Rules Of Attraction

Chapter 26

"Thank you," Sandra said before leaving our room. Nakitext kasi siya dahil wala ng charge ang cellphone niya.

"You're welcome. Ingat ka pauwi." I smiled and waved at her.

"Uwi ka na ba?" tanong naman ni Cachi na nasa gilid ko at kasalukuyang nagaayos ng gamit.

I sighed and went back to my seat. Ayokong umuwi. If I go home, I'll just hear my parents fighting again. Walang katapusang away. Palagi na lang. Hindi ba sila napapagod? Hindi ba sila naaawa sa mga anak nila? Pakiramdam ko, kung kailan sila tumanda, tsaka sila naging immature.

"Mamaya na," I answered and massaged my head.

Umupo si Cachi sa tabi ko at pinanood ako. Alam kong napapansin nila ang pagiging matamlay ko. Ilang linggo na akong wala lagi sa wisyo kaya maging sila Lhexine ay nagtataka na. I always tell them I'm fine but I know they don't believe it. Hinahayaan lang nila ako at hinihintay na magsabi. That's good though. Ayaw ko ng pinipilit akong magsabi. Si Cachi at Brent lang ang nakakaalam ng sitwasyon ko sa bahay. The rest of my friends are clueless. Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala sakanila. It's just that I don't want people to know what's happening to my parents. I refuse to believe that we're falling apart and I feel like if many people knew about it, it'll really be true.

"Gusto mo inom tayo?"

I laughed. As much as I want to drink to at least forget my problems, we have a pile of schoolworks that need to be finished. Tsaka na 'yang inom inom na 'yan kapag graduate na kami. Sandali na lang naman.

"Nah." Umiling ako.

"Okay. Just asking. Anong oras ka uuwi?"

"Don't know. Kung pwede lang, 'wag na eh," I tried to joke but her face became sad. I know she's gonna ask me again if I'm okay kaya inunahan ko na siya. "I'm okay."

"Kamusta kayo ni Van?" she asked.

My face almost fell. Kamusta nga ba kami? "We're fine.."

Or at least we're trying to be.

"Could you be more specific? Si Amanda, pinagusapan niyo na ba?"

"There's nothing to talk about. Magka-trabaho sila. May magagawa ba 'ko? I don't wanna be a toxic girlfriend. I try to understand him as much as I can," I said in a light tone.

"You try to..." She gave me a meaningful look.

"Ugh, Cachi. Stop." I groaned.

Umirap siya sa akin. I know what she's thinking. I know that she updates herself about Zion and Amanda. Sa aming dalawa, si Cachi talaga ang mas malakas. She's like a bestfriend, a sister, and a mother. She always looks out for me. Kaya naman naiintindihan ko ang reaksyon niya nang makita ang picture ni Zion at Amanda. Cachi is jolly and I'm always called masungit pero ang totoo ay mas palaban at malakas ang loob niya kaysa sakin.

"You know, Addi, nakakagaan ng loob ang pagk-kwento. Sometimes, you have to let it out. Baka isang araw, sumabog ka na lang," she said.

"We're fine..." I said it to her but it feels like I'm saying it to convince myself. Pumikit ako at huminga ng malalim. "It's his work. At ayokong isipin na may problema kami. I've already had enough worrying about my parents' relationship," I added.

"Okay. If you say so. Sabihin mo na lang kapag kailangan ko ng sabunutan ex niya. 'Yung ex niya talaga. Sure naman ako na 'di ka gagaguhin ni Van," she said.

I smiled at that. Knowing that she trusts Zion calms me down. Alam ko rin naman 'yun.

Nothing's new when I got home. It's sad because everything that's happening in our house seems like the new 'normal'. My parents will fight and shout at each other, I try not to listen, but I guess hearing them fight is now part of my daily routine. Mas magugulat pa ata ako kapag hindi ko sila narinig na nagaaway. Kung pwede lang talaga, ayaw ko munang umuwi dito pero alam ko naman na magaalala si Kuya. Alam ko namang stressed siya sa trabaho dahil naaapektuhan na din 'yun ng away nila Mommy kaya ayaw kong dumagdag sa problema niya.