(Yours Series # 5) Always Yours (COMPLETED)

Chapter 18

"Sa tingin mo ba papayag siya kung sa 'tin muna siya matulog?" he asked.

"Really?" tanong ko sa kanya habang napaupo na ako sa kama.

He nodded. "Ang daming nangyayari."

I couldn't even find a way to reply to what he said. Ang dami kasi talagang nangyari. Iñigo also recommended the dismissal of the case. As far as I knew, he was forced to tender resignation dahil sa ginawa niya. It was a big case. And I knew that he was under a lot of fire because of what he did.

"I'll try to ask," I told him. "But thank you."

"For what?"

"For caring about him," I replied. "Iñigo's already a family to me."

"He's also family for me," he said. "Tatay ng pamangkin ko."

I felt a pain pierce through my heart. God... I would've spoiled that kid rotten. I would've loved him like my own. I wished we met...

"I can't imagine what he's going through right now," Chester said and then there was a somber look on his face. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking but I didn't think I was in the right head space to be of any help. I was trying to get by, as well... I was barely staying afloat...

* * *

The next few weeks were quiet.

Nagising na si Cha, but they got in a huge fight. Umuwi si Cha sa bahay nila also because Tito Fred demanded na doon muna siya. Chester, for the first time in years, visited their house again para makita si Cha.

"Do you want me to go with you?" I asked him because I didn't want him to be in a fight with Tito Fred. Marami ng iniisip si Cha... Ayoko na isipin niya pa kapag nagaway iyong tatay niya and iyong kapatid niya.

"Why?" he asked. "Akala ko may duty ka?"

"I know but I can swap naman," sabi ko. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi ko aawayin si Papa," he replied.

"Wala akong sinabi na ganon."

"But that's what you're thinking," he said like he could read my mind.

I sighed. "Fine," I replied. "I'm just worried—not for you but for Cha. She's got a lot on her plate right now para dagdagan niyo pa ni Tito Fred."

"I know," he said. "And..." he added but he failed to continue what he wanted to say.

"And what?" I asked because ganito siya kapag may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya masabi. Because sometimes, Chester needed a little nudging.

"Just... seeing Iñigo bury his child," sabi niya sa mababang boses. "Maybe Papa didn't bury us, but imagine losing all your children just the same."

Natigilan ako.

Hindi ko alam kung ano iyong isasagot.

He gave me a shrug. "Weirdly, it put things into perspective," he continued before he kissed me and left para pumunta sa bahay nila.

After that, I cleaned the whole house and busied myself. Ayoko rin naman na kulitin si Iñigo if kailangan niya ako kasi he'd tell me naman if gusto niya akong makausap or what. I didn't want to be overbearing kahit sa totoo lang, gusto ko na siyang kidnapin tapos dito muna siya sa amin ni Chester until I could be sure na okay na siya.

But life's not like that at all.

I badly wanted to be positive, but lately, all I could really think of was how shitty life was...

* * *

"Take care of him," Cha said.

"I will," I replied. "Take care yourself."