Chance Again (Again Series #3)

Kabanata 24

How could people who are already married and committed to someone do that thing? Why would they promise their eternal love just to cheat—especially in the most difficult times?

Hindi iyon nawala sa isip ko.

I almost think of him as a perfect husband, because I witnessed how he took care of my Mom but then, he's merely a pretender.

I was about to enter the guest room that night, pero bigla akong nawalan ng lakas nang loob.

I hid in the next room after hearing footsteps.

My Mom called my Dad, nagkaroon ng tiyansa ang Daddy ko na patayin ang tawag at maunang puntahan si Mommy sa labas bago pa man siya nito mahuli. How smart.

"Awii, are you okay?" ani Jonary.

Nang matauhan ay agad akong tumango.

"Kumain na si Sena." Dinapuan ni Kesha ng paningin si Sena na mahimbing na natutulog sa kama nito. "Ganito, Jonary, and I will buy our food muna. Tapos ikaw, bantayan mo si Sena, okay?"

Muli akong tumango sa kanila.

Nag-alangan pa si Kesha na mauna sa pag-alis pero nagtungo na rin, saka sinundan ni Jonary.

"We'll be back!" Jonary added.

Pinanood ko ang pag-alis ng dalawa. Nang maihatid sila gamit ang tingin, doon na ako umupo sa sofa. I was so tired. Tired of thinking, and tired physically.

Tiningnan ko si Sena na mahimbing ang tulog sa hospital bed bago ko ilabas ang cellphone para tingnan kung may text si Cleo. Wala kaming pasok sa school, siguro ay busy lang siya sa part-time jobs niya.

Napangiti ako nang makitang may message nga siya. Agad kong binuksan iyon.

Cleo: Work na ako. 'Wag magpapalipas sa pagkain, okay?

Cleo: Mahal kita.

Sandaling lumamlam ang mga mata ko nang maalala ang sinabi ni Grandma. She said that she doesn't like Cleo because she sees that Cleo is ambitious, but I didn't see that in a bad way. Para sa akin, talaga lang na masipag si Cleo at ayaw nang umaasa sa iba. Is being ambitious a bad thing?

Kasi... ganoon din ang sinabi sa akin ni Sena. Ganoon ang paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi.

"That's Cleo, right?"

I was surprised to hear Sena's voice.

Hindi ko man lang napansin na gising na siya. Now she's sitting on her bed, looking at me casually.

I hid my phone beside me.

Tipid siyang ngumiti bago nag-iwas ng paningin.

"The doctor said that you should get rest, Sena," sabi ko.

"I know," sagot niya. She's looking at the window on the side of her bed, malalim ang iniisip niya. "Gaano mo kamahal si Cleo? Do you love her already, that fast?"

Hindi ako makasagot, iniisip na mag-uumpisa na naman siya sa pagtutol.

"I was leaving for States again. I am just making sure that you'll be in good hands."

Umawang ang labi ko.

Aalis ulit siya?

"Hindi pa tapos ang therapy ko. I just went home for you." Tipid siyang ngumiti, nasa bintana pa rin ang paningin. "The things I do for you... and I wasn't telling you this for you to feel guilty. Ang pathetic ko lang."

Napayuko ako.

"Again, I just couldn't stop thinking how you and Cleo happened that fast. I hope you understand why I am saying this, why I don't have any trust in that girl."