant people," Etienne smiled. I was frozen by the coldness of how his lips formed.

I shifted my weight. Lalapit na sana ngunit agad na nasemento sa aking kinatatayuan nang dumapo muli sa akin ang tingin ni Etienne.

Nalaglag ang panga ni Tito Cruz. Hindi man lang siya mukhang na-offend. He even looked intrigued. Lalong lumawak ang ngisi nito sa labi.

"Ah! That's right." Tumawa si Tito Cruz at binaling sa iba ang atensyon. "Nagtago ka nga pala sa ibang bansa! Huwag ka magalala, hindi ko naman ipagkakalat na pumatol ka sa matanda."

I looked at Etienne and saw how his look shifted. He always looks like he's composed and he doesn't care. Subalit kilala ko siya. The way he wasn't able to answer back means something. I memorized him enough knowing his silence means something. It was even louder than words.

Etienne is hurting right now. The hidden mist on his eyes and the way his adam's apple moved— I know that he doesn't know what to say.

I glared at Cruz or whoever this fucking man is! Akmang susugurin ko siya at tatadyakan sa mukha nang pigilan ako ni CL. Hinawakan n'ya ako sa aking braso.

"Cruz!" singhal ni CL. "That's enough. I would like to escort you outside the area."

"CL naman! What's wrong with it? I'm sure that Etienne loved it anyway, hindi ko nga alam bakit pinakulong pa kung ginusto rin naman 'yon ni Etienne. He's a man after all, he probably enjoyed —"

"Shut up! Sino ka para sabihin 'yan?!" sikmat ko. Winaksi ko ang hawak sa akin ni CL at agad na hinablot si Tito Cruz.

"Ano ba! Stop acting like a low class bitch! Wala akong ginawang masama!" reklamo n'ya nang kaladkarin ko siya palayo kina Etienne.

I don't want Etienne to hear any of those bullcraps anymore! Hindi ako papayag na ginaganito n'ya lang si Etienne. I don't even know where he got the guts to even spat those words out!

"You don't poke fun at people's trauma! At sino ka para sabihin na ginusto 'yon ni Etienne?!"

"He's a man!"

"And he can still get assaulted!" I shrieked, mahigpit na ang hawak ko sa kan'yang braso. "I know you gain money for your gossip and shits but leave Etienne alone. Ako mismo ang magpapalubog sa iyo."

Napapiksi siya. "What can you do? Hindi mo ako kilala. Sayang dahil kayang-kaya ko pa naman tulungan ka kay CL dahil balita ko ay kayong dalawa ang hinihintay ng mga Soteiro umamin. Your relationship with Etienne—"

"You knew?!" I angrily shouted. "Alam mo pala pero tinuloy mo pa rin 'yong article mong walang kwenta?!"

Natawa siya. "Your fake relationship? Of course. Kalat naman sa amin na kaya ka lang na kay Etienne ngayon dahil naaawa ka 'di ba? Because of what happened? But dear, what if ginusto n'ya rin 'yon?"

My chest deflated, feeling the burden of a thousand emotions. I remember Etienne crying because people were looking at him differently. I remember how he flinches whenever someone touches him without his permission. I remember how he doubts anyone who shows affection to him. Pakiramdam ko ay kinakapos ako ng hininga.