Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 9

Cray

"What are you two doing here?" Walang ganang tanong sa amin ni Tita Railey. She didn't even try to hide her disappointment at Ember.

It's normal, Cray. Everyone knows Ember and Rainey are dating for almost two years. Tapos dumating ka lang, biglang nagkalabuan yung dalawa. And Presto, you're the wife now.

Tumikhim ako para kumuha ng lakas ng loob na kausapin ito. Si Ember kasi ay nakayuko lang at parang walang plano na magsalita. Sya pa naman itong may kailangan.

"Tita Rail.." I tried not to choke at the lump forming in my throat. Nakakatakot kasi yung tingin na ipinupukol nito sa amin ni Cray. "Ahm.. We're just gonna borrow your aircraft lang sana. Kailangan kasi namin makapunta ng isla ngayong gab-"

"You interrupted our night just to borrow a plane?" Palatak pa nito. Pinasadahan pa kami nito ng naiiritang tingin. "Ask Grant to fetch you. It's her problem to solve. Not ours."

Akmang isasara na nito ulit yung gate nila nang malakas na pigilan iyon ni Ember na ikinasinghap ni Tita Railey. Marahil hindi nito inaasahan na may gagawin itong isa.

"My mom doesn't want us to go there. But I have to. So please lend it to me. Magbabayad ako kahit magkan-"

"Magbabayad?" Umangat yung kilay ni Tita Rail at saka halos pabalibag na itinulak si Ember pasandal ng gate. "Tell it to me again, Ember." Tumawa pa si Tita Railey na punung puno ng sarkasmo. "You never fail to amuse me."

"Please.." Nag-iwas ng tingin si Ember at yumuko. Ni hindi nga man lang nito dinepensahan yung sarili kahit mas matangkad at di hamak na mas malakas ito kesa kay Tita Rail.

"Please? Such a powerful word. " Tita Railey repeated it as if she's thinking thoroughly about the meaning of that word. "When my daughter pleads for you, did you ever reconsider? Naisip mo man lang ba yung magiging epekto sa kanya ng ginawa mo?" Bahagyang nanginginig yung boses nito habang tila tinutuya kami pareho ni Ember sa bawat katagang lumalabas sa bibig nito.

Maging ako man ay nagyuko na lang din ng ulo. Wala naman may gusto ng nangyari samin ni Ember. It's not as if there's really something going on between us.

"Rainey refused to take anything since the day you've left her." punong puno ng emosyong sambit pa ni Tita Rail. Kung kanina ay boses lang nito yung nanginginig, ngayon ay pati na yung palad nito na nakadaklot sa damit ni Ember. "Kung hindi pa sya papakainin ni Al, hindi pa sya kakain. Naawa ka ba sa kanya, Ember!? Nung pinaglalaruan mo ba sya nung mga panahong magkasama kayo, naisip mo ba sya!? "

"Tita Railey.." hinawakan ko sya sa braso dahil kitang kita ko kung paano dumiin yung pagkakadaklot nya sa damit ni Ember. Ember just wince in pain but she didn't dare to stop Rainey's mom. "Please, don't put all the blame to Ember. It's my fault too for not stopping the wedding."

Dalawang pares nang mata yung dumako sa direksyon ko. Sa nakikita ko ngayon, talagang galit at masama ang loob samin ni Tita Railey. Ember is right. We shouldn't had asked. They're still hurting because of what we did. It's so inconsiderate of us para humingi pa ng pabor sa mga ito.

"It's all my fault." Lumunok si Ember at diretsong sinalubong ng tingin si Tita Railey. "Tita Rail, please don't blame anyone else. It's all just my fault." Ulit pa nito. Bahagya lang ako nitong sinulyapan. Pagkatapos ay kinuha yung kamay ni Tita Rail at ibinalik sa damit niya. "But No, I am not sorry. Sa lahat ng sinabi nyo po, hindi ko ihihingi ng tawad. I will never be. Your daughter is always pleading at me to even glance her way. I gave her two years. Ain't that enough? Should have I given her more? Should I be staying with her out of pity. Will that make everyone happy?"

Sa sinabi ni Ember ay lalong nagalit si Tita Railey. Napangiwi na lang ako nang tumama sa pisngi nito yung palad ni Tita Rail na ikinabiling ng mukha nito. It sounds painful. Her cheek is now reddish and swollen.