Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[21]

Chapter 21

I tried not to think about it too much, pero gumugulo pa rin sa isip ko ang mga narinig at nakita ko, hanggang sa pagtulog. There's a lot of unanswered questions in my head, but I'm afraid to ask. Natatakot akong pag tinanong ko pa kay Daddy ay baka lumala lang ang sitwasyon. I don't wanna lose my family. I don't wanna have a broken family.

I saw how Lia was devastated with what happened to her. Bago pa man namatay ang Papa niya, she never saw the love in her mother's eyes for him. I saw how she cried to me and how she told me all her feelings. Ayokong maging ganon. Ayokong umiyak sa parehas na dahilan. I want to lie to myself and pretend that what I heard is not true. Na ang perpektong kong pamilya ay perpekto pa rin...

Pero hindi ko rin naman pwedeng iwasan nalang iyon. Para ko na ring sinabi na ayos lang na masaktan si Mommy. I'm not blind. Pero sa sitwasyon namin, wala na akong magagawa. I just don't want to assume and mess things up.

The sun has already risen and I haven't slept at all. Hindi ko magawang matulog at magpahinga sa dami ng iniisip ko.

I tried to sleep, but I couldn't. Hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog na ako at inabot na ako ng hapon.

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. Unang bumungad ang pangalan ni Prince at agad ko ring sinagot iyon.

"Love..."

I groaned and hugged my pillow.

"Make up your mind, Prince. Baby or Love?"

I heard his chuckle. "Can I call you both?"

Umirap ako. I still felt sleepy and tired. Ang dami ko na ngang iniisip, dumadagdag pa 'yon? When will life be peaceful again? Parang gusto ko nalang bumalik sa pagkabata para puro laro nalang ulit.

"I love you and you're also my baby, Elisse Amelia. Can't I call you both, hmm?" ang lambing nung tono niya na parang madadala ako agad.

A small smile appeared on my lips. Kinagat ko ang labi ko at pinipigilan ang pagngiti. He can't see me, but I don't want to look like a teenager who's talking to her crush. I'm not a kid, anymore. I should act like a woman now.

"Feeling sleepy, baby?" I heard the barks of dogs in his background. Naroon siguro siya sa bahay nila kaya maingay.

"I just woke up. I couldn't sleep..." I yawned.

"Really? Dapat pala pinakanta mo 'ko kagabi para nakatulog ka. Singerist kaya ako!" aniya sa mayabang na tono.

I scoffed. "I bet you sound like a dying pig."

He gasped. "That's mean! Hindi porket mahal kita, papayag na akong apihin mo 'ko ng ganyan, ah!"

Napailing ako. Tumawa siya ulit at narinig ko ang tahol ng mga aso sa paligid niya.

"Anong gusto mong breakfast, baby? I'll drive there later to buy and bring you food." he said with a sweet and excited tone.

"I don't eat breakfast." Totoo naman, dahil hindi na ako sanay kumain.

"Tsk, you should eat breakfast! Huwag mo na isipin ang calories dahil kahit naman anong itsura mo, mahal pa rin naman kita..." he slipped a chuckle, like he's making fun of himself. He knows how cheesy that sounds.

Umirap ako kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. He always stresses out the importance of breakfast. Lalo pa daw at athlete ako. Alam ko naman 'yon, but he speaks like a coach sometimes. Pakiramdam ko, nasa court pa rin ako tuwing pinapagalitan niya ako tungkol doon.

"Merienda nalang, baby..." I groggily said and yawned again.

My eyes widened when I realized that I just called him baby. Oh my gosh!