The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 38: Regrets and Reconciliations

Kabadong-kabado si Fresia habang nagda-drive si Mona palayo sa Wreckville. She was in the middle of wrecking the whole room when her friend opened the door and told her that Bullet is coming. Nataranta siya. Ayaw niya itong makita. Not now. She's still mad at him.

Pupugutan pa sana niya ng ulo ang teddy bear na bigay nito pero isang mahabang hiwa lamang sa katawan nito ang naibigay niya dahil sa pang-aantala ni Mona.

"Hindi mo talaga sya kauusapin?" tanong nito nang nasa daan na sila.

Sumandal siya sa bintana. "Hindi."

"Naaawa na 'ko sa kanya, Fresia," seryoso nitong sabi. "Alam ko namang nasasaktan ka. Alam ko ring malaki talaga ang kasalanan nya sa 'yo at sa pamilya mo, but don't you think that this is too much? Bakit hindi mo sya harapin at hayaang magpaliwanag?"

"Because there's nothing left to explain, Mona," inis niyang sagot. "I already know the truth. He already admitted to his mistakes. What's left to tell?"

"Beh, life it not just black and white. May different colors pa in between. No does not always mean no. Do you get my point? Just because you both believe that it's the truth, doesn't mean that it's the absolute truth. May iba pang factors na nakakaapekto sa katotohanan na 'yan. And if you're not going to let him explain and see things from his perspective, then you'll end up cutting him loose. Baka pagsisihan mo 'yan sa huli, sige ka."

"Mona, hindi ko kailangan ng sermon mo ngayon, okay?"

Hindi ba nito alam na alam niya iyon? But there are also other factors as to why she can't just forgive him. There are reasons why she can't face him right now. Kung paiiralin niya ang pagmamahal niya rito, pakiramdam niya ay pinagtataksilan niya ang kapatid.

Mona exhaled sharply. "Fine. But think about what I said, okay?"

Tumango na lamang siya para hindi na ito manermon.

"Where to?" Mona asked.

"Sa bahay tayo ng parents ko."

"Sure ka?"

She nodded and replied, "I need to talk to them."

And Bullet wouldn't find her there because he doesn't know where her parents live. Lumipat na kasi ng bahay ang mga ito somewhere in Laguna. Nobody knows... except Mona, because she's taking her to her parents.

Nag-aalangan man ay sinunod ng kaibigan ang gusto niya. When she got there, her parents weren't home yet. Katulong ang sumalubong sa kanya, kagaya ng dati.

Tinawagan nito ang mommy niya para ipaalam na nasa bahay siya. Iniabot ng katulong ang phone sa kanya. Tinitigan lamang niya ang iniaabot nitong telepono, unsure if she should take it.

"Ma'am, naghihintay po ang mommy ninyo," sabi ng katulong sa kanya. "Kausapin nyo na po kundi pareho tayong mapapagalitan."

Bumuntong-hininga siya at kinuha ang telepono mula rito. She was expecting a lecture. She was expecting anger from her mother. Alam niyang nakakaabala siya sa trabaho nito at alam niyang ayaw nitong nasa bahay siya ng mga ito.

That is why she couldn't help but cry when she heard her mother say, "I heard from Ernest. You can stay there as long as you want."

--

Bullet picked up the teddy bear. He checked the damage. It was just one slash. He could still fix it. As he was putting back the polyester stuffing, he noticed a gold chain inside. When he pulled it out, it turned out to be his necklace. Nakalagay iyon sa loob ng teddy bear. Fresia must have left it there to send him a message.