Chained Memories

Chapter 19

Too Much

Aleonzo...

Tsk. Why does that name sounds familiar though?

"Saan ka galing?" Pagkapasok ko pa lang ay ang seryosong mukha agad ni Jerem ang bumungad sa akin.

Nakatayo siya malapit sa pinto at magka-krus ang dalawang braso.

"Umalis ka nang hindi nagpapaalam sa akin. I almost call your brother after knowing you're not in your own room, alam mo ba iyon?" Umupo ako sa sofa at isinandal ang ulo sa may headrest.

Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang inis nararamdaman ko pagkatapos ng engkwentro ko sa mga lalaking iyon.

That Shawn is obviously an asshole! Dito ba siya nakatira? I hope our path won't cross again!

"This is not you, Hera. Hindi ka ganito dati. Before, you won't leave without telling me where you'd go. You won't even dare leave without me by your side sometimes." Nakatitig sa akin na aniya. "Napapadalas ang alis mo ngayon. I wonder why..."

"You talk as if ikakamatay mo kapag wala ako sa tabi mo." Sarkastikong sagot ko. "People change, Jerem. And please don't say 'this is not so you' because you don't know me that well." I deadpanned.

Sarili ko nga mismo ay parang hindi ko kilala and he has the audacity to say that to me.

Shame on you, Jerem!

Napabuntong hininga ako.  Here I am again with my temperamental attitude. Inilalabas ko ang inis na nararamdaman ko through Jerem kahit wala naman talaga siyang ginagawang mali.

He's just worried.

Yeah, of course it's his job to look out for me. My family would surely blame him if ever something bad happens to me. Kaya ganiyan na lang siya kung mag-alala.

I am his responsibility.

Responsibility...

Sometimes, we tend to invalidate and doubt someone's sincerity for we mistake ourselves as just a mere responsibility to them. Hinahayaan natin ang sarili na isipin na wala naman talaga silang pakialam sa atin. We let ourselves be fed by the lies we created to not let our hopes high.

And oftentimes... I really wonder why do I have a bodyguard in my side.

"Rence called. Hindi ka raw sumasagot sa tawag niya kaya ako ang tinawagan niya."

"Anong sinabi niya?" I prompted.

"You don't have to know, tell her to give me a beep once she's back." Aniya sa walang kabuhay-buhay na tono.

Minsan talaga may attitude 'yang si Rence. Minsan ramdam ko na gusto niya si Jerem pero kadalasan ay parang ayaw niya rito.

"You told him I left?" mariin na tanong ko.

These past few months, I've been secretive to my bestfriend. Kung dati ay nagkukwento ako sa kanya tuwing nandito siya, ngayon ay hindi ko na ginagawa.

"You think he wouldn't know a thing?" nakataas ang kilay na aniya. "Think again, young miss. Hindi mo man sabihin sa kanya, kilala ka ng kaibigan mo."

Nagkibit-balikat ako. Oh well, it's not as if I am doing a grave sin. Wala namang masama kung makakakilala ako ng ibang tao. And it's not as if Third was 'other people'. Remember, his parents were a good friend of my parents.

It came out as a sarcastic remark on the back of my head. Hindi ko mapigilan maging sarkastiko lalo na kapag naaalala ko yung reaksiyon ni Mommy kanina.

Tumayo na ako at humakbang na patungo sa hagdan. I'd call Rence. Baka importante ang sasabihin no'n.

I was on my second step when Jerem, once again spoke.