SGANF #2: BROKEN

Chapter Seventeen

"Where's Ruel?" I heard a familiar voice coming from the living room.

Mabilis na kumabog ang aking dibdib, at bakit hindi, the person I don't want to see the most is here and soon will be in front of me. Para akong naestatwa at hindi kumilos sa kinaroonan ko. I clenched my fist.

Bumulaga siya sa kusina and our eyes met. Mas nagulat siya nang makita akong nakatingin sa kanya. Hindi siya nakakilos subalit bumawi din pagkatapos. Benjamin showed up right behind her.

"Tita Agnes, nasa kuwarto niya po si Ruel, medyo may lagnat dahil naulanan kagabi. I'm not sure if you two have met but Cassandra here is-" I cut Benjamin off.

"Hello, Mrs Alejo. What brings you here?" kaswal kong tanong.

"My family owns this place and I can come here and go as I please. And what are you doing here?" kaswal din niyang tanong.

"I am Ruel's girlfriend and right now I am cooking him a late lunch. Do you want to join us?"

She pressed her lips, her eyes got smaller and her forehead frowned.

"You're not serious, are you?" napalitan ng pag-alala ang kanyang reaksiyon.

"I am, and as a matter of fact, we already decided to be together again."

Her eyes said everything. She was scared. She was trembling. Dapat matuwa ako because I've been waiting for this moment.

Tumingin siya sa paligid and saw Benjamin still standing beside her.

"Can you leave us for a moment, Benjamin?" Kahit alangan ay tumango si Benjamin.

Inaya niya ako sa likod, sa may pool but I told her that we should go to another place but she insisted to stay there.

Napatingin ako sa kuwarto ni Ruel, bukod sa nasa kabilang dulo kami ng pool, marahil ay tulog naman ito at sabi nga nito hindi niya kami maririnig kung sakali man. Kaya medyo nawala ang pagka-alangan ko.

"I told you to stay away from my son!" matigas niyang sabi.

"And I did, thanks to you."

Hindi siya umimik. Ang galit niyang reaksiyon ay napalitan ng lungkot. Her eyes started tearing up.

"Please leave him alone." nanginginig ang kanyang boses.

"Bakit? Bakit ba ayaw mo sa akin? Bakit ba hindi mo ako matanggap? Anong masama ang ginawa ko sa iyo para tratuhin mo ako ng ganito?"

"Everything! Mula nang dumating ka sa buhay ng anak ko you turned his life for the worst. And you know what I'm talking about. Hindi dapat malaman ni Ruel iyon. Ayokong mawala ang kaisa-isang importanteng tao sa buhay ko. Ruel is my life, I can't lose him."

Tumigas ang aking mukha. Napailing ako, pinahid ang luhang dumaloy sa aking pisngi.

"Hindi ko sasabihin.Hindi na niya dapat malaman pa. Pareho natin na ayaw siyang saktan, let's leave it that way. Kaya hayaan mo na rin sana kami. Mahal namin ang isa't-isa. Kung ayaw mong mawala siya sa iyo at kamuhian ka niya, let him go, let us go. Just accept that and live your life as well."

Hindi siya umimik na parang nagisip.

"I don't trust you. You will eventually tell him sooner or later. Mas matatahimik ako kung lalayuan mo siya. Maraming ibang lalake diyan, huwag ang anak ko."

"You have the nerve to tell me that!" mahina kong sigaw.

"I don't care if you believe me or not. I don't even care if you like me. Pero hindi ako katulad mong sinasakal si Ruel. Let him go."