HS2: Matchmaker's Tragedy

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"Look what you've done, Victor! Everybody in this town is backbiting us! Ano ba kasing pinaggagawa mo?"

Nandito lang ako sa hagdanan, nakatago habang pinakikinggan ang pinag-uusapan nina Mama at Papa. Mukhang galit na galit si Mama dahil hindi niya na kayang kontrolin ang boses. Pinapasok ko muna si Ben sa loob ng kwarto niya at sinabihang manood na lang muna ng TV.

"I didn't do anything! Ang mga taong 'yan ay masyadong tanga-tanga dahil nagpapauto sa bida-bidang kapitan na 'yun!" He said while walking back and forth. He looks so stress while my mother is fuming mad at him. "Trust me."

"Naaapektuhan ang anak mo dahil sa pinaggagawa mo! Nakita mo? Binato lang naman si Xia kanina dahil sa anumalyang kinasasangkutan mo!" She hissed. Nagamot ko naman na ang sugat ko at hindi naman siya masyadong malalim. "Fix your mess or else, I have no other choice but to leave you. I will take my children with me."

Dali-dali akong tumungo sa kwarto nang makitang aakyat na si Mama. Baka mamaya, pagalitan pa ako kapag nakita niya akong pinakikinggan ang usapan nila.

Parang hindi man lang ako nagulat sa pangyayaring 'yun. I'm referring to the case my father is facing. Masama ba akong anak kapag sinabi kong naniniwala ako sa mga taong nagsasabing corrupt siya? I don't know. I can't deny the fact that I believe them and I can't believe myself for believing them and leaving my father behind.

Napasandal ako sa paanan ng higaan ko at tumingin sa kisame, iniisip ang mangyayari bukas. What if paglabas ko, bigla na naman akong batuhin? What if may nag-aabang lang d'yan sa labas ng bahay namin at hinihintay na lumabas ang isa sa amin para salakayin? Gosh, I can't help but to overthink. Overthinking can't do anything, Xia. It will make things worst. I tried to calm myself.

Naramdaman ko naman ang pagvibrate ng phone ko kaya kinuha ko ito. Blake messaged me. Alam niya na kaya? I shake my head, stopping myself from overthinking things again. With my trembling hands and rapid heartbeat, I picked up the phone. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako eh.

From: Blake
I'll call you.

Saktong pagkabasa ko ng text ay lumabas sa screen ko ang number niya. I hesitated to answer the phone because I don't know what he's going to tell me. Is it about my dad? Is he mad at me? Bakit naman siya magagalit sa akin? Hindi naman ako si Papa, ah. Hanggang sa matapos ang tawag, hindi ko pa rin ito, sinasagot.

From: Blake
Answer the phone, Xia.

Xia.

I bite my lower lip when he called again. This time, I answered it, but I didn't talk. I heard him sighed in relief. Ilang segundo pa kaming tahimik bago siya nagsalita.

"I heard the news..." He started. Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko dahil pakiramdam ko ay nilalamig na ako.

"O-Oh?" My voice is shaking, I can hear that. He sighed again.

"Baby, are you alright? Do you want me there? I can go there if you want." My tears automatically fell down when I heard his worried voice. Akala ko galit siya. "Hey, are you crying? Don't cry, please. I know your father is innocent. He can prove that. You and your family can make it. I'm here for you, okay?"

Nakakatawa. Nakakatawang isipin na siya, na hindi naman anak, iniisip na inosente ang ama ko samantalang ako na anak mismo, hindi ko magawang maniwala na inosente siya.

"I'll go there----,"

"'Wag na, Blake." I sniffed. Pinunasan ko muna ang luha ko. "B-Bukas na lang tayo mag-usap." I sighed heavily.

"You sure you're okay?" I nod, as if he would see me. "I'll go to your classroom tomorrow, hmm?"

"I-Ikaw bahala." I said and ended up the call immediately.