Flakes of Tears

Episode 12

Episode 12

Reconcile

"Sino ka ba? Don't intrude in someone else's business!"

Lero got my hand again, and I could feel the tension between their stares while I'm on the other side of the counter, scared. Why is Lero here, anyway? Tinanong ko na siya kanina pero hindi niya sinagot kung bakit!

"Who are you?"

"Ex niya 'ko! Now, get out of here!" sigaw na naman ni Lero.

But instead of getting pissed, Yiv looked at me with such teasing in his eyes before pointing the finger at Lero. "This is your ex, Bianca? You really liked this piece of sh—" Hindi na natuloy ni Yiv ang sasabihin nang bigla siyang sapakin ni Lero na binitawan na ang kamay ko.

"Yiv!" I horrifyingly screamed before I got out of the counter.

Agad akong lumapit kay Yiv na may dugo na ngayon sa gilid ng labi. I put my palm on his soft cheek and furrowed my eyebrows more because he looked really hurt. "He's your ex?" bulong sa'kin ni Yiv.

I closed my eyes. Yes, I regretted it. I don't want to include him in my ex-list. Siya lang kasi ang nandoon. Nakakahiya. I nodded to him and saw him groan in frustration. "Really? Why?" he asked in so much disappointment.

I smiled at him bitterly. Yup, I'm disappointing. Very.

Tumayo na 'ko at inalalayan muna siyang umupo roon sa may counter. I marched towards Lero with great rage in my system, ready to smack his face anytime.

"Blan—" he couldn't continue what he was about to say when I full-forced slapped him on the face.

He looked shocked by my sudden slap, like he never expected me to do that. I was not like that. I was the... softer one. But I couldn't contain it anymore. Maybe because I'm just a human, and if we were pushed to the limits, we could not control our feelings anymore.

"That's for punching Yiv," I said in a poker face, and he looked sad by the way I mentioned another man's name. How could he? After coming back after 8 years? He dared to hurt someone I love? Someone who was there during my dark times?

How dare he?

I slapped him again on the other side, and he could not recover his face. Namanhid na ang kamay ko dahil sa sampal ko sa kanya. I could see his cheek reddened. As much as I want to pity him, I don't want to. He deserved that.

"And that's for leaving me alone and bugging my life again. Tapos na tayo, Lero. Kaya sabihin mo na lang kung anong kailangan mo dahil 'di na kita kailangan pa. Maayos na 'yung buhay ko. I hope you never came back because you left me in the first place."

"But I asked you before if you really wanted that decision! I thought you supported me with it!" I could see his eyes getting red with pain and frustration.

"Ano ba'ng dapat kong isagot? Hindi? Na pilitin kita rito kahit may sakit 'yung lola mo sa probinsya? Bakit? Girlfriend mo lang naman ako, eh! Alam ko naman 'yun. Inintindi kita. Pero 'yung hindi ka bumalik at hinintay pang lumipas ang isang dekada bago ako guluhin? 'Yun 'yung hindi ko matanggap. Kasi wala ka. Wala ka noong nilibing si Papa. Noong nabaon kami sa utang... Noong kailangan kong magtrabaho para sa pamilya ko. Noong panahong hindi na 'ko nakapag-aral para maiahon sa hirap 'yung pamilya ko."

His eyes widened at what I said while my tears were flowing.

"Wala ka naman, eh. Hinintay kasi kita. Kaya noong pumunta na 'ko rito sa Korea para magsimula ng buhay ko, wala ka na rin sa sistema ko. You were just a ghost from the past."