The Bitchesa's Downfall

Feelings

"Fuck." It was a very silent curse that escaped from Daniel's mouth, but Chandria could still hear the depth of the word in his voice.

His hands around her wrist had shook a little before he released his tight grip on it. Chandria could see his chest moving up and down as his eyes were buried intimately on his little sister.

But with just a snap, Chandria just found Daniel storming out of Aliyah's room. With massive force, Daniel slammed the door close, leaving her and Aliyah dumbfounded.

Silence has filled the whole place even after a few minutes of Daniel's departure. Aliyah was only staring at the closed door with mouth open and so was her.

Nabalik lamang si Chandria sa reyalidad nang magsalita si Aliyah, "Ate... Ano 'yon?"

Agad siyang napalingon sa gawi ni Aliyah at mapaklang ngumiti. "It's nothing, Aliyah. We we were just... discussing something. And I am sorry. I can't have a talk with you now." She looked at the girl with her apologetic eyes."I need to follow your stupid brother."

After saying those words, Chandria just turned her back on Aliyah and immediately made her way out of the room feeling all broken yet confused and worried.

Nang makababa siya sa unang palapag ng bahay, dumiretso si Chandria sa sala upang tingnan kung nandoon ba si Daniel. Pero hindi niya ito nadatnan doon. Binalot ng dilim a katahimikan ang lugar at ang tanging bagay na umiilaw at nag-iingay ay ang nakabukas na TV.

Nilibot ni Chandria ng tingin ang buong silid hanggang sa mapansin niyang may aninong gumagalaw sa sahig na nanggagaling sa isang pintong nakabukas 'di kalayuan sa sala. Alam niya kung kaninong anino iyon. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali. Si Daniel iyon.

Ilang segundo pa'y napagdesisyunan niyang tumungo na sa bahaging iyo ng bahay. Napapabuntong-hininga na lamang si Chandria habang pinagpaplanuhan niya sa kanyang isip ang dapat niyang sabihin kapag nagkaharap ulit silang dalawa ni Daniel.

Sumalubong sa kanyang paningin ang seryosong mukha ni Daniel habang pinapaikot sa ibabaw ng kitchen counter ang maliit na basong hawak nito. Mukhang malalim ang iniisip ng binata sapagkat hindi nito napansin ang presensiya niya. Nakasandal ito sa kitchen counter at matamang nakatitig sa basong pinaglalaruan nito.

"Dan..." Tawag niya sa binata habang humahakbang palapit sa kinatatayuan nito. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Kinakabahan man, lumapit siya dito at pumwesto sa harap ni Daniel. Ngunit bahagya siyang napaatras nang gumalaw ang binata at lumingon ito sa gawi niya. Nakakunot na naman ang noo nito.

"What are you doing here?" Wala siyang naaamoy na alak sa bibig ni Daniel habang ito'y nagsasalita. Mukhang hindi pa ito naka-inom.

Napairap na lamang siya sa hangin at humalukipkip. "I just followed you here to ask few questions."

Nakita ni Chandria ang paninigas ng bagang ni Daniel habang tinutungga nito ang isang baso ng alak. Pagkatapos ng ilang lunok ay padabog rin nitong ibinagsak ang baso sa ibabaw ng counter.

"Spill it."

"Why are you so mad with me right now?" She gestured her fingers towards herself as she moved closer to him. "Is there something wrong about going inside your little sister's room?" She raised one brow on him. "Did you think I would become a bad influence to her? Look, Aliyah and I, we are not doing anything wrong."

"Stop." Daniel interrupted her speech but she was too stubborn to zip her mouth.

Nagpatuloy si Chandria sa pagsasalita, "we are simply planning to talk over something. I'm not teaching herㅡ"

"I said stop."

Chandria didn't stop talking because of what she heard, but it was Daniel's sudden action which let her mouth close automatically. Chandria was totally shocked when Daniel suddenly held her wrist tightly, pulled her even closer to him and dipped his face on to her shoulders.

Sa mga sandaling iyon, tila nanigas ang buong katawan ni Chandria. Ramdam niya ang malalim na paghinga ni Daniel sa maliit na parte ng kanyang balat na hindi natatabunan ng suot niya ngayon. Gusto niyang manghampas ngayon dahil sa kilig na nararamdaman. Hindi niya inaasahan ang ganitong pangyayari. Halos nakayakap na si Daniel sa kanya.

There was a moment of silence between them until Daniel cut if off intentionally through his words.

"I'm still not sure about this, Chandria. I'm still doubting." Daniel whispered against her neck which left a tingling sensation on Chandria's system.

Kahit na nahihirapan siyang huminga dahil sa lakas ng kabog ng kanyang dibdib, pinilit niya pa ring magsalita. "About what?"

"About you." paos ang boses ni Daniel nang magsalita ito. "And about your feelings for me."

Agad niyang nasalubong ang malungkot na kislap sa mata ni Daniel nang mag-angat ito ng tingin. Napaawang na lamang ang labi niya sa nakita at hindi siya nakapagsalita.

All of a sudden, Daniel exasperatedly sigh and looked straight to her eyes, locking her soul with him. "You never really like me, did you?"

"What?" That was the only word she could utter after being startled by Daniel's interrogation. Of course she always like Daniel. There's no doubt about that.

"You weren't after me because of your feelings, Chandria. You don't really like me." Daniel's lips were getting thinner as he spoke with his deep voice. "You were just after me now because of guilt."