Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 51

Chapter 51

"Karma, anak," I heard Ate Gina said from outside. "Alam ko na sinabi mo na ayaw mo ng kausap, pero tatlong araw ka ng hindi lumalabas d'yan sa kwarto mo. Pinapunta ko na rito si Dominic."

"I'm right here," narinig ko na sabi niya. "You know I don't like the blame game, but you shouldn't have read those comments."

I held the pillow closer to my chest. Why was I so affected by the comments? Most of them were not true—not in the slightest. But they were truths there... I did date Austin. And I did date Ryder. Pero hindi naman sila sabay. And I was honest with both of them.

I knew I should not care, but I did care. This all felt different—this whole caring thing. When did I start caring about what other people think?

"I brought food. Can you unlock the door?"

"It's not locked," I said.

"Okay... Well, can I open the door?"

Tumayo ako at saka binuksan iyong pinto. I still did not like other people in my room. I felt like this was my sanctuary, and I really did not like it when someone invades my place.

"Well, you look like shit. Ano'ng ginawa mo ng tatlong araw?"

"I read comments. Ang dami pala nila. And I learned new sites. Do you know that there are sites dedicated sa mga chismis tungkol sa mga artista? And there are blind items, too."

"Yeah... That's the sucky part of showbiz, I guess," sabi ni Dominic. "But you seriously read all comments?"

I nodded. It's like there's this force. Once I started, I could not stop. And even if I knew that I should stop because that's what's right, I couldn't. I couldn't consciously step backward.

"I'm so sorry," he said.

"Why?"

"Because I know how it feels to be on the other end, and it doesn't feel nice at all," sabi ni Dominic.

"There was this one comment saying na magkaklase daw kami nung high school. I think she was telling the truth dahil totoo iyong iba niyang kwento. And then people started to call me retard and creepy."

Dominic's mouth parted. Ate Gina started to speak in Ilocano. Wala akong naintindihan sa sinabi niya. I felt my stomach grumbling kaya naman bumaba na ako. For three days, I survived by eating my granola bars and the biscuits in my room. Nagkasya din iyong isang malaking lalagyan ko ng tubig. But I was hungry. I wanted to eat rice and sinampalukan.

Binuksan ko iyong kawali.

"Kailan ka magluluto ng sinampalukan?" I asked.

"Gusto mo ba?" I nodded. "Teka lang at iluluto ko. Mag-usap muna kayong magbest friend d'yan," she said and then hurriedly went to the dirty kitchen.

Tumingin ako kay Dominic. "Ano'ng dala mong pagkain?"

"Donut. You want to eat it before sinampalukan?"

I nodded. "Gutom na ako."

Pumunta kami sa may garden. The fresh air felt so nice. Tatlong araw na nasa kwarto lang ako. My eyes also began to hurt at one point dahil sa tuluy-tuloy na pagbabasa ko sa screen. It was like... an addiction that needed to be fed. I was actually thankful that Dominic came. Kung hindi siya dumating ay baka kung ano na naman ang binabasa ko.

"This one's from Zo," he said as he placed a small strawberry cake. "Sorry daw."

"Why is she apologizing?"