Chance Again (Again Series #3)

Kabanata 24

I almost think of him as a perfect husband. I witnessed how he took care of my mom. Mahal niya si mommy, pero ngayong nalaman ko na may iba pa siyang babae, hindi ko na alam. Lalong nabawasan ang respeto ko sa kaniya.

I hid in the next room after hearing footsteps.

My mom called my dad, nagkaroon ng tsansa si Daddy na patayin ang tawag at maunang puntahan si Mommy sa labas bago pa man siya nito mahuli.

"Awii, are you okay?" ani Jonary.

Tumango ako nang matauhan.

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

Muli akong tumango sa kanila.

Nag-alangan pa si Kesha na mauna sa pag-alis, pero lumabas na rin. Sinundan siya ni Jonary.

"We'll be back!" Jonary added.

Pinanood ko ang pag-alis ng dalawa. Nang mahatid 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 busy lang siya sa part-time jobs niya.

Napangiti ako nang makita na may message nga siya. Binuksan ko 'yon.

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

From Cleo: Mahal kita.

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

Ganoon din ang sinabi sa akin ni Sena. Ganoon ang paulit-ulit nilang sinasabi.

"That's Cleo, right?"

It was Sena.

Hindi ko napansin na gising na siya. She's now sitting on her bed while looking at me casually.

I hid my phone beside me.

Tipid siyang ngumiti bago umiwas ng tingin.

"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 the States again. I'm 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 nang 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.

"I just couldn't stop thinking about 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."

I was trying to understand Sena, but why are they always talking badly about Cleo, like she would hurt me? Wala naman akong maramdaman na ganoon sa kaniya. Hindi niya ako sasaktan. She's a nice woman, friend, and daughter.

Sena turned her eyes to me. "It took so long for you to realize that I like you, but when it comes to Cleo... Do you remember before our school year in ninth grade ended? Sinubukan kong umamin, pero laging nahahadlangan."