#WUM34
I was just looking at Hera. L was crying beside me. Parang ate na rin kasi niya si Hera noon kaya hindi nakakataka ang bugso ng emosyon niya. Ilang saglit lang ay niyaya siya nila Bowen na maupo kaya naiwanan ako roon.
I couldn't find my peace while looking at Hera. My chest was heaving every second.
"Are you glad now?"
Glad?
Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang marinig ang tanong na iyon. Hindi ko man lingunin ay kilala ko ang boses ng lola ni Hera. Sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita kong tumayo siya sa tabi ko habang nakatingin din kay Hera.
"I remember Hera and your mom were fighting because you were avoiding her after getting scared." She chuckled. "It must've been so hard to witness lifeless Hera, the only family you had and accepted you like a real sister. Though, you ended up abandoning her too."
Kinuyom ko ang mga kamao habang nag-iinit ang mga mata. Ang sakit ng dibdib ko bawat kalabog nito. Pumasok sa isip ko iyong lahat ng nangyari sa pagitan namin ni Hera at ang kinahinatnan ng lahat dahil sa takot ko.
It was true, I abandoned Hera. I was surely one of the reasons why she ended up like this and God knows I couldn't accept that every night when I was all alone. I was just trying to be alright but at the end of the day, I am still not. I'm still thinking about her and regretting.
"How does it feel? That you're one of the reasons why she's lying there now, huh?"
Naramdaman ko ang isa pang tao sa kabila ko at si Agape iyon kasama ang dalawa pang kapatid. Kung titingnan ay parang normal lang kaming nakatayo sa harapan ng casket at tahimik na nag-uusap bilang pamilya.
"You're here," Agape affirmed. "You really had a thick face after running away when we gave you a chance to come back. Bigla kang magpapakita ngayon dahil wala na si Hera."
"Didn't you abandon her when she was alive?"
"Didn't you decide to leave her because you were selfish?"
"This is all because of you. Kung hindi mo lang pinairal 'yong pagiging selfish mo, hindi hahantong ang lahat sa ganito. You knew how she loved you."
My heart twisted more. I wanted to cry in pain but I forced myself to hide my emotions. Why here in front of Hera's casket? Can't it wait? Respeto na lang sana.
I know how much Hera loves me. I fucking know that. Bakit kailangan pang ipagdiinan iyon lalo para saktan ako at pagsisihin?
They didn't even seem to care when Hera was alive. Nasaan din ba sila noon? Bakit ganoon?
Hindi 'to ang oras para magsisihan pero nakakasama ng loob ang lahat lalo. Hindi ko naman sila nakitang sinamahan si Hera sa mga problema niya noon. Kaya nga simula no'ng iwasan ko siya ay sa iba siya kumapit. Kasi wala siyang inasahan sa mga kapatid at sariling kamag-anak.
"I heard that you were the first one who saw her dead body. How can we be so sure that it was a suicide—that you're not the one who plotted a clean crime?"
My eyes widened in horror and anger. I fisted my hands and looked at Tyra who said that. She smirked and raised a brow.
"Oops. Did I hit a nerve? Look how defensive you are now. It's nice to see you with a reaction, little sister."
"You wanna talk more?" I asked, gritting my teeth. "Come out with me—"
Lola scoffed. "You should just leave. You're gonna ruin the peace here. I don't even know why you came here. Mahiya ka sa balat mo, bastarda."
