Breaking His Callous Heart (Part 1 of 3)

19: Aira

Halos dalawang araw siyang nagmukmok sa loob ng kuwarto bago napagdesisyonang kausapin si Ayder. Sinadya niya ito sa opisina. Her entire being couldn't rest without talking to him.

Nagtaka pa si Ginang Marlene nang makita siya. She gave her real name to the receptionist at the lobby. Pinayagan siyang umakyat nang sabihin niyang pinapapunta siya ni Aira Nares. She was surprised to find out that her sister's name is on the VIP list of VLF Building. Kumirot tuloy ang puso niya. So, her sister is known to everyone in Ayder's life?

"Kapatid mo si Aira?" alanganing tanong ni Ginang Marlene.

"Kamukha mo 'yong dating empleyado rito, si Jeandy Ser-" hindi nito naituloy ang sasabihin. Her expression changed.

"Seran...Nares," salubong ang kilay nitong sambit. Napailing ang ginang.

"Pasok ka na," pormal nitong sambit nang makapag-isip. Nahihiya siyang tumango bago pumasok sa opisina ni Ayder.

Ayder glanced at her when she went inside. Ibinalik nito ang atensyon sa mga pinipirmahang dokumento.

She sat on the chair infront of him. He was still busy signing on the papers.

She faked a cough. Napatingin naman ito sa kanya. His eyes were distant as he kept tapping the pen on his table.

"I came here to---" Huminga siya nang malalim dahil hindi maapuhap kung ano ang dapat sabihin.

"I am Aira's sister," sambit niya sa huli. Ayder smirked. She felt like his stare raked through her whole being.

"I know right," he muttered sarcastically. Napailing ito saka huminga nang malalim at tumingin sa ibang direksiyon. Napalunok siya sa nakitang reaksyon mula rito.

"Did she really think, I'd fall for her trap?" he asked. Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kanya. Magkahalong galit at hinanakit ang nahimigan niya sa tono nito.

"Sending you to what? Hurt me back?" sarkastiko nitong dagdag. His eyes glistened. She wasn't able to speak. Ni hindi niya maipagtanggol ang kapatid mula sa galit nito.

"Well guess what? I wasn't hurt," he said spitefully. His jaw clenched.

"Because the moment I watched her walked out of my life, I died," he said as he looked down.

"Hindi nakararamdam ang patay," dagdag nito. A tear escaped his eye but he immediately wiped it off.

She felt that. Ramdam niya 'yong sakit sa bawat bitaw nito ng salita. Ayder still loves Aira. She felt that and it hurt her more than she could ever imagine.

Pakiramdam niya ay unti-unting pinipiga ang puso niya sa sitwasyong siya mismo ang nagdala sa sarili niya.

"Why are you crying, then?" she asked to salvage herself. She wanted to scream and cry out but she tried so hard to control her emotions.

Ayder stared at her. His expression changed.

"Get out!" he said void of any emotion. She was utterly shocked.

"Get out of my office!" ulit nito. His voice raised. Napalunok siya at unti-unting napatayo. Her heart twinged in pain as she left the VLF building unable to explain herself.

Akala ni Ayder ay ipinadala siya ng kapatid para gumanti sa pang-iiwan nito. He was more than hurt.

She went home and sulk at the four corners of her bed.

Her entire being can already see the entire picture of it. Ayder shunned Aira away. Her sister became suicidal. Ayder became miserable again. They are both two souls, who loved each other. They only needed proper direction from people, who cares for them.

Two wrecked individuals, who needed their help.

Madali lang sanang gawin kung hindi nakamamatay ang sakit na kailangan niyang tiisin.

She was sullen for days. Nagkulong siya sa loob ng kuwarto. Saka lang siya lumabas kapag gutom na gutom na.

Napilitan lang siyang lumabas at mag-ayos nang makatanggap siya ng mensahe mula sa ina na pauwi na mula sa Thailand. Ayaw niyang makita nito ang mugto niyang mga mata.

She met them at their doorway.

Humalik siya sa pisngi ng ina at yumakap pagpasok ng mga ito. Ang mga katulong naman ay hindi magkamayaw sa pagbuhat ng mga gamit nila.

Umiwas ang kapatid niya nang akmang yayakapin niya ito. Mabuti na lang nakatalikod ang ina nila. Her heart twinged. Hindi dahil mukhang galit ito sa kanya kundi dahil nainggit siya sa isiping mahal na mahal ito ni Ayder.

"Kayo munang magkapatid ang magkuwentuhan, sumasakit ang ulo ko, akyat muna ako sa kuwarto," agad na paalam ng Mommy niya. Nagtuloy-tuloy na ito sa hagdan.

They were left at the living room. Her sister looked distant. Naiintindihan naman niya dahil sa eksenang nakita nito sa bar bago umalis ng bansa.

"Aira, let me explain---"

"There is nothing to explain, ate," Aira butted in right away.

"Don't worry. I'm okay now," she added. Ngumiti ito nang tipid. Maybe it's her way to reassure her. Huminga siya nang malalim. Desiry was right when she said that her sister is such a nice girl. She doesn't deserve any hurt.

Her eyes watered as she reached for her hand. Akala niya ay pipiksi ito pero hindi ito nagsalita. She swallowed hard. Para kasing may bikig sa lalamunan niya.

"Mahal ka ni Ayder," she finally uttered. She felt like a knife cut through her heart.

"It is about time that you talk to him. Baka may dahilan kung bakit ka niya iniwan," dagdag niya. She pursed her lips to control them from quivering in pain. Pinayapa niya ang sarili.

"Bakit? magkaibigan na kayo ngayon?" may himig pagtatampo nitong tanong. Napailing ito.

"I'm sorry," she muttered.

"Noong umuwi ako mula sa Bohol, binalak kong gumanti. Pinasok ko ang buhay niya at nagpanggap na ibang tao," paliwanag niya. Aira stared at her.

"But I learned that he was a good man," she smiled. Another tear escape her eye.

"Only he was broken," she added. Her sister only listened and did not utter any word.

"I hope you will find it in your heart to talk to him," she said before standing up. Mabibigat ang paa niyang humakbang.

"Ate."

Paakyat na siya sa hagdan nang magsalita ang kapatid niya.

"Puwede mo ba akong samahan sa kanya bukas?"

She smiled amidst the aching of her heart.

"Sige," sambit niya sa kabila ng paninikip ng dibdib. It was obvious that Aira still loves him.

Pabigat nang pabigat ang hakbang niya paakyat sa kuwarto. Her eyes continuously watered.

Had she not planned to avenge, she would've not felt this kind of hurt.

Karma isn't just real, it's horrifying more than heartbreaking, and there is no way escaping.