Curse

Chapter 16

"You are a curse to this family, Aizel. A curse."

"You killed her when you should have died instead."

"Why don't you vanish? Just vanish."

"Vanish...."

Dahan dahan akong napamulat dahil sa napanaginipan. Bumangon ako at tahimik na dumiretso sa lamesa para uminom ng tubig. Dahil ba nakita ko ulit siya kanina kaya bumabalik ang mga salitang 'to?

Tinakpan ko ang isang tenga gamit ang palad bago tumingin sa labas. Madilim pa dahil alas tres palang ng madaling araw. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at napag desisyunang tawagan si Ray.

Pipindutin ko na sana ang dial tone pero napahinga nalang ako ng malalim dahil sa pagdadalawang isip. In the end, pumunta ako sa cafe kung saan ko siya nakita.

Wearing a knitted vest with a white dress shirt underneath, I stopped in front of the cafe. This is where I saw him. This is where I saw my father. He still looks formal, serious and ruthless with his bodyguard. Halatang may ime meet na business partner dahil sa kapormalan.

I wonder if he thinks of me sometimes? If he ever regret what he did to his daughter? If he ever thought about how traumatic he let his daughter experience? Or ever feel guilty on how much pain he inflicted?

Pagkatapos umorder ng kape ay umupo ako sa may dulong part. I have many thoughts going inside my head right now.

"I've been in front of you for almost 10 minutes pero hanggang ngayon hindi mo parin ako napapansin." Biglang sabi ng nasa harap ko.

Kunot noo ko itong tinignan at napanganga nang makita ang pamilyar na babae.

"So? What's troubling you? I'm a psychology student so-"

Inatake ko na ito ng mahigpit na yakap at ibinaon ang mukha sa balikat nito.

"I miss you so much, Bea.""Mahina kong sabi.

She chuckled before patting my head lightly. "I miss you too Aizel."

I smiled. I suddenly feel joy after seeing her. Dahil ba namiss ko siya o dahil nafe feel ko ngayon ang kalungkutan?

"When did you come home?"I asked. Humiwalay ako sa yakap at tinignan siya. Some of her features changed a little. Pumuti din siya ng kaunti kaya parang lumabas ang pagka mestiza.

"A month ago. I wanted to surprise someone, pero mukhang ako pa ang na surprise." Sawakas ay sumagot na rin siya.

Ako ba ang tinutukoy niya? Mahina akong tumawa. "What do you mean?"

Pabiro siyang umirap. "You're different from the last time I saw you."

"Not so different."I answered, still smiling.

Bigla siyang sumeryoso at pinagmasdan ako. Para niya akong inoobserbahan at ina analyze.

She tilted her head. "Very different. That childish aura is gone and right now I feel like you've put a barrier that only shows a limited you. You're not Aizel anymore, aren't you?"

Natigilan ako at napatingin sakanya. Tinapatan ko ang seryoso niyang tingin bago umiling at ngumiti.

"I'm still your friend from a few years ago."

Nagkatitigan kami. Sa huli ay ngumiti din siya at tumabi saakin. NIyakap niya ako nang mahigpit na ikinatawa ko.

"Tumangkad ka na ah. You also have that serious vibe. Grabe!"

Nagsimula kaming mag usap nang kung ano ano. We talked about many things. It's funny how comfortable I can be when I'm with her na kahit yung ginawang pangbu bully saakin at kung paano ko hinandle ay nasasabi ko sakanya. Well, except from the issues with my father.