The Embers of Hope

Chapter 26

"Come on, Inus. Pick up, pick up, pick up..."

Kanina pa ako natataranta sa katatawag kay Inus na hindi man lang masagot-sagot. Even when we're on our way to school for our graduation, he's not answering my calls or texts. Hindi ko na mabilang kung pang-ilan na ba ito. Kung kasama ko pa sina Mom at Dad ay siguradong pipigilan na naman nila ako, especially that I'm still not qualified to be one of the graduates because I'm still filling my incomplete marks. Pero sigurado naman akong makakahabol pa rin ako kahit papaano.

"Okay lang po ba kayo, Ma'am? Baka po mas mapagalitan ka..."

"I appreciate your concern, Kuya Peter. Ngayon lang po kasi talaga ang oras na meron ako. Just please don't tell my parents. Ako na lang po ang magsasabi." I kept dialing Inus' number and grumbled when it went unattended.

"Kalagayan niyo lang po ang inaalala ko..."

Natigilan ako roon at napatingin sa rearview mirror. Kahit kasi ang mga katulong at driver namin ay alam kung ano man ang pinagdadaanan ko at ng pamilya namin. Isn't that embarrassing? Pero paano nga ba naman namin ito maitatago sa kanila? Every now and then, I have a nervous breakdown. I was admitted to the hospital for attempting to end my life. But it was reassuring to know that the news had not reached the school or Inus and my friends.

"Nandito na po–"

I didn't wait for Kuya Peter to finish his sentence. Itinapon ko agad sa upuan ang phone ko bago lumabas. Muntikan pa akong matapilok dahil sa biglaang pagtigil ng sasakyan. Without looking back, I ran off inside the campus. May ilan akong nabunggo pero humihingi naman agad ako ng paumanhin. Nakasalubong ko rin ang ilan sa mga kaklase ko and they tried to have a conversation with me but...

"I'm sorry, I'm looking for Inus. Nakita niyo ba siya?" Desperado na talaga ako. I'm even suppressing my tears because this will probably cause an attention even more.

"Hindi, eh. Ilang araw na rin namin siyang hindi nakikita. But I saw one of his friends, Elio."

Nabuhayan agad ako roon. "Saan? How about Mab?"

Sinundan ko ang direksiyong tinuro nila sa akin. I came to a halt when I ran out of breath. Napahawak ako sa may dibdib ko at tila ba lalabas na ang puso ko mula rito dahil sa sobrang lakas ng kabog nito. Out of frustration, I looked up the sky. Napapikit ako't dumaloy agad ang mga luha. Mabilis ko itong pinunasan at ginulo ang buhok bago nagpatuloy.

I'd been trying to get out of that damn house for days since I read his message, but my parents wouldn't let me. Mas ikinagalit kasi nila nang malamang si Inus ang boyfriend ko. I don't even know why! It's Inus and none of his characteristics are detestable. We can prove it to them but they won't give us a chance. Nalaman ko rin sa ilang katulong na nakailang balik na raw si Inus sa amin pero hindi man lang pinapansin at palagi lang pinapaalis. Mas ikinagalit ko pa iyon.

"Bakit ba ayaw niyo kay Inus?" pagdadabog ko.

"Can't we just not really like him? Besides, one look and I already know what kind of person he is, just like Heath. Hindi ka na ulit namin isusugal sa kahit na sino lang."

"So, it's about Heath now, huh? Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sainyo na magkaiba sila and not all the guys are like him! Sadyang hindi niyo lang talaga kayang bigyan ng chance si Inus!"

"Only the right people have a chance. I'm sorry, Lu, but he's not the one for you. Bata ka pa. Marami pang manliligaw sa 'yo at makakapili ka pa."

"No, Mom. You will never be able to take him away from me, no matter what you do. He's the only hope I have right now. Kung wala siya, matagal ko na kayong sinukuan!"

Just like what she always do kapag nasasagad ko na ang pasensiya at pride niya ay sampal lang ang kaya niyang maibalik sa akin.

"Akala mo ba ay hindi rin sumagi sa isip namin na sukuan ka? My god, Lu, how long will it take for you to realize that everything we do to you is to protect you?"