Thorns and Roses

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Arlene's Point of View

“Don't ever cheat on me, please. I'm begging you, babe. Hindi ko kakayanin kung pati ikaw ay mawawala sa 'kin.” Umiiyak na sabi ng babae habang nakayakap sa lalaki.

Nakaupo sila sa nakausling ugat ng isang malaking puno. Malayo ako sa kanila pero sapat lang ang distansya para makita ko sila at marinig. The guy is just nodding on every thing that the girl is saying.

“I won't leave you. Till death do us part.” The guy vowed. He stroked her hair while hugging her.

“Huwag na huwag mo 'kong iiwan. 'Pag iniwan mo 'ko, papatayin kita.”

Napaupo ako habang hinahabol ang aking hininga. Bigla na lang rumagasa ang mga luha mula sa aking mga mata. I suddenly felt an emptiness in my soul.

I feel like I'm a thin can that doesn't have anything inside it. I abruptly felt loneliness

My feelings are unbearable to the point that I yelled. I screamed at the top of my lungs. Sigaw ako nang sigaw na parang nasisiraan na 'ko ng bait.

I'm secretly hoping that someone will hear me.

Sumigaw ako hanggang sa mapagod ako. Nang matigil akong umiyak ay para akong nasampal. I started to laugh. Tumawa ako nang tumawa dahil. . . hindi ko alam kung bakit ako umiiyak.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Basta bigla na lang akong nagising at napaupo. Pawis na pawis din ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lang akong nalungkot, umiyak, sumigaw, at ngayon ay tumatawa.

My head hurts at the same time I'm exhausted. I feel really sh*tty right now.

- - -

“Okay ka lang ba, Arlene?” Ate Irene asked while she's looking at me. I just smiled genuinely and nodded. She's currently on the passenger's seat while Denver is beside her.

Third wheel as usual.

What happened last night took all of my energy. I feel like a zombie right now. After losing my mind for a moment last night, I tried to return to sleep.

But I didn't get any sleep, tragic.

Now we're on our way to our house. According to Ate Irene, she didn't have any courage to face our home alone. That's why she didn't even thought on visiting the house to find some things that can lead us to our father.

Pagkaparada pa lang sa harap ng bahay ay nakaramdam agad ako nang mabigat na presensya. Hindi 'yong mabigat na parang may multo. Mabigat na parang gusto kong umiyak.

I have a melancholic feeling right now. Sabay pa kaming napabuntonghininga ni Ate Irene. Bumaba na kaming tatlo sa sasakyan. I stared at the house in front of me.

Katamtaman lang ang laki ng bahay. The house looks lively because of the bright colors. Hindi halatang walang nakatira dito, para kasing bagong pintura ang bahay. Nag-iisa lang din ang bahay sa gitna ng kabukiran.

I don't know why some of the house I've been with Ate Irene is always away from the other houses.

Kahit mukhang buhay na buhay ang bahay, kabaligtaran ang nararamdaman ko. Parang may tumutusok sa puso ko. Mabigat ang pakiramdam ko at parang gusto kong lumayo sa bahay na 'to.

“Magandang hapon po!”

Sabay-sabay kaming napasinghap sa narinig namin. Muntik ko nang sapakin ang lalaki na biglang sumulpot sa harapan namin.

“Arlene, he's Pamela's husband. His name is Ramon,” Ate Irene said.

Makikipagkamay sana 'ko kaya lang pinakita niya sa 'kin ang kamay niyang napakadumi. Mukhang kakagaling niya lang magtanim.