Bottoms Up, Forget Tonight (Revelry Series #2)

Hakbang 30

"This is what I've been telling you from the very beginning! Kaya ayaw kong mapalapit sa mga pamilyang 'yan dahil problema lang ang idudulot nila! You didn't listen to me, Hira!"

Kasing taas ng sikat ng araw ang iritasyon ni Papa nang sinabi 'yan. Pagod akong bumuntong hininga habang nakikinig sakaniya. Umaga pa lang pero pagod at ubos na agad ako.

Everything is just so... draining. Every damn day. Every fucking minute.

At wala naman akong pahinga kasi 'yong pahinga ko.... iniwan ko na.

If you'll ask me if I regret breaking up with him, the answer is no. I do not regret it but it hurts. So much. Ang hirap niyang pakawalan... Ang sakit... Pero kailangan.

Ang pampalubag loob na lang siguro sa akin ay ang nabalitaan kanina. That Lucianno Orozco was charged with rape and sexual assault, and was arrested this morning. It was a big relief.

Doon siya nararapat. Sa kulungan. At gagawin ko ang lahat para manatili siya roon buong buhay niya!

"Now, it's all over the media! Pati sa labas ng mansion ng Mama mo, may media!" sigaw na naman ni Papa.

Mariin kong kinagat ang labi para pigilan ang sariling sumagot sakaniya, pero hindi ko kaya. I was never really good at following rules.

"Bakit, Pa? Ano ngayon kung may media? Natatakot ka bang madamay ka? Kinakahiya mo na ba si Mama dahil sa nangyari sakaniya?!" may hinanakit kong sabi.

Wala akong pakialam sa media! Although, I want to keep this private for my Mom, I know it will still be covered by the media. It's inevitable. Isang Orozco ang nasasangkot at tatakbo pang senador sa eleksyon kaya talagang lalabas 'to. Our family is kinda known too. Right now, I'm doing my very best to protect my mother's privacy despite the media surge.

Natahimik si Papa dahil sa mga binato kong salita sakaniya. Kanina pa siya pabalik balik ng lakad habang nakaupo lang ako rito sa sofa, sa loob ng study room namin para hindi marinig ni Mama. She's sleeping now. All day... she's been sleeping since the tragedy. Gumigising lang kapag kakain.

"Where did you get that, Cahira Hennessy?!" parang kulog ang boses ni Papa.

I took a deep breath. "Because you care so much about other things! You care so much about the media, and the mistake I did for engaging myself with those family! I only care about Mama and how to win this case! Can you do that, Pa?"

"I care about your mother and her case!" he countered.

"Then stop the blame! No one wanted this to happen!" sinubukan kong kumalma. "Nilalaban ko si Mama at hindi ako nanghihingi ng kahit ano kundi suporta niyo lang... Tama na 'yong sisihan, Pa. Nakakapagod dahil hindi naman tayo dadalhin no'n kung saan. Samahan mo na lang po akong ilaban si Mama..."

Kita ko ang sakit na dumaan sa mata ni Papa bago siya pumikit nang mariin. I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued talking.

"Support is all I'm asking you, Pa... I know you don't love her anymore, but as the mother of your child... please support her. Alam ko pong minsan sa buhay niyo... minahal niyo siya. You once loved her and I'm not asking you to love her again. Suporta lang, Pa. Iyon lang po ang kailangan ko at ni Mama..." tumulo na ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

He looked at me with sad and teary eyes. Bumuntong hininga siya pagkatapos ay lumapit sa akin para salubungin ako ng yakap. Tuluyan na akong naiyak.

"Si Mama 'yon, Pa, eh... Mama ko 'yon..." I sounded so helpless.

"Shh... I know. I'm sorry, hija. I'm not blaming anyone. I... I just cant believe it," nahihirapan niyang sabi.

I wiped my tears away while he's still hugging me. All my life, I've never cried infront of my father. Ngayon lang dahil si Mama lagi ang iniiyakan ko noon.