F.L.A.W Series Book 3: RUBY

Chapter Twenty-Two

"I'll buy some groceries later." Ani Ruby habang sumisimsim ng kape.

"Okay, here." Sabay abot ng debit card ni Diamond. "Or do you prefer cash?"

"No, I got this." Tanggi niya. "Nakikitira na nga ako ng libre sayo dito kaya ako na ang sasagot ng groceries natin."

"It's not a big deal, sister. Kahit dito ka pa tumira ng ilang taon, walang problema. But I'm sure that wasn't your plan coz you have your family back home. Andito ka lang naman para magpalamig diba?" Ani Yasi habang sumusubo ng tinapay.

"I don't know." Sabay yuko. "Ang nasa isip ko lang ay makalayo muna sa kanila. I almost put my kids in danger and I've hurt Sephy, I shouted at her and now she hates me to the core."

"I'm sure she doesn't hate you that much. Your daughter loves you and she looks up on you." At tinapik ang kanyang balikat kaya't nag-angat na siya ng tingin.

"I hope so." Napabuntong hininga. "But for now, I need to stay here. I need to focus on how to fix myself."

Tumayo naman si Yasi mula sa upuan at tumabi sa kanya. "You're not broken, you can't fix yourself, Ruby, you just have to accept that your past is a part of who you are." At saka hinaplos ang ulo niya gaya ng madalas nitong gawin noong mga bata pa sila sa isla. "You can stay here for as long as you want, but please, go out of the house, explore and meet new people. Hindi yung nagpapakaburo ka lang dito sa loob ng bahay at inuubos ang oras sa kakaisip ng kung anu-ano. You've been here for three weeks and you only went out of the house once. At dahil lang yun sa pagbili mo ng mga groceries."

Tiningnan ni Ruby ang kapatid at halata na niya ang malaking pagbabago rito. Diamond is not that reserved anymore as she was before. She isn't stiff and aloof as she was always been. She can now mingle with other people and is living normally.

"Alright, I'll go out later. Maybe I'll go to the park near here, or go to the mall before buying groceries." Sabi na lang niya upang tumigil na ito sa kakatulak sa kanya na lumabas na.

"Good!" At saka nito iniligpit ang pinagkainan. "I'm going to the headquarters now, if you need anything or if something goes wrong-"

"Yes, I will call you or your headquarters for help." Putol niya. "Seriously, stop babysitting me, Diamond. I'm not a child anymore who used to cry a lot. I can take care of myself."

"I know that. But you're here in my house and you're my responsibility." Mabilis nitong balik.

"Whatever!" Iyon lang ang sagot niya habang naiiling. Palabas na si Yasi nang muli niyang tawagin. "Uhmmm, has Percy called your office and asked for me?"

"We didn't receive a call from him. Isang beses lang siyang tumawag kay Ellis sa Pilipinas at sinabi ko sayo na tinanong lang niya kung sa akin ka ba tumutuloy. After that-" nagkibit balikat lang ang kapatid.

"Uh okay. I'm sure he's busy with work and with the kids so he didn't have time to check on me." Aniya na hindi alam kung ang kapatid ba ang kinukumbinsi o ang sarili niya.

"Do not overthink again and don't stress yourself out, okay. I really gotta go. See yah." At saka tuluyan nang umalis.

Saglit napatulala si Vix nang mapag-isa. Iniisip niya ang kanyang pamilya at kung kumusta na ang mga ito lalo na ang mga anak niya. She's hating herself because sometimes she felt she misses them but mostly, she doesn't feel anything at all. No anger, no fear, no love. Nothing at all. But right now, she doesn't know what to feel, knowing that her husband had only asked about her once. She's couldn't stop herself from imagining worse scenarios like- Percy and Lovely are now living together and the woman had already replaced her position as his wife and as the mother of his children.