Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Fifty-Two - Left Behind

"I don't know if you'll get what I mean, Renante, since Sondra is your only friend in this world. You are not friends with anyone else, you don't get how it feels—"

"All these years," titig uli nito sa mga mata niya, "nakasama ka na nina Kylie, Stace. Ikaw na nga ang naging ate nila ni Sondra, ni Cynthia, ni Fritzie. Sino ang nag-aalaga sa kanila kapag nalasing sa bar? Sino ang naghahatid-sundo sa kanila kapag naglalakwartsa kayo? Sino ang iniiyakan nila tungkol sa mga problema nila? Ikaw, 'di ba?"

She could not understand why her eyes were becoming teary. Was it nostalgia? Because he reminded her of her past with her friends? Was it sentimental pride? Because she could not believe that she had been her friend's rock to lean on?

Was it because Renante was begging her to put their relationship on top priority? Because if that's the case, then it hurts. Because she felt so disappointed that he did not notice that she had been doing that for years? Na sa lalaki niya halos pinaikot ang mundo? Na dumating pa nga sa punto na isinuko niya ang sariling negosyo dahil umaasa siyang pakakasalan na siya nito?

"When will you let them go? When will you let your friends deal with things on their own? Without you? Without your help?"

Stacey blinked. But instead of blinking back her tears, a few drops of them fell on her cheeks. Lalo tuloy siya hindi makaangat ng ulo para saluhin ang titig ni Renante.

"Or maybe, you can't let them be because you are trying to compensate for something."
Naguguluhang nag-angat siya ng tingin dito. Bahagyang nagulat si Renante nang makitang maluha-luha ang kanyang mga mata, pero pinigilan nito ang sarili na punahin ang kanyang hitsura.

"Compensate for what?"

"Well, hindi mo naranasan ang arugain ka ng nanay mo. Kaya ikaw itong nagpapaka-nanay sa mga kaibigan mo."

Nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan.

"Might as well grab this opportunity tonight to clear the air between you and your mother." Pagkasabi niyon ay tumalikod na si Renante at ipinagpatuloy ang pagluluto nito sa kusina.

Tinanaw niya muna ito bago nilapitan. "Please, don't think that our relationship is not important to me."

"That's not what I think. What I am thinking is, can you commit to your commitments?" walang-lingon nitong saad.

"Of course I can," she replied softly.

"Then stay here," anito habang tutok pa rin ang mga mata sa hinahalong sabaw sa kaldero. Kumalat ang aroma ng beef ramen sa buong silid. "Because you committed your evening to be spent here, having dinner with our families. Right?"

"Pero si Kylie..." Tinabihan niya si Renante at pinanood ang ginagawa nito.

"Pauwiin mo na siya. Kausapin mo na lang siya bukas. Or when she's less emotional. Mahirap na. Baka sa iyo niya ibunton ang sisi sa pamomoroblema niya sa Piccollo na iyon."

Stacey held her breath. She remembered something that happened years ago... How she blamed Sondra for everything that happened between her and Renante. Ito ay noong mga panahong hindi pa maayos ang lahat, noong hindi pa siya natututunang mahalin ng lalaki...

Napalingon siya rito. "Problema kay Piccollo? Iyon ba ang iniiyakan niya ngayon?"

"Malamang sa malamang. She likes him, right?"

"P-Paano mo nalaman..." She trailed off. Hindi niya maapuhap kung ano ang tamang itanong sa binata. Paano nito nalaman ang problema ni Kylie ngayon o paano nito nalamang may gusto ito kay Piccollo?