His Broken-hearted Girl

50. Not Again

Sinulyapan ko si mama na ngayon ay hindi maalis ang tingin kay papa. Her mouth was ajar, seeming befuddled on my father's presence.

"Phillip..."

"Anna..."

No other words came up. Just like that, just muttering each other's name, and they hugged each other. Agad pumatak ang luha sa aking mata. Sari saring emosyon ang naglaro sa aking puso ngunit naghari ang kaligayahan para sa aking magulang. Pinunasan ko ang aking luha at tumalikod.

I can't contain it. The feeling is just too strong to handle. Hindi ako makahinga dahil alam kong nasa iisang lugar lang kami ni Willard. Yes, my emotions will always fall for him. No matter how avoided it. No matter how I despise the feeling. It will always be him. I know it's forbidden, I know it's wrong to feel this, but I missed him. Terribly.

"Grace..." I heard Fray. "They want to thank tita Anna for what she did that's why they're here."

Huminga ako ng malalim nang tuluyan akong makalabas. I guess I'm away enough from him 'coz I can normally breathe again.

"Okay." Sabi ko at humarap kay Fray.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ko sa likod ni Fray ang nurse na tumulong kay Willard sa ospital.

"Hi. I'm Roxette Alonso." She introduced herself, smiling.

Napaharap din si Fray sa babae nang marinig niya ang boses nito. "Almante's nurse, huh?"

"I am. Funny as it may sounds, I was nursing his broken heart and ego, too." Tahimik siyang tumawa, ang biloy malapit sa kanyang natural na pulang labi ay nagpakita.

I felt a pang of uncertainty in my stomach. Her smile was radiant and genuine.

"Pwede ba kitang makausap... Grace?" Baling niya sa akin. Sa pagbanggit niya ng pangalan ko ay parang hindi siya sigurado kung ako nga ba talaga iyon.

I smirked, undefined anger and annoyance building up. "For what? To tell me that Willard's already moving on? To beg me that I should stay away from him because you're already nursing him? That he's learning to love you now? Ano? Ipapamukha mo sa akin na kasalanan ko din ang nangyari sa kanya at sa mama ko? Oh please, miss, I've heard enough bullshit. I don't wanna talk to you."

Surprising how I maintained my calmed and relaxed voice despite of the anger that's hurriedly building up on my system.

"You forgot to mention how awful lover you are, baby girl." Dumako ang tingin ko kay Kim na na kalalabas lang sa pintuan. Naglalakad siya palapit sa kay Roxette gamit ang mataray at galit na mga mata.

"Kimberly, stay out of it." Fray warned. Lumapit agad sa akin si Fray para protektahan ako.

Itinulak ko siya palayo. Naiirita akong lalo. "Kaya ko ang sarili ko, Fray. You stay out of it." I said. He clenched his jaw but I didn't care. I then shot my eyes firmly to Kimberly. "Go to he-"

"Guys, can I talk to Grace, please?"

Sabay sabay na dumako ang mga mata namin kay tita Hazel. Naitikom ko agad ang bibig ko nang ngumiti siya sa akin, totoong ngiti ngunit nakadama ako ng takot. Umurong ang dila ko dahil sa pagiging kalmado ng kanyang boses.

Walang salitang namutawi sa bibig nina Kim, Fray at ang Roxette na iyon nang umalis sila. Tumahip naman ang kaba sa dibdib ko nang lumapit sa akin si tita Hazel. Diretso ang kanyang tingin sa estatwa ni Athena.

"I now understand why your father named you after the goddess of wisdom." She smiled again as she look at me. I just stared at her face, emotionless. "You're a smart girl, Athena Grace. You know how to handle your feelings when your problems shoot you almost at the same time."