Odin Cassiopeia Zafeiriou [INTERSEX]

21. Love, Sex and Death

Reminder:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

The opinions expressed are those of the characters and should not be confused by the authors.

Trigger warning:
This chapter contains sensitive topics like human trafficking, gambling, and violence against women and children.

Readers' discretion is advised.

▪︎▪︎▪︎

Love, Sex, and Death

Alexandra Alarcon

"Bunso, please. I'm begging you. You'll always be welcome sa bahay namin. Pwede rin na do'n ka nalang tumira? My family wouldn't mind at all."

"Ate Sam, I promise you that I won't kill myself."

Inis na sinipa naman ako ni Ate Sam sa tuhod ko kaya agad na napatalon-talon ako sa bakuran ng bahay namin dahil sa sobrang sakit.

"Tangina mo! Bakit?! Sasabihin mo ba saamin pag naisipan mong magpakamatay?!" Malakas na sigaw ni Ate Sam saakin at unti-unting napaluha.

Nilakihan naman ako ng mata nila Jeno at Erica habang si Christine naman ay binato ako ng tsinelas. Tuwang-tuwa naman si Hadji ng masapul ako sa mukha.

"If you just know how much I'm dying to punch you in your face right now, Alexandra."

Halaka. Tinawag na ako sa full name ko. Mukhang badtrip na badtrip na talaga siya.

"You didn't even informed us that time when your family members died! Tapos ngayon, mag jo-joke ka about suicide?! E, kung ako nalang kaya ang papatay sayo ngayon, ha?!" At ngumawa si Ate Sam ng malakas.

Mabilis na lumapit ako sakanya para yakapin siya ng mahigpit. Kinurot pa nga ako ni Hadji sa may likod ng pwet ko kaya pasimple na hinampas yung kamay niya palayo habang umiiyak sa bisig ko si Ate Sam.

Hindi ko aakalain na magiging praning siya pagkatapos ng mangyari kay Troy at maging sa pamilya ko. She would always convince me to have a sleepover in their place o kaya aampunin nalang daw niya ako at siya na ang magiging legal guardian ko.

Pagkatapos mailibing ni Tatay at ni Kaloy, tatlong araw rin ako na nasa puder nila Ate Sam. Her family was very welcoming to me lalong-lalo na ang Dad ni Ate Sam. He even offered me to live with them.

His offer was tempting but I politely declined.

Ate Samantha's Dad understood my decision at hinayaan niya akong umuwi saamin na siyang ikina-praning ng anak niya. After that, Ate Sam would always check on me from time to time if humihinga pa ba ako o hindi na.

Araw-araw sila na tumatawag o minuminuto akong uulanin nila ng text messages. And if hindi ko man nareplayan o nasagot ang mga pangungulit nila sa cellphone ko, Ate Sam will go crazy thinking about some crazy stuff kasi nga daw, iisa kami ng bituka ni Troy.

And instead na umattend kami ng graduation ceremony namin kahapon ay nag inuman kami dito sa bahay ko at dito na rin natulog. We sang, cried, wept for our loss, we talked, we reminiscences, we argue, we laughed and we were all wasted that night.

Their family was so supportive and understanding para payagan sila na hindi sumipot sa graduation ceremony namin except sa Mommy ni Darwin na naiintindihan naman namin.

At ito na nga, uuwi na sila habang pinipilit pa rin ako ni Ate Sam na ampunin.

We also didn't have any news about Althea after we informed her family about Troy's death. Her mother told us that Althea insisted on immediately flying to America, probably can't take the thought of knowing that her lover took away his life without any second thought.