Love and Pretensions (Published Under PIP)

27.

"No way, Mom! Hindi ako magpapakasal sa iba! Bakit ka ba nangingialam sa buhay ko?!" sigaw ko kay mommy. Wala na akong pakialam kung nagiging bastos ako. Sumosobra na siya.

Nang makita ko ang article ay walang pasabi kong iniwan si Kai para kumprontahin siya. I have a feeling that she's planning something again and I knew it wasn't good.

"Ayan ka na naman, Avery! Listen to me! We're doing this for your own good! Sirang-sira ka na oh! Kahit saan ka maghanap, wala nang kukuhang management sa'yo! Marrying a rich man is your last and final option!" she yelled back.

"Sirang-sira na ako at dahil 'yun sa kagagawan mo! And hell no! I'm not marrying anyone unless it's Kai, mom!" buo ang loob kong sigaw sa kanya. I was really losing my patience and I can't help but to yell at her. She's getting on my last nerve at kahit nanay ko pa siya ay hindi ko na siya uurungan.

She scoffed. "And why is that, huh? Mas mayaman naman itong ipapakasal ko sa'yo, 'wag kang mag-alala. Walang wala ang yaman ng tatay mo sa yamam niya." she grinned mischeviously.

"I love Kai, mom. At hindi ako magpapakasal kung hindi siya ang papakasalan ko." I said with finality.

"Falling in love..." She laughed as if she's mocking what i said. "What a pity. You're not capable of love, Avery."

Natahimik ako at mas piniling umalis nalang. Mas gusto ko nalang na kausapin si Kai kaysa mag-aksaya ng oras na makipagtalo sa kaniya.

"You know what, mom? I looked up to you too much. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na mali ka pala. Na lahat ng tinuturo mo sa'kin ay puro pagiging makasarili at ganid. And I'm done with that, mom. I'm so done."

I don't care if she'll disown me or what. Sa katunayan ay para lang din siyang si daddy. The only difference is that she stuck around... pero hindi ko naman ramdam na meron siya dahil mukhang wala din siyang pakialam.

Gagawin ko na lung anong gusto ko. Wala naman na siyang magagamit laban sa'kin dahil sirang-sira na lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. The only thing that's important to me now is getting Kai back.

-

I went home to my unit and dialed Kai's number but I got no answer kaya napagapasiyahan ko nalang na pumunta sa unit niya.

I rang the doorbell pero walang nagbubukas ng pinto. It's Sunday kaya sigurado akong wala siyang pasok at nandito lang siya. Siguro ay natutulog? With that thought, I decided to use my own key to get in.

"Kai, are you home? Can we talk now?" I called and looked around. Walang sumagot kaya nilibot ko ang lugar.

I ended up in his room, where we used to sleep. Nagulat nalang ako nang makita siyang nakasiksik sa isang gilid kasama ang mga bote ng alak na wala nang laman.

"Shit, Kai." nag-aalala kong sabi at dali-daling lumapit. I cupped his face but he looked away and hummed.

"Kai, ano ba ang ginagawa mo!" I said frustratedly and held his shoulders. Buong pwersa ko siyang sinubukang buhatin pero masyado siyang mabigat.

Based on how he looks, he's probably half asleep and really drunk. Bahagya pang nakaawang ang mga labi. And I can't deny that even at this state, he still looks downright hot and gorgeous.

Pero hindi 'yun ang importante ngayon, Avery!

Tinapik ko ang pisngi niya para subukan siyang gisingin. He opened his eyes and stared at me. Maya-maya ay bigla nalang siyang natawa at napailing.

"Get out of my fucking head, Avery." aniya.

Avery... Avery na naman! He ysed to call me Autumn! Or Love! Bakit Avery?!