IT MIGHT BE YOU

IMBY- 9

Aga was in a hurry when we reached the house. He was kind enough to drop us off at house kahit na alam kong nagmamadali siya. We weren't even able to properly thank him for today because he dashed off quickly. Talagang busy nga ata siya. Baka itext ko na lang siya para pasalamatan ulit mamaya.

Now back to my dramatic cousin who had a music video shoot inside the car earlier ago, she told me she's just going to rest at tawagin ko na lamang daw siya kapag kakain na kami. I wanted to ask her what's happening but I just let her be.

Pero hindi talaga ako mapalagay knowing that Regine isn't fine. Hindi ako sanay na gano'n ang pinsan ko. Hindi pa ako nagbibihis ay sumunod na agad ako sa kwarto niya. Kanina pa siya tahimik. Dati naman, kapag may problema siya, agad niya namang sasabihin sa akin. This one must really be so heavy that she's refusing to talk about it.

I know how it feels to carry a heavy load alone. She opened her door and faked a smile, "Kakain na?"

I didn't reply and I went inside her room after locking the door behind me, "Not yet."

"Eh, bakit?" she asked, "You need something?"

"Anong nangyari?"

She avoided my gaze when I asked her the question. See, something is really up. Regine then sat on the bed and then removed her jewelries.

"Regine, come on. What happened?"

"Wala," she denied, "Wala naman. Bakit?"

Lumapit ako sa kanya and then sat beside her to hug her sideways, "Anong nangyari?"

"Lea naman!" she complained, "Huwag mo na 'kong yakapin! Nakakainis ka."

I chuckled and then tried looking at her. Her eyes are brimming with tears. Lalong bumigat ang pakiramdam ko. Bakit kaya gano'n 'yong yakap, 'no? It can either make you cry or comfort you. In Regine's case, whenever she's going through something, sa tuwing yayakapin ko siya, saka siya iiyak.

"Sabihin mo na lang kasi kung anong nangyari. Kanina pa ako nab-bother, Reg. Anong nangyari? Nawala ka for several hours at hindi kita matawagan. Where were you and what happened? Bumalik kang hindi okay."

She shook her head and then wiped her tears, "Wala."

"Bahala ka. Hindi kita bibitawan hangga't 'di ka nagsasabi."

"Si Vince..."

The mere mention of that man's name makes me shiver. Sino pa bang ibang dahilan ng pag-iyak ng pinsan ko kung hindi ang boyfriend niyang walang ibang ginawa kung hindi pasakitin ulo ni Regine. I wonder what he did this time because it seems like it's kinda serious, "Sabi ko na, eh. Nagkita kayo?"

Regine nodded her head and then sniffed. Umayos ako ng pagkakaupo at humarap sa kanya.

"Nag-usap lang kami."

"Anong napag-usapan ninyo?"

"He said I have to let him go already because he's leeting me go," she replied, "Gano'n. Gano'n lang. Gano'n lang kabilis 'yon."

I sighed and then caressed Regine's hands. I hate Vincent pero alam ko sa sarili kong mahal siya ng pinsan ko. Kaya kahit pa ayaw ko sa kanya, tinanggap ko siya at sinuportahan ko silang dalawa. I understand where Regine is coming from. She loves him dearly kaya kahit pa alam niyang medyo gago ang boyfriend niya, hindi niya kayang hiwalayan. Yes, love could make us stupid most of the time. Pero sa kaso nilang dalawa, aside from it's stupid, eh, it's also unhealthy.