Tilting the Hourglass

Chapter 10

"Are you sure you're okay?" Aron asked for the nth time and my unreasonable anger kept on rising everytime he's trying to get an answer.

"Oo nga. Bigla lang sumakit ang ulo ko." I reasoned out while looking outside.

Kakapark niya lang sa harap ng bahay at tinanong nanaman niya ako bago ako paalisin at papasukin sa bahay.

He sighed and reached out for my hand, "Ang saya mo pa naman kanina habang kasama natin mga kaibigan mo."

Oo pucha. I was really happy, overthinking about what Amy said to me even until that damn phone call he fucking tried hard to decline.

I forced myself to smile and gave a kiss on the cheek. "Good night." I said, "Thank you for tonight" I added. Before he could utter a word, I immediately went out and accidentally slammed the door.

Shit! Shit! What the fuck, Seri??? What was that? Bobo ka na ba, ha? Anong drama naman iyon gurl?? Nakakahiya ka!

I was doing fine with this set up without thinking of any romantic feelings until Amybeth fed me delusions!

I need to put a reminder on my phone to slap Amy tomorrow! Hindi porque mabait siya ay malalampasin ko na ang pagpasok ng kung anu-anong idea sa utak ko!

I was busy beating myself up when I entered the house. I even shook my head many times to remove whatever's forming inside when a figure suddenly appeared in front of me.

"Fuck!!" I screamed when I saw Auntie on her black lace nightgown, with a kaolin clay mask on her face and a cigarette in between her fingers. "Auntie!" I protested.

She raised a brow at me, "You would notice me if you weren't too preoccupied" Masungit niyang sambit.

Agad akong nagmano sakanya, "Nakakatakot kaya get up mo!" Pagmamaktol ko.

She pressed her hand too hard on my forehead and said, "Stop calling me nakakatakot! Gusto mong itakwil kita??"

I rolled my eyes at her, "Ako lang kaya nakakatiis sa ugali mo." then launched myself on the couch and heaved a heavy sigh.

She followed me and sat beside me, "What's your problem?"

I rested my head on her shoulder. "Nothing." I said trying to hide what is what.

"Liar." She put her cigarette in the ashtray on the center table and looked at me intently, I want to catch her expression but it seemed hard given the situation on her face. "I know you. Something's bothering you." She said in authority.

"Nothing's bothering me nga. I am only confused." Pag-aamin ko sakanya. There's no need to hide things to her since she know me too well.

She raised a brow, an indication for me to go on.

"It's about Aron." I told her. "Someone called him while we were together. Halos hindi siya mapakali hangga't hindi niya napatay yung tawag."

Auntie listened very well then said, "That's it?"

"Auntie! You didn't see how he reacted! Kabang-kaba siya habang tumatawag iyong kung sino man iyon!" I immaturely said as my voice went up.

"Sinong kaaway mo?" She looked around then stared at me, "Hindi mo kailangan sumigaw Lucille. Wala 'yong kaaway mo dito." She lectured me calmly.

I instantly felt guilty, looked down and said my apologies.

She nodded and continued, "What's wrong with that? You know your set up. You have no right to be angry."

"Eh paano kung girlfriend iyon? Gagawin pa akong kabit?" I answered her. "Doon ako naiinis eh."

"You have a point. Hindi pang mistress ang ganda mo." She agreed. "Well, If that's the one bothering you, I think you should talk to him." She then stood up, "For now, I need to go in the bathroom and wash this clay on my face.