Secret Heartbreaks

35

"Huy! Kalerki ka talaga! Sigurado kang okay ka lang? Pwede ko namang tawagan ang kapatid mo na hindi ka makakapunta sa—"

I shook my head and raised a hand to silence Babes. Hinilot ko ang sentido at pasalampak na nahiga sa sofa.

Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos kagabi dahil sa kaiiyak tapos maaga pa akong umalis kanina at pumunta sa hospital dahil gumising na raw si Sugar. Ngayon naman ay kailangan kong maghanda dahil biglang nag-aya si Gretchen na mag-sailing dahil kaarawan niya ngayon.

I'm too tired to even pick a nice outfit that I just chose the first one I saw. It was a dark blue and white crocheted dress with a deep-v neckline. It's backless as well and has a halter straps which has to be tied at the back. I then paired it with my slip-on stiletto heels which was the first one I saw as well and good thing it matches well with my dress.

Nagpahatid ako kay Babes dahil ang sasakyan ni Caramel ay ibinalik ko na kanina. I received an earful of nagging from her and it was Sugar who just woke up from coma that made her stop.

I actually want to be with Sugar but she insisted that I should go to my sister's celebration. I also think that she knows that I don't have really good memories in the hospital she's in and it amazes me how she can consider me and my welfare even though she should be solely concerned for herself.

Nang makarating kami sa port ay namangha pa si Babes sa mga barkong nakadaong. The shore and the beach itself looked the same as they were years ago although the yachts and all the boats here looked like they were upgraded into something much more lavish and expensive.

The memories of me, Sasha and Olivia pedal-boating here and getting stuck in the middle of the sea and got rescued by Martell and his cousins came rushing to my mind. My chest warmed with an unexplainable and nostalgic sensation and I had to shrug the thoughts away to avoid feeling the "heaviness" it brought.

Si Gabriello ang sumundo sa akin at saka lang umalis si Babes. Nag-uusap kami habang naglalakad at huli ko nang napagtanto na kung nandito si Gabriello ay malaki rin ang posibilidad na nandito rin si Martell!

Wearing a dark blue button-down shirt with the first two buttons opened and sleeves messily rolled just below his elbow, a white chinos shirt, a pair of dark brown boat shoes, and aviator sunglasses, Martell looked like a don overlooking his share of land.

Siya unang nakahuli ng tingin ko nang makarating kami sa top-deck at may kung anong dramatic effect na may nilipad-lipad pa ng hangin ang kaniyang buhok nang tumingin siya sa gawi namin. But unlike those in the movies where the guy greets the girl with a sweet smile and warm welcome, the opposite happened to us.

His eyes only settled at us for a few seconds before he brought his attention back to the calm waters. He neither smiled nor scowled but then again, after what happened yesterday and after everything I did, this one's expected already.

"Sisteretskie!" Pasigaw na tawag ni Gretchen at saka humiga sa tabi ko. Niyakap niya ako mula sa likuran at parang bata na nagpapalambing. "Ba't ka nagkukulong dito? Is it because of Martell? You understand that I can't not invite Martell, right?"

Tumagilid ako ng higa at hinarap ang kapatid. "No, sorry, it's not that... may iniisip lang," paliwanag ko sabay singhal.

Gusto kong kuwentuhan ang kapatid ngunit birthday niya ngayon. Gusto ko rin makipag-celebrate kasama siya ngunit parang nawalan ako ng gana kaya nagkulong ako dito sa isa sa mga kwarto. Akala ko nga ay hindi niya napansin ang pag-alis ko ngunit heto siya ngayon at inaalo pa ako.

"Care to share? Chikkahan mo ako," anang kapatid at biglang naging masigasig at parang ready na makinig. "Ito na lang birthday gift mo sa akin."

"Seryoso ka? Chismis ang gusto mong hingin sa akin?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, biglang nakalimutan ang mga iniisip dahil sa kaweirduhan ng kapatid.