Fortress Island Series 2 Romano: Can't We Try (BOOK 2)

SIXTEEN

Proposal

Nag-angat ng tingin si Matt. He's been there leaning against the bedroom door across Romano's.  Malabo ang akin tingin dahil sa mga luha pero alam kong nag-aalala ito sa akin. He opened his arms and I immediately ran and threw myself to him. Binalot niya ako ng manit na yakap.

"Everything's gonna be okay." He whispered above my head. Magagaan at puno ng pag-iingat niyang hinaplos ang aking likod. I could not reply to him. I just kept on sobbing habang patuloy naming naririnig ang pagwawala ni Romano sa loob ng kanyang kwarto.

Matt expelled a huge breath. He cupped my cheeks and tipped my head up. The look in his eyes were reassuring me. "I think it's better if we get out of here. Do you agree?"

Napasigok ako. "Paano...ang niluto mong...agahan." Pautal-utal kong tanong.

Another sound of glass shattering filled our ears. Ngumiwi si Matt. "Nah. Did you hear that? Nakakawalang ganang kumain kung dito lang tayo."

"I don't feel like eating." Ani ko. Nagpahid ako ng mga luha at pilit na binigyan ito ng ngiti but I knew I failed. Nanginginig lang din ang mga labi ko. "Hindi ka umalis." Tukoy ko sa hindi niya pag-iwan sa akin taliwas sa kanyang sinabi na sa kusina ito mag-aabang.

Matt shook his head in dismay. "Did you really think na kaya kong iwanan ka sa kanya? I'm worried about the outcome of your conversation with him. And hearing that.." As if on cue, another glass breaking was heard. ".....I know I was right." Matt shrugged his shoulders and then he titled his head. "C'mon. The sooner we leave here, the better."

Hindi na ako umalma pa nang hinila ako nito sa kamay. To be honest, saan man ako dalhin nito ay wala siyang maririnig na reklamo. My mind was all over the place that I could not think straight. All I knew was the pain was unbearable that  I felt like I was bleeding everywhere.

************

Matt  brought me to a restaurant nearby. He did not talk nor ask questions about what happened. I was glad he didn't because I did not know how to answer his inquiries. Hanggang ngayon ay palaisipan pa rin sa akin kung bakit galit na galit si Romano sa akin. Bakit parang diring-diri ito noong saglit kaming naghalikan. Pero gusto ko mang alamin kung ano ang problema niya sa akin, hindi na ako susubok pa. If he wanted me to hate him, then he had won. I hate him for treating me this way.

Another week had passed at wala akong idea paano ko iyon nalagpasan. I had to give it to Krizette for keeping me company. Inaliw niya ako sa pamamagitan ng paggala sa mall at amusement parks. Ginawa niya akong bata pero imbes na magalit ay natawa ako. Yes, I managed to laugh even though my heart was breaking. And I realized, it felt good to laugh. It felt good to breathe. It felt good to be alive despite of pain.

Krizette and I had staycation at Shangri-La Hotel. We stayed there for two days. Dinala din ako nito sa exclusive beach resort ni Franco. Ang simpleng buhay namin noon ay biglang nagbago mula nang maging magkasintahan si Krizette at Franco. Bawat lakad namin ay may mga bodyguards na nakasunod. Minsan ay narinig kong nagtalo ang dalawa dahil dito. Hindi ko alam kung paano nakumbinsi ni Franco ang pinsan ko gayung higit na pasaway ito at mas matigas ang ulo kaysa sa akin.

"So, anong plano mo?"

Krizette and I were having our dinner. Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanyang tanong. "Anong plano?"

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Plano mo lang bang magmukmok dito sa bahay? Walang kaso sa akin pero you know, may mga araw na aalis ako at maiiwan ka ditong mag-isa."

Umismid ako. "Stop treating me like a child, Kriz."

"I'm not treating you like a child. I'm treating you like my younger sister, Mira. At seryoso ako sa sinabi ko. Okay lang sa akin kung gusto mo lang dito sa bahay. Ang akin lang, mag-isa ka. I hate to leave you alone."