Never Be The Same

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

"Can you do me a favor, E-echo?"

"Will you accept my apology now, Kate? I am willing to do every favor you asked."

"You know, ayoko nang makitang nasasaktan si Ate. Can you please stop bothering her?"

Dahan dahan syang umupo sa tabi ko.

"Kate, I wanted to clear things between us. I want to apologize for everything that I've done. I know it's my fault..."

"Hindi mo kaya? Ano pa bang gusto mo sa Ate ko? Alam ko namang ayaw ng pamilya mo sa kaniya, lalo na noong nanay mo! You can't even man up for her diba? Iniwan mo syang basta sa ere without even explaining!"

"It's the other way around, Kate. Carmela was the one who left me, and I just let her be." Bumuntong hininga sya. "My mother hated her because she's one of the daughter of the main reason why my mother doesn't trust easily. I hated my mother also, kasi labas dapat si Carmela doon but she wrapped her hands around my neck. Wala akong choice that time, mawawala lahat ng pinaghirapan ni Carmela dahil sa akin at iyon ang ayaw ko. She cherished everything she had that time. Kaya in behalf of my mother, I'm sorry for the trouble."

Hindi na ako nakatiis at sinapak ko na sya. He flinched but didn't bother afterwards. Inabot nya pa ang kamay ko uli para ihampas pa sa kanya.

"Anong kasalanan ng Ate ko sainyo? Gusto lang namin ng tahimik na buhay! Bakit kailangang pahirapan ng nanay mo si ate? Sabihin mo nga, Echo!?"

"Kayang pitikin ni Mommy ang mga taong ayaw nyang nakaharang sa dinaraanan nya."

"That's bullshit, Echo! Si Senyora Thea ay hindi diyos!"

"Kate."

"Kaya pwede ba! Layuan mo na si Ate! The more na malapit sya sa yo, the more na mas masasaktan sya at ako!"

"Please, don't asked for this. not gonna happen."

Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko at hinarap sya.

"Tagalog para mas maintindihan mo. Pwede bang pakitigilan na iyong ate ko, Echo?"

Seryoso syang tumingin sa akin. "It won't happen. I'll do whatever it take--"

"Shit! Feeling ko talaga di mo ako minahal talaga noong tayo." Sinapo ko ang noo ko. Gago si Echo. "Did you enjoy playing with me, Echo? Kasi kung oo, tangina mo!"

"I do loved you, Kate."

I sarcastically laughed and scoffed.

"Make me believe then." I sighed. "There were so many description of Love, Echo."

Hindi sya nakasagot. Tumayo na ako.

"Just this once, Echo. Please, kung mahal mo si Ate Carmela, you'll stay away from her."

"Ganun nalang ba? Na kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, lalayuan mo? It doesn't work that way, Kate."

"Hindi mo ba naisip na sobra syang nasasaktan ngayon? And that is because of you, Echo."

Dumilim ang mga mata nya. "I never intended that, Kate."

Tumawa ako. "Oh really? Stay away from my sister, please."

Napahinto ako sa pag alis sana nang lumuhod si Echo sa harapan ko. He even clapsed his hands, like he was literally pleading.

"Kate," he breathe. "Kahit ano, hilingin mo huwag lang to."

"Mukha ka ng tanga, Echo. Tama na."

"Please, Kate."

Pumikit ako at dinama ang pagtibok ng sakit sa puso ko. Why did I end up loving this man again?