Heat Wave (Disaster Series #2)

Kabanata 2

Hard

Revolting. Feelings are revolting. But then, it is also my only drive to keep going. So as long as I can, I let myself drift along its raging and uncertain currents.

Hindi ko partikular na masasabing gusto ko ang ginagawa. I don't hate it either. All I know is that it needs to be done.

Galit si Mama sa ginawa ng mga Cavallero kay Papa, sa pamilya namin. Galit rin ako. Hindi lang dahil sa nawala naming yaman at karangyaan. What they stole from us was more than that.

"They stole from us the honor, dignity, and respect that your father has worked hard for all throughout the years. Tingin mo, magkakaganito tayo ngayon kung hindi dahil sa ginawa nila?"

I looked at the seething anger that danced in Mama's eyes like flame. It resembled a beautiful tragedy. So hateful yet so breathtaking...

"And now... I can't even assure you a good future Tequila! Paano pa kita mapagtatapos ng kolehiyo kung iyong maisan na tanging pinagkukuhanan natin ng kita ay sapilitan pang kinuha ng mga Cavallero?!"

Napabuntong-hininga ako habang pinagmamasdan ang kamay ni Mama'ng humihigpit ang hawak sa baso.

"Ma, I will find a way okay? Siguro po magwo-working student na lang ako para maibsan ang mga gastusin natin. O kaya, maghahanap ng part time job. You don't have to worry about it so much. You need to rest."

"Hindi! Pupuntahan ko ngayon din ang mga Cavallero sa mansion nila!"

Mas bumalatay na ang masidhing galit sa mukha ni Mama. Her lips quivered, all the pent-up anger forming on the curve of her lips.

Maagap ko siyang nilapitan sa kama niya at hinaplos ang mga balikat para kalmahin. Ang mga ganitong emosyon ay hindi nakabubuti para sa kanya. I'm worried that this will take a toll on her health.

I understand how she feels. Pareho lang din naman kami ng nararamdaman. Pero kayang-kaya ko namang magtrabaho para matustusan ang pag-aaral ko. Ang pinag-aalala ko ay ang medication niya.

"Ako na po ang pupunta sa mga Cavallero," I said after a long while.

Natahimik si Mama sa mahabang litaniya niya 'saka napabuntong-hininga. Her hand's tight grip on the glass eventually loosened when she put it down her bedside table.

"Kumusta na ang ginagawa mo sa panganay ng mga Cavallero?" her tone changed differently.

Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kanya bago ako nag-iwas ng tingin.

How's it going with the eldest Cavallero? I just can't tell Mama that he wants to get rid of me already, right?

Besides, I don't want to blame it on my efforts, I want to blame it on Gon's attitude.

Ang hard-to-get niya. What happened to the rumors that I've heard? Did it turn out to be just plain rumors?

Sabi nila babaero si Gon? That he's a notorious playboy who changes girls causally? Bakit parang hindi naman? Dahil kung babaero siya at ibinabalandra ko na sa kanya ang motibo ko, he could've just grabbed on the frigging chance right then and there!

Eh ngayon, pinagtutulakan ako. Even when he could just play with me for a week, a month or so, then eventually dump me. Dahil sapat naman na ang isang buwan o kahit iilang weeks lang para sa lahat ng plano ko.

He could just play along alright, but he seems to dislike my game. Or he simply just don't like me.

I gritted my teeth, thinking about the latter. So, I had to improvise and lighten up the mood by telling Mama a positive response.