Beneath Her | [R-16]

Chapter Forty Seven

"Sana hindi ka nalang namin kinaibigan."

Sierra's words, as painful as a slap, cut through my heart. It was her turn to get the apology she deserved. Not just about Troy... About everything.

"Anong pictures yung sinasabi mo? I never took nude pictures ever! Don't tell me binlack mail mo siya nang wala talaga." pamewang niya. Nandito kami sa may office ni dad nag uusap

It's so easy to just lie and tell her I made it up. Para wala nang explanations. Explanations that would cause me to sink in deeper shit.

"Alam ko yung tungkol sa kidnapping niyo. Alam ko na sinabi mo sa lahat na walang nangyari sa'yo habang nandun kayo ni Cha." she took a step closer and flinched to cover my mouth but it didn't touch.

"It was your damn father again, huh."

"It's me. He didn't know anything about it." my response.

"At papano-" natigilan siyang magsalita nang lumapit si Kim sa aming dalawa. She sighed along her head facing down. "Jacob... You motherfuckers." she whispered under her breath.

"I was close to his family. Alam ko yung tungkol sa pagboboycott ng papa ni Jacob. I shared that information with Natalie." he explained.

"At ikaw, wala kang ginawa?" bahagyang sipa niya sa hita ko para sabihing ako yung kinakausap niya.

"It's not like we were on good terms. Bata lang ako 'nun, Sie."

"So..." she chuckled. "Alam niyong momolestiyahin kami at hindi ka nagsumbong dahil... hindi ka namin ininvite sa inuman, is that what you're saying? That you let me be emotionally traumatized because we had a petty argument?"

"Sie..."

"Hindi namin alam yung  gagawin nila. None of us three knew. Yung tatay lang ni Jacob yung gumawa nun." tuloy tuloy niyang sabi. Napahagip ako ng tingin sakanya. He lied. He knew about it and... 

"We thought it's just a simple scare. Sinabi ko rin na isama nila si..." napatingin ako kay Kim nang hawakan niya yung kamay ko para pigilan yung sasabihin ko. "Kim was my bridge to Jacob. The plan was to get Drey too, but..." they just wanted the money. "It didn't pan out."

"You really are evil, huh? Magagawa mo 'yun sa pinsan mo? Alam ba niya 'yun ha? Wala kang kwenta, Natalie. Bakit hindi mo nalang palitan si Satanas sa impyerno, ha?" sipa ulit niya habang nakatingin ako sa baba. Kung wala si Kim sa gitna namin, sigurado akong tinuluyan niya na 'ko.

"Kakausapin ko rin si Drey, yung kaming dalawa lang." I slowly raised my head, "'Wag mo muna sabihin kay Drey. You've seen the stress she's going through."

"I care about Drey's mental health so I will back off. Pero sa'yo wala, kaya sana bangungutin ka ng mga sinira mo yung buhay. Sana habang buhay ka'ng magdusa, Natalie. Ikaw rin, Kim. Bagay talaga kayo sa isa't isa." sabi niya at umalis sa office.

Tumingin ako sa taas habang bumubuntong hininga para hindi tumulo yung luha ko. 

"Kunin mo yung bag mo." binasag na ni Kim yung katahimikan. "Let's check out the resort."

"It's already afternoon." I said, lowkey wiping the tear that escaped my eye.

"Abot 'yan. Kahit gabi na tayo umuwi. I'm driving." sabi niya at lumabas na rin.