Dirty Secret

Chapter 31

Arranged Off
Closure?

MASYADONG MABILIS ang mga pangyayari, parang kahapon lang mayroong agreement na nangyari sa amin ni Fourth. Parang kahapon lang din ay nakidnap ako, parang kahapon lang din na bumalik ang ala-ala ko.

I still can remember what happened years ago, kung paanong nahanap ako ni Mommy after one year of her confessing she's not really my mom, she was so mad.

Wala daw akong utang na loob at ang lakas daw ng loob ko palibhasa wala naman daw kasing masyadong makaka-alam kung mamatay ako, i was so scared why she's being like that.

Then, the memory last night made me realized why.

Because she was raped and she felt like we abandoned her as we just escape there while leaving her behind.

I can now remember who's the guy, it was Harrison—the king's best friend but also the king's gabé. Our father's best friend and in short, it's Uncle Tobi. Now i get it why he's always as if looking at me those years that i've lasted on Del Echavierra's mansion.

“Hey, Honey-Babe, what you do? Reading? Is that why you're crying?” biglang sulpot ni Collette na may hawak na tray ng pagkain ko. I feel so... Empty. I can't understand why.

“Bedeviere, Naguguluhan ako. Parang sobrang bilis natin. Pero parang sobrang bagal din. Tapos parang ang gulo natin. Parang walang patutunguhan.” i honestly confessed.

Napakurap-kurap siya at napakamot sa sintido niya.

“Is that so? Then... What should i do... To lessen your confusion?” he asked.

I shrugged.

“Honestly.. Hindi ko din alam. Pasensya ka na, ah?”

He just smiled but i could clearly read pain in his eyes.

“It's fine, kain ka na?”

Ako naman ang tipid na ngumiti at inilapag ang librong hawak ko kanina. It's Viral by Dior Madrigal, one of my favorites.

“Thanks.” pagpapasalamat ko sa kaniya at kinuha na ang tray sa kaniya.

Inalalayan niya muna ako bago tuluyang pinaubaya ang tray ng pagkain sa akin.

“Masarap?” he asked as i ate the food.

Even if i'm confused, i still nodded. The food's indeed delicious, after all.

“Yeah, masarap, why?”

He just smiled and look at the book.

“There's nothing there that could makes you feel broken or confused, nah?”

Naguguluhan ko siyang tinignan. Ano bang sinasabi niya? Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay bago sumubo ng pagkain at dahan-dahan itong nginuya bago uminom ng tubig at siyaka siya tinignan ulit.

“Wala naman, bakit?”

Tumango siya.

“Nothing, just making sure you won't leave me again, Wind. Tinatanggap... Tinatanggap ka na ulit ng puso ko.” tinuro niya ang parte ng dibdib niya kung nasaan ang puso niya. “At palagi ka ng laman nito.” itinuro nito ang sintido niya.

Napakurap-kurap ako at nag-iwas ng tingin. Wala ka man lang nga na sinasabing diretsyahan, eh. Iyon lang naman hinihintay ko, ayaw ko ng umasa na naman at mag-assume gaya noon. Three years ago.