T.S. STORIES #2: I Bet You Think About Me (Completed)

Chapter 14

"So, siya ba first mo?"

"Camille, how many times should I tell you na binihisan ko lang siya? Nothing happened that night, okay?"

"Chill, you sound defensive ha."

Nasa resort pa rin kami. We're taking our breakfast and while Fred is away, kinukulit naman ako ni Camille. Nahuli niya raw kami kagabi kahit wala naman nangyari. After that incident, I went to sleep immediately dahil ayaw kong magpuyat kakaoverthink.

Nakarating naman si Fred sa table namin at sinalubong kami ng ngiti niya. Ang tagal niya kasing magbanyo kaya iniwan ko na lang.

"Good morning. MASARAP ba ang tulog mo?" bati ni Camille at inemphasize talaga ang salitang masarap.

"Yup. Sobrang sarap ng tulog ko, lalo na't nakatabi ko si Valeri—" sabi ni Fred ngunit naputol nang siniko ko siya. Ang lakas kasi ng boses, narinig tuloy ng iba.

"Di mo sure? Tumabi lang ba talaga?" pahabol pa ni Camille at napailing na ako.

"Wag mo silang pansinin. Kumain na tayo," sabi ko na lang.

Habang kumakain kami, naalala ko naman ang nangyari kagabi. I mean, after that incident. Tumingin naman ako kay Fred, and he just smiled at me. Siguro naalala rin niya.

I told no one about this, except Fred. Ayaw ko namang masira ng mood nila Camille. We were all here para mag-enjoy, and I don't want ruin everything.

Under the table, Fred held my hand, as I held back my tears. Buti na lang, andyan siya. Pinagpatuloy ko lang kumain, baka mapansin pa ako nila Camille.

After our breakfast, nagpaalam na rin ako kay Camille at sa kanyang family na nag-welcome sa amin dito sa resort. Kahit sa konting panahon, Camille introduced to them like we've been friends for years. Pinilit pa niya akong magstay kahit isang araw lang pero kailangan ko na kasing umalis.

Nagpumilit pa si Fred na sumama sa akin. Kaya in the end, sinamahan niya na lang ako paalis ng resort. We drove out the resort with his car. Doon ko na rin nilabas ang mga luha ko na kanina ko pa pinipigil.

He just held my hand while driving. Lagi niyang sinasabihan na magiging okay lang ang lahat. He even parked his car in the middle of the road, and comforted me. I was crying so hard.

Last night, my mom called me. She was crying. Ang sabi, pumunta daw siya sa bahay ng friend niya, and she caught Papa there. Tapos umamin siya na may namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa at buntis ang friend ni Mama.

My mom was breaking down alone at our home. She had no one to talk to. My tears just went down my face hearing her cry on the phone. Hindi ko napigilan kaya nagising si Fred. I told him about it, and he comforted the rest of the night.

Kaya ngayon, pupunta kami sa bahay. I know, sobrang layo mula sa resort pero Fred insisted to accompany me. Baka may mangyari pa raw sa akin kapag babiyahe ako nang mag-isa, knowing na may pinagdadaanan ako.

"We will get through this, Valeri. Remember that. I'm here for you, and I will never leave your side," he said as I wiped off my tears.

"Thank you."

***

After hours of driving, nakarating kami sa bahay. Naabutan pa namin si Papa na nakaabang sa labas ng pintuan. He was continuously knocking on the door. Mukhang ayaw siyang papasukin ni Mama.

"Kaya mo ba?" Fred asked. We were still inside the car. I looked at him and smiled. "Kakayanin. Just wait for me, promise I'll be back."

I finally let go of his hand and went out of the car. Lumingon naman si Dad nang narinig niya ang pagsara ng pinto ng kotse. He looked surprised because of my presence.

"Valeri—" he called my name and was about to go near me but I stepped back, and ignored him.

This time, ako naman ang kumatok sa pinto. "Ma, si Valeri ho 'to. Please open the door," tawag ko kay Mama.

Pumihit naman ang pinto, at nakita kong sumilip si Mama. "Valeri, pasok ka."

I immediately walked through the door and left him outside. Nadatnan ko si Mama at sa unang tingin pa lang mukha lang siyang okay pero kitang-kita ang maga sa mga mata niya. My little brother was eating alone in the dining.

Agad kong niyakap si Mama, and she cried on my shoulder. Napaluha na rin ako habang umiiyak si Mama. Lumapit naman ang kapatid ko at niyakap kami, without knowing what's really happening. He's only four years old, so young, and he doesn't deserve this.

"Kuya Gigi!" bati ni Shayne at kinarga ko siya pabalik sa dining.

We had a short conversation about what happened. Walang tigil ang iyak ni Mama habang ikinuwento niya sa aking mga nangyari. HIndi ko inexpect na gagawin 'yon ni Papa, but it's true. He cheated on us.

"How did you come here? May kasama ka ba?" Mama, trying to divert our conversation.

"Nasa labas siya, but he's fine. Ayaw ko namang madamay siya dito sa nangyayari," I told her.

Sinabihan naman ako ni Mama na tignan ang labas kung andoon pa si Papa. Hindi pa niya kayang harapin si Papa, sa ngayon. Paglabas ko naman sa pinto, sinalubong ako ni Papa.

"Valeri, can we talk?" sabi niya.

I just stared at him for a matter of time. Saka ko lang napansin, magang-maga rin ang mga mata niya, nakakasakit rin ng loob. This is first time I've seen him like this. Gusto ko sanang kausapin rin siya, kaya naguguluhan ako sa dapat kong gagawin.

Sa ngayon, kailangan ako ni Mama.

"'Wag muna ngayon, Pa. Iwan nyo po muna si Mama. We'll talk next time," I smiled bitterly before shutting the door in front of my father.

I just held back my tears after seeing him being hurt also, though this is all his fault. 'Di ko kayang matanggap na ganito ang nangyayari sa sarili kong pamilya.

Tinignan ko ulit ang labas, at hindi ko na mahagilap si Papa. All that I could see outside was the empty front yard and the black SUV parked behind the gate. Lumabas muna ako saglit at nagtungo sa SUV. I was about to open the car door when I saw Fred leaning against the car.

Niyakap niya ako agad. "How's your mother?"

"She's not fine, pero thank you dahil sinamahan mo pa rin ako hanggang dito. Gusto mo pumasok?" yaya ko sana pero agad siyang umiling.

"Go, talk to your mother. Take care of her, just like how I did to you, okay? Call me if you needed me, I'll be always listening to you," sabi niya and left a kiss on my forehead.

At that time, I've realized something about him.