Riding The Waves (Fortalejo Clan #1)

Chapter 23

"Aether... N-No, please! No!" Hila-hila ko ang laylayan ng suot na undershirt ni Aether para lamang hindi siya makaalis at ituloy ang ibinabalik.

"Mira Claude, he hurt you! What do you expect me to feel? Be happy and throw a goddamn party?" Sarkastiko niyang sinabi, nagtatangis ang mga ngipin sa iritasyon. I could see the rage in his eyes. He really want to confront Aspen.

Umiling ako, umiiyak pa rin habang nakaupo sa sahig at nakahawak sa laylayan ng damit niya. Pagkatapos ko kasing mawala sa party ay agad akong dumiretso sa kuwarto ko at umiyak. Hindi ko naman akalaing sinundan niya pala ako at nalaman niyang wala na nga kami ni Aspen.

"P-Please... No..." Humikbi ako't napayuko, nangininig pa ang mga balikat sa tindi ng pag-iyak.

My chest is aching painfully. I couldn't stop myself from crying hard. Kung pwede nga lang diktahan ang puso't luha ko ay baka matagal ko nang ginawa ngunit hindi naman iyon maaari.

"Aether! Hemera!" Momma rushed inside my room. Kitang-kita ko ang pag-aalala sa mga mata nito nang makita akong basang-basa ng luha habang nakaupo sa sahig ng aking kwarto. "Anak..." Mom gently uttered and square in front of me.

"M-Ma... W-Wala na po kami. Ang sakit, M-Momma..." Iyak ko. She immediately hugged me tightly as if she wanted me to feel that I'm not alone. Na nandiyan lang siya palagi para damayan ako sa kahit anumang pasakit na hatid sa buhay ko.

"Oh my, sweetie..."

"That's it! I really need to talk to hi—" Aether was cut off when Mom told him to squat beside her.

"Bakit, 'Ma?" Aether was confused but obliged anyway. "Aray— Momma!" ungot ni Aether nang pingutin siya ni Momma sa tenga.

"Ikaw na bata ka, gusto mo lagi ng gulo, ano? You're just going to complicate things even more." Mahinahon na ani Momma matapos akong pakawalan. "Let him be. Once everything is fine, they'll think about it again. Let's give these two a time."

"But Aspen hurt my twin, Ma!"

"Anak, natural lang na masaktan ka kapag nasa isang relasyon ka. It's not love if it doesn't hurt you."

Aether scoffed. "But love should make you feel happy and not like this! Look at her!" Itinuro niya ako. "My twin looked like a shit!"

"Twins, love doesn't always mean rainbows and unicorns, hmm? Hindi porke't nasaktan ka, hindi ka na susubok o magmamahal ulit. Real love heals, not harm you. Love never fails so don't think twice of falling in love with someone. If this thing didn't work out, it's not for you. But sometimes, people just come into our lives to give us a lesson that we could treasure forever. Minsan naman, pagsubok lang din ang lahat pero madalas sinusukuan na lang kaya natatapos na ang lahat sa pagitan ng dalawang taong nagmamahalan."

"Aether, anak, naiintindihan kong nasasaktan kang makitang nasasaktan din ang kambal mo pero hindi tamang gatungan mo pa ang nagbabaga nang apoy. Let them cool down. Let them heal. Let them think rationally." Mom said then looked at me. "Sweetie, I don't know the exact reason why did you two break up but I won't take any sides. In every story, there's always three truths. Your truth, his truth and the back story's truth."

"You can cry for as long as you want, Mira, but know that a man isn't a necessity but a luxury." She ruffles my hair and then stood up. "Everyone's looking for the birthday celebrant. You should go back."

Nagpaalam na si Momma na aalis pagkatapos niyon. Naiwan naman kaming dalawa ni Aether na walang imik. Ramdam ko ang masamang mood ng kakambal ko pero hindi ko iyon inalintana. I went to his side and hugged him tightly.