STILL OWNED BY HIS ARMS

CHAPTER 13

Chapter 13 - CONFESSION

Every step Tamara takes toward the unit of the person she wants to see is utter loneliness engulfing her being.

Her mind is so confused now. There were so many questions and things running through her mind. She didn't know why it all came to this. She felt that she was being played by the people around her.

Nang makarating sya sa tapat ng pinto ng condo unit nito ay naka tatlong katok lang sya bago may mag bukas nito.

Gulat ang nakitang expression ni Tamara sa lalaking nasa harapan nya. Mukhang kagigising lang nito. At doon nya naalalang madaling araw na pala.

Muling bumuhos ang luha nya ng makita ang nagbukas ng pinto.

"Tamara." said the man who opened the door. There were wondering and worried eyes that greeted her, the reason why she got even weaker.

"Kuya" iyon lamang ang nasambit ni Tamara bago sya muling umiyak. Agad naman syang pinapasok ni Liam sa condo nito at niyakap sya na tila isang batang pinatatahan.

Sanay si Liam na lagi nyang inaasar si Tamara. Ngunit alam nya na sa sitwasyon nito ngayon ay kailangan sya nito hindi bilang kaibigan kung hindi bilang isang kinikilalang nakakatandang kapatid.

Niyaya ni Liam si Tamara sa salas ng unit nya at doon sila naupo. Yakap yakap nya ang umiiyak na si Tamara. Wala syang magawa kung hindi ang haplusin ang likod ni Tamara.

Wala syang alam sa kung anong nangyari kay Tamara. Ngunit isang rason lang ang naiisip nya para umiyak ang dalaga ng ganito. Ang pamilya nito.

Halos isang oras umiiyak si Tamara. Naikuha na din sya ni Liam ng tubig upang mabawi ang mga nailuha nya.

Now they are in the room and they are both sitting while Liam is leaning on the headboard and Tamara is leaning on Liam's shoulder. Both are quiet and sympathetic to each other.

Later Liam spoke. "You should sleep. I'm sure pagod ka." 

Umayos naman ng upo si Tamara at hinarap si Liam. "Hindi ka ba magtatanong?" tanong ni Tamara kay Liam.

Umiling si Liam. "You need to rest. Let's talk tomorrow." nginitian ni Liam si Tamara.

Tumango lamang si Tamara at nahiga na. Ilang minuto lamang at nakatulog na din ito. Marahil ay dahil sa pagod sa kaiiyak.

Pinakatitigan ni Liam si Tamara. Hinahamplos haplos nito ang buhok ni Tamara.

"I don't deserve the trust your giving me, Tamara. I know, you're about to hate me too by the time you find out the truth. But I hope you understand us." Bulong ni Liam sa natutulog na si Tamara. Liam's eyes filled with pain before arranging the blanket that covered the girl's body before he left the room.

When he came out of the room, someone was calling on his cell phone. He answered it immediately.

"She's sleeping." tipid nyang saad sa kausap sa cellphone.

"Thanks, Bud." sagot ng kausap nito.

"Should I prepare for her anger, too?" Tanong ni Liam sa kausap.

"I will tell her everything." the voice of the person answering from the other line was hoarse.

"If you had told her everything before, it might not have come to this. She's in so much pain, Zach. She doesn't deserve this." Saad ni Liam sa kausap sa kabilang linya bago ito pinatay.

Yes, Tamara and I have only known each other for more than a year, but she really considers her as her own younger sister. He is happy every time he is approached when the girl has a problem but this time, isa sya sa magiging dahilan ng ikasasakit ni Tamara.