SOTT50:
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KINAKABAHAN akong pumunta sa kusina.
He placed the hotdogs, bacon, fried scrambbled egg as well as the fried rice on the table.
Tinignan ko lamang yon, hindi ko alam kung para saakin ba iyon o baka nag-aassume na naman ako.
Tinignan ako ni Ram na para bang nagtataka kung bakit hindi ako nauupo. I looked at him and divert it immediately and place my sight on the food on the table. I am waiting for him to say that I should eat outside since Ellie will be here to eat.
"Let's eat, Ace.'' He said. I blink twice since I was scared to misinterpret his words.
"Ellie must be here" It was just a whisper and I don't have any intention to let him hear it but he does.
He look at me intently and sighed.
"Let's eat, Ace." Aniya
Tumango ako at tahimik lang na naupo roon.
"Coffee? " he offered a cup of coffee. I just nod as an answer.
I don't know what to say so I remain silent the whole breakfast.
"Uh, did I make you uncomfortable last night?" He asks suddenly. I lift up my face so that I can face him.
"I'm peacefully sleeping last night so I don't know. " I answered. He just nod and continue to eat. I can sense that he would like to say something so I keep waiting but in the end, I didn't hear any from him.
He offered to wash the plates so I just hold a broom and starts sweeping the floor when the doorbell rang.
"Do you have a visitor?" Aniya saakin. Mabilis akong umiling. How can I? I'm not able to accept visitors.
"Wala"
Tinignan ko sya at mayroon pang bula ang kamay nito. Bumuntong hininga ako. "Ako na magbubukas. Baka bills lang 'yon" ani ko at iniwan sya sa kusina.
Habang naglalakad palabas ay naaninag ko na kaagad kung sino ang tao sa labas. I hesitate to open it at first but in the end I still open it.
"Oh.. you're still here?" Ellie's eyebrow furrowed.
I told myself to distance from this kind of stuffs. Ayokong makasira ng relasyon, ayokong gumaya sa babaeng nasa harapan ko.
"Obviously" mataray kong sagot. I heard her laugh and it was visible that it was merely fake.
"Tss. You're such a disgrace, Ace. Seriously? Living here with him? Oh gosh, you're after his money don't you?" Anito at pinaningkit pa ang mga mata.
"I don't care on his money, Ellie. Aalis din ako!" Naiinis kong sabi.
Ayoko ng isipin pa ni Ellie na narito ako para manggulo. I know where should I stand, naiintindihan ko sya kung bakit ayaw nya saakin dahil minsan ko rin iyong naramdaman nang kami pa ni Ram. She likes Ram and I guess Ram likes her too. It's obvious right? They shared a breakfast together while me? I was merely kick out so that I can't disturb them.
"Oh? Bat ang tagal naman? I don't understand Ram kung bakit ka nya pinatira dito. Wala ka ngang ambag sa bahay na ito. Para kang... uh, palamunin?" Aniya
So she knows why I am here and I guess Ram told her. Right, that's the real story so I don't have a rights to be mad because that was indeed true but I can sense the pain in my chest knowing that I am a heavy baggage for Ram. I should plan to leave as soon as possible right?
"Magbabayad ako sakanya" sagot ko, sinusubukang kumalma.
"Bakit hindi ka na lang kasi umalis? Dumating ka lang nagulo na naman ang maayos na. We're all happy without you Ace kaya bakit bumalik ka pa? Dapat hindi ka na nagpakita pa dahil wala namang may gustong narito ka!" Singhal nya.
Her words was so sharp and it all hits me. Sinubukan kong huwag magpaapekto pero nasasaktan ako sa sinabi nya. Maybe she's right, everything is fine before I came back.
"Hindi naman ako bumalik para makita ka!" Naiinis kong singhal.
"I know. You're here for him am I right? Umaasa ka pa na babalikan ka nya? Bakit? Dahil successful na sya at ngayon ikaw naman ang lugmok? He's fine without you Ace. He even reach his goals without you on his side. I was the one who was with him on his journey towards his success tapos babalik ka dahil asensado na sya? Wow! Just wow!" Mabagal pa itong pumalakpak na para bang nang-iinis.
I was born to be strong, pero unti-unti ay nararamdaman ko ang pamumuo ng luha saaking mga mata.
"Shut up, you don't know the whole story, Ellie!" I hissed at her.
"Oh? You're wrong. Alam ko lahat, maging kung bakit kayo nagkakilala pati sa pagtatapos ng relasyon nyo." Aniya
"Yeah, you're there. You witnessed that dahil ikaw ang sumira ng relasyon namin"
"Oh? Kasalanan ko bang makitid ang pag-iisip mo? Oh I forgot, hindi ka nga pala matalino. See? Yun pa lang hindi ka na agad bagay kay Ram. So you better leave and stay away from him" she said
"That's your idea right? Then do it by yourself! Sayo na sya! Hindi ko sya aagawin sayo!" Nangigigil kong ani
"Should I say thankyou for that? Tss, such a user" she whispered the last word but I still heard it.
"Call me whatever you want, Ellie. Ram probably reach his success without me. But admit it or not, I was there on his journey. I became part of his life"
"You're nothing compare to me, Ace. Ano bang pinagmamalaki mo? No one is proud to have you" Aniya sa nang-uuyam na boses.
"Why don't you just admit to yourself that Ram is your greatest downfall?" She smirk.
"Maaring hindi ako kasing successful mo, Ellie. But don't you ever degrade on what I have today. I don't need your opinion by the way. And lastly, my parents were proud to have me. And that's sure." I said trying to calm.
She laughed. "Your parents?" She said and chuckled again. She paused for a moment and speak. "They're proud to have you? Oh come on, how did you know that? They're dead right" aniya
Hindi na ako kumibo dahil nararamdaman ko na ang galit saaking puso. Ayoko ng magsalita pa dahil baka sumabog na ako sa galit.
Tumalikod na ako at humakbang ng isa nang magsalita sya dahilan para humarap akong muli sakanya.
"And by the way your parents deserve to die. You know, kung hindi nangyari yon ay baka naging pabigat ka kay Ram at baka hindi sya naging successful kung hindi mo sya iniwan"
Kaagad ko syang sinampal ng malakas. Dinig na dinig ko ang paglapat ng palad ko sa pisngi nya. Gulat itong tinignan ako. I can see the fury in her eyes. She was about to explode when we both hear a man running towards our place.
"Shit" I heard Ram murmured when he saw Ellie's swollen face.
"She slap me! I'm gonna sue her! Atty. Ram you're my witness!" She hissed in anger.
Nakita ko ang pagdalo ni Ram kay Ellie. He even check Ellie's face. Uminit ang gilid ng mata ko sa nagbabadyang luha. Kaagad akong tumalikod para pumasok sa loob ng maramdaman ang paghawak ni Ram saaking braso.
He saw me that I slap her. Probably, he'll gonna kick my ass out of here. And I am scared to hear a word from him. Ayokong magsalita sya dahil alam kong masasaktan ako.
"Acelle" aniya sa pangalan ko.
"Ellie, umalis ka muna please" matigas na sabi ni Ram. Nakatalikod ako sakanila kaya hindi ko makita ang reaksyon ni Ellie.
"Seriously Ram? You saw it! She slaps me! She was caught in action tapos paalisin mo ako? She deserves to be sue!" She yelled in anger.
"Shut up! Ellie. Umuwi ka muna, saka na tayo mag-usap" Ram said.
"No! Palayasin mo na ang babaeng yan dito! Bakit mo pa ako paaalisin? Sya ang dapat lumayas dahil pabigat lang sya sayo! Bakit mo sya kinakampihan? She slaps me and you saw it!"
"I don't know the whole fucking story, Ellie! Umalis ka na!"
I paused. He cursed? And he cursed in front of Ellie. Suddenly, my heart feel calm and fluttered. He's on my side?
"No!" Matigas na ani Ellie
"Damn! Aalamin ko muna ang nangyari Ellie kaya umalis ka na. We'll talk first" aniya.
"And you chose to hear her part? Are you blind? I am the victim here!" She hissed
"I know so shut up!"
I stop. He knew that Ellie was the victim? Umasa ako sandali sa sinabi nya kanina pero kaagad din palang mawawala. Siguro kailangan nya akong maka-usap para paalisin dito.
"Palayasin mo na sya, Ram."
"Wag mo kong pangunahan, alam ko ang ginagawa ko"
"Then do---" Ellie was about to say something when Ram interrupt
"Ano ba ang hindi mo maintindihan sa sinabi kong umalis ka muna? You're damn CPA and yet you can't understand the simple phrase?!"
A moment of silent filled us for a moment. Hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari dahil nakatalikod ako. Narinig ko nalang ang paalis na sasakyan ni Ellie.
"Acelle" pagtawag nya saakin. Seryoso ang boses nito pero punong-puno ng emosyon.
Hindi ako kumibo. Kinuha ko ang braso ko na hawak nya at saka tumakbo papasok sa loob. The tears on my eyes finally landed on my cheek as I run towards my room. I get my cellphone as well as my wallet. I need to leave for a moment.
He looked at me when he saw me on the living room.
"Acelle"
Hindi ako kumibo, dere-deretso palabas ng bahay nya. I wipe off the tears on my cheek as I call for a taxi. I saw him standing near the door and he's looking at me.
I don't know where should I go. He used to be my home and now, I am having a second thought because I realize that he's just my temporary shelter.
Nasa loob ako ng isang cafè. I don't know where to go either so I decided to go here for a moment.
It's raining outside, mabuti at nasa loob na ako ng cafè bago pa umulan. Nakatanggap ako ng mensahe galing kay kuya Archee.
Kuya Archee
Tinatawagan ka daw ng buyer ng mansyon Ace. Hindi ka daw nya makontak?
Hindi ko na kasi napansin na mayroong missed calls roon dahil nawalan ako ng oras para i-check ang aking cellphone.
Mabilis na tumawag si kuya saakin. I check myself if I look okay before I answer his videocall
"Kuya" I started
"How are you?" He asks sounds so concern. I wanna cried and tell him what happened but I know that it wasn't necessarry at all. Bumalik ako rito para sa mansyon lamang at hindi para masaktang muli sa isang taong minsan na ring sinaktan ako.
"I-I'm fine. Don't worry 'bout me" I said and smile
"Kay Clive ka ba tumira or nag rent ka ng apartment? Probably you book on hotel? Do you still have money to spend with?" He asks
"I live somewhere here kuya. Okay lang ako. By the way, anong sinabi ng buyer?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
"Tomorrow, tomorrow you can talk to him. Ikaw na ang pumunta sa mansyon, Ace" aniya
"Okay. " I replied
"After that mag book ka na ng flight tapos bumalik ka na dito. " aniya. Narinig ko ang pag-iyak ng pamangkin kong si Wesley.
"Sige na kuya, patahanin mo muna si Wesley. Tatawagan nalang kita bukas" I said to him. He nod as an answer
"Mag-ingat ka jan, Ace. I love you always remember that" he said and smile widely.
"I love you too kuya" I said and ended the call. He's the only family that I have so I should treasure him.
Nagtagal pa ako sa cafè para magpatila ng ulan. Nakatanggap ako ng tawag kay Ram pero hindi ko iyon sinagot. Ayoko pa syang kausapin dahil alam ko naman na palalayasin na nya ako pag nagkataon. Bukas nalang kami mag-uusap kapag nabenta na ang mansyon.
I admit it to myself, minsan akong muling umasa na pwede pa. Akala ko may rason na ulit para mag-stay ako dito pero wala pala. Akala ko lang pala yon. I now need to leave for everyone's happiness. It's all over now. Maybe I need a closure. Right, hihingi ako ng closure bago ako umalis para naman sigurado na wala na talagang balikan pa. I wanna stay abroad and create a new memories.
Gabi na nang tumila ang ulan. Pasado alas otso na nang umalis ako sa cafè para bumalik sa bahay ni Ram.
I pressed the doorbell once I reach his house. Moments later he was the one who open the gate for me.
"Y-You're back" mahina pero puno ng sinsiridad ang boses nito.
Gusto kong iwasan sya pero hindi naman dapat iyon dahil wala naman syang kasalanan.
"Nandidito pa ang mga gamit ko kaya di pa ako aalis. Naiinip ka na ba sa pag-alis ko? " tanong ko rito.
Hindi ko inantay ang sagot nya. Nauna na akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay nya.
"Let's talk, Ace." Aniya pagkapasok sa bahay.
"I'm tired, Ram. Pwede ba bukas nalang?" Nilinggon ko sya bago mag-salita.
"Okay." He replied.
Paakyat na ako sa hagdan nang magsalita itong muli kaya huminto ako at nilinggon sya.
"Kumain ka na ba? I cooked a dinner for us, let's eat" he said.
"Ayokong kumain, gusto kong magpahinga" ani ko.
Tinitigan nya ako pero sa huli ay sya na rin ang nag-iwas ng tinggin. I heard him sighed when I turned around to take another step towards my room.
I bite my lowerlip to prevent the sudden noise that was about to explode. Tears fall on my cheek when I realize that he still cares for me eventhough that he saw me on action hurting his girl.
Maybe he just cares because he was oblige to do that.
I'm doomed and lost.