I Wouldn't Mind

Chapter 13

Nanlalaki ang mata ng matandang napatitig na lang sa akin sa gulat. Akala niya habang buhay na lang ako magiging mang mang sa lahat ng kasamaan niya?!

"Ito ang sinisiguro ko sa'yo... Sa oras na makakalap ako ng sapat na ebidensya, sisiguruhin kong mabubulok ka sa impyerno, hayop ka!" Gigil kong saad saka umalis sa harap niya.

Tumuloy na ako sa kuwarto ko at napasuntok na lang sa pader. This is actually a guest room but I can't go to my real room either. Of course, she's using that room and that would feel like cheating to Mika.

I saw a picture resting in the middle of my bed and my tears started to flow once more.. The picture that I held so dear this past few days... A picture of Dad, Me and Mika.

I took it and looked at it intently, as if doing so would turn back time... That time that I became so selfish that I forgot everything aside from the pain I am feeling. I forgot Mika...

***

Twelve years ago...

"Hon, ba't para yatang ang dilim ng bahay niyo ngayon?" Takang tanong ni Mika nang makapagpark ako sa tapat bahay.

"Ewan... Kita mong mula umaga magkasama tayo... But I thought Dad was supposed to be home tonight..." Sagot ko as I unfastened my seatbelt. "Let's get inside."

Pumasok na nga kaming magkahawak ang kamay at may bakas pa ng kasiyahang pinagsaluhan namin sa buong maghapon. Today is our anniversary and we definitely made the most out of it. Kasama ko pa si Dad na nagplano ng lahat ng to kaya I'm a bit excited to tell him about it later on.

But our smiles went down the drain when we entered our house and saw our maids' reaction and facial expressions. They seem uneasy and can't even look at us in the eye.

"M-may nangyari ba?" Agad kong tanong. "Ba't ganyan ang mga mukha niyo?"