Bruises of yesterday (PUBLISHED ON IMMAC)

#BOY11

Kinabukasan maaga akong nagising dahil sa init na tumatama sa binti ko galing sa labas ng bintana.

Kinapkap ko ang pwesto ni Bentley sa tabi ko ngunit walang tao roon.

Saka lang ako tumigil nang maalalang, hindi pala siya umuwi kagabi.

Tumihaya ako at nakatutok sa kisame. Iniisip kung saan siya natulog at kung sino ang kasama niya kagabi.

I'm not thinking if he's cheating or not because I know he won't.

He doesn't love me. He doesn't have feelings for me, but I know he won't do such things, for he is an honorable man with a reputation in the business industry.

I was done taking a bath, and I decided to go downstairs and prepare food for him. I took my phone with me because my manager texted me earlier and asked me If I had already agreed to a photoshoot.

Hindi pa nawawala ang mga pasa ko sa katawan, kaya I doubt if papayag ako.

I put my phone on the kitchen counter and started preparing the spices for the food I'd cook.

In the middle of cutting the potatoes, my phone beeped.

I looked at the screen, and it was a call from my brother.

I was a little nervous before I answered it.

"Hey, kuya." Masiglang sabi ko upang mapagtakpan ang kaba na hindi ko malaman kung saan galing.

"Is your husband cheating on you?"

Napasinghap ako't napatigil.

Ang ngiti ay unti unting napapalis. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"N-no. Of course not. Kuya. You just called me to ask about that?" Hilaw akong tumawa.

He did not speak for how many seconds, kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan.

"I saw him last night. With a girl."

"Kailan ka pa naging chismoso kuya? A-at nagpaalam siya sa akin kagabi na lalabas siya with his friends. Baka kaibigan niya lang iyon."

Sabi ko nalang kahit hindi naman talaga nagsabi si Bentley kung sino ang kasama niya. Sinabi ko nalang na ganoon upang hindi na mag alala at magalit ang kuya ko.

But...

How true is it that he saw Bentley with a girl?

Siguro naman kaibigan lang. Yes. Baka kaibigan lang.

Paulit ulit ko iyong sinasabi sa sarili ko. I'm trying to convince myself.

But my heart pounded so bad, thinking that Bentley was with a woman last night.

"Yeah? Buti naman nagpaalam. Akala ko umalis lang at hindi ka sinama."

"No, kuya. Nagpaalam siya na aalis kagabi. In fact, nandito na siya a-at natutulog pa sa taas. I'm cooking now, that's why."

"Alright. But I will stay vigilant dahil totoo ang sinabi ko sa iyon dati, Red. I won't ever sleep on someone who will hurt you. So always take care."

Parang may humaplos naman sa puso ko dahil sa sinabi ng kuya ko.

Hindi ko alam bakit gusto kong umiyak at magsumbong sa kanya.

"Are you happy?"

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot.

"Of course, Kuya. I married the love of my life."

I heard him take a deep breath. "Alright. Just call me if you need anything. I love you, little sis."