Taming Wild Roses [Chasing Liberty Series #1]

31

SPG (Readers discretion is fully advised)

"Roshan.." rinig kong tawag ni Aiden pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pakikipag usap sa labas.

Nanatili akong tahimik at walang kibo.

"What are these? Ibalik mo na yan." inabot niya ang isang bag at ambang tanggalin ang aking damit.

Hinigit ko ito at niyakap.

I put all my clothes in this small bag. May mga natira sa cabinet pero ito ang essentials ko.

"Hey. Let's talk." umupo siya sa kama.

"Bring your clothes back. Walang aalis." he demanded.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Roshan..okay. I'm very sorry for denying you. I just..."

"Just what?" mataray kong asik.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagpatuloy. "She's a good friend of mine."

"Friend huh?" I mocked him.

"Can you just listen first?" malumanay niyang pakiusap.

I rolled my eyes and looked away.

"When I came back here to the Philippines, she helped me to cope up with everything. Tiffany is a friend and she assisted me in a lot of things. Then, years ago, she offered me a place to stay. I didn't accept it at first dahil naka dorm naman ako sa UP, but when I graduated, kinailangan ko na. So that's why I'm here." hinanap niya ang aking mata at tiningnan ng diretso.

Naramdaman ko naman ang pagpula ng aking pisngi dahil sa kanyang titig.

"But that is not an excuse para i-deny mo kami. I'm not your fucking sister nor your maid." sigaw ko sabay palo sa kanya ng marahan.

"Yeah Roshan, I'm sorry. I just needed to say that, because if not, she'll probably throw you out of the house. Throw us out." hinaplos niya ang aking hita bago nagpatuloy.

"She likes me, that's why she's eager to help me. If she knew I got another girl pregnant, she'll be mad furious for sure."

"She likes you? Oh, kayo ba? Girlfriend mo? Gusto mo rin?" tanong ko.

"I don't like her. I don't like anyone else. Hey, I'm sorry." pag-aalo niya.

"So it means you used her?" nanliliit ang aking mata.

"Kinda like that, yes. Roshan look, I'm not rich. I don't have any means in life. I hate to admit it but yeah, I used her. I took advantage of the fact that she liked me. And I'm at fault." mas lumambing ang kanyang tono. Iniharap niya ako sa kanya at hinawakan ng dalawa niyang kamay ang aking mukha.

"In life Roshan, you'll do anything to survive. Even if you'll hurt someone, or be a bad person. That's the reality of life. Hahamakin ang lahat para mabuhay at para sa pamilya."

"Pinapaasa mo siya."

"She knows I am not interested in love or anything, I always told her that."

"Pero syempre umaasa yun. She gave you something, and in return, aasa yun sa kapalit."

"I know. Kapag nakaipon ako, we'll leave this place. Konting tiis lang Roshan. And I hope you'll not tell her the truth, because if you do, parehas tayong mawawalan. Especially you, since you can't go back home."

"Tss."

"Hmm. Do you understand now?"

"Oo na, sige." I rolled my eyes again.

Umaliwalas ang kanyang mukha at hinila ako papalapit sa kanya.

"Thank you. And I'm really sorry for denying you." bumaba siya ng tingin papunta sa aking tiyan.