Timid Heart (Eligible Heiress #3)

Chapter 24

I opted to leave work for a week without giving any explanation on why or what will I do and didn't entertain anyone in the condo or any calls and texts that I received. I totally ignored my phone in my room while I am out in the living room or at the balcony doing nothing but gaze at nothingness. I literally self-isolate myself from everyone and turned my brain off.

For the whole week, all I did was cry until my head hurts as I am consumed with pain, confusion, and torment. It's so painful to know the second time that I am really dying for sure. I'm confused to what I should do right now, I couldn't think properly because all I could think of is I am dying. This is a torment for me. A great suffering. I don't know how to start and live this life as cancer kills me every day of each waking day.

Sunday morning, while I am out at the balcony doing nothing but stare at something uninteresting, I heard the door opened that made me alert. I am very sure that it's either Ate Hope or Ate Serene na sila lang naman ang iba pang may access sa unit kaya inayos ko ang aking buhok and smoothed my old gray oversized shirt that almost covers my cotton shorts.

Tumayo ako sa hammock saka huminga ng malalim, composing myself, bago pumasok sa loob at ngumiti para salubungin ang kung sinuman na pumasok. And I am praying n asana ay si Ate Hope lang iyon.

My nephew, Laurence, instantly jumped at me in the living room. I carried him and hugged him tightly.

"I missed you. Oh, you're so heavy. Where is Mom and Dad?" Ngiti ko sabay ayos ng pagkakakarga ko sa kanya.

Hindi pa man ako nakakagalaw sa aking kinatatayuan ay nakita ko ng pumasok sa living room si Ate Hope at si Ate Serene kasama ang kanilang mga asawa, my handsome Kuyas.

I almost tear up to see them like this is some kind of reunion pero nagkunwari nalang ako na napuwing saka hinalikan si Laurence bago siya ibaba para makahinga ng malalim.

Nilapitan ko ang aking mga Ate and hugged them habang pinapigilan ang pag-iyak. Lunok lang ako ng lunok para hindi maluha and it is an effective way for me. It's a distraction from letting my tears come out of my eyes.

Binati ko rin pagkatapos ang aking mga Kuya and offered to cook for them kahit alam ko na wala ng laman ang refrigerator. I could always call for a delivery. Hindi naman nila iyon tatanggihan for sure, unless they bought something for me or Ate Hope to cook.

"May dala kami. Are you hungry?" Si Ate Serene na maigi akong tinitignan mula ulo hanggang paa na nagtagal sa aking mga mata kay umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya.

Alm ko na alam na nila na isang buong linggo akong hindi pumasok sa trabaho kaya sila nandito lahat to check on me. Marahil ay nalaman na rin ni Kuya Dex ito kay Warayne because I avoided him like a plague all week.

"Wow. You didn't have to bring me foods. Did you guys miss me so much at full force pa talaga kayo na pumunta rito? Kasama pa ang maganda kong pamangkin." Arte ko na masaya na parang walang problema habang nilalaro ang kamay ni Laureene na buhat ni Kuya Lorenzo.

Lahat sila ay nakatingin lang sa akin na para bang may iba akong mundo kaya tumalikod ako at pamunta sa kusina to get plates and set it all sa dining room para makakin kaming lahat.

"Let's eat?" Ngiti ko sa kanila.

Kahit wala akong gana na kumain ay pinilit ko na lunukin ang pagkain na nilagay ko sa aking pinggan and I keep on smiling all the time. Nakuha ko pang kamustahin silang lahat and not giving anything about me though I know they are dying to know why I holed myself up here in the condo all week.

Habang naghuhugas ng plato ay nilapitan ako ni Kuya Dex. I'm not stupid to know why he is here but I still feign ignorance and played it safe.

"Is there a bun in the oven already?" I smiled at him teasingly.