The Touch of Eternal Sorrow (Altarieno Series #3)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Miraculously, nagawa kong takasan si Lolo at ang kaniyang sentiments for the next twenty-four hours. I was rushing out of the mansion so I could drive and go to the university.

Sumulyap ako sa suot ko nang makasakay sa driver's seat. Gray shirt and sweatpants. Parang pupunta lang ng gym. Hindi na ako nag-abalang maghanap ng iba pang susuotin. Ang sabi sa aming group chat, walang klase for the next three days dahil founding anniversary ng Shamxia. Maraming mga events na gaganapin so I just... grabbed whatever I first saw from my closet.

Sa totoo lang, wala sa plano ko ang pumasok dahil wala naman talaga akong gagawin doon. But then, this is a nice excuse to avoid Lolo's presence. Wala namang masama kung dito ako kakapit.

Yeah, this whole thing might look pathetic or petty to some. Ano nga ba kasi ang nakakatakot sa pag-o-open up ng nararamdaman mo sa pamilya mo?

Well, everything.

This is not just because of the embarrassment I might get afterwards or the hesitation I got with regards to this matter—although those were factors. Lolo is very different. When he says all you have to do is to speak up so you can ease your feelings, there's more behind that. He might ask you to do essays about your trauma and maybe what? He'll expect you to get over this thing after you told him everything! I mean, ganoon ba kadali iyon?

He wouldn't understand. What he's asking me... that equates to pressure. I am better be this way than what he wanted me to become. Iyong tungkol sa business... madali na lang iyon. Time would tell if that's really for me.

Nakalabas na ako ng subdivision nang marinig ko ang vibration ng aking phone. I immediately unlocked it.

Orca: Green's for the BEED, guys. Don't forget to bring your spare shirt.

"Oh, hell no..." Suminghap ako.

Kung kailan nakalayo na ako?!

Herry: Luh, alaws me green. Goods na siguro black, 'no?

Orca: I just said green, dummy. Black's for the CE. Matutong sumunod sa instruction.

Herry: Fine. Uwi na lang ako xD.

Georgia: Need mo na ng system update, utoy. Jejemon.

Herry: Ulul. Mas jejemon iyong mga taong naniwala sa pangakong bente pesos na bigas. Tulog ka muna.

I turned my phone off.

"Ano naman kayang department ang naka-gray?"

It was very concerning. Ayoko pa naman nang hindi sumusunod sa instruction. It makes me feel like I'm a sort of attention seeker—saliwa sa image na gusto kong i-depict which is... mysterious and lowkey. Hindi ko trip magpapansin. Ayaw ko mang sabihin 'to pero masiyado na akong matanda para sa ganoon.

Bago pa tuluyang makalayo ang isip ko ay natanaw ko na ang logo ng Shamxia sa 'di-kalayuan. Hindi ko maintindihan kung makakahinga ba ako nang maluwag dahil malayo na ako sa mansiyon o maiinis ako dahil mukhang sira na agad ang araw ko kahit nasa sasakyan pa lang ako.

I parked my car at my usual spot. Before going out, I sprayed perfume all over my body. That's the only thing that makes me feel great these days.

"Ah, right." I realized something after slamming my car's door.

I forgot to order flowers for later.

I quickly texted the flower shop where I always buy flowers for Kariza. Actually, it was a very recent discovery. Simula lang noong nagsara ang shop ni Isa—Vance's girl thing. I can't say the whole thing. Pakiramdam ko ay madi-disrespect ko ang mga totoong magkarelasyon.