Mistakes We Can't Laugh About (Loser #2)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Magkatalikod kaming natulog nang gabing iyon.

I had to cover my mouth as I cried because I was scared I would wake him up. Iyon ang unang beses na hinayaan niyang matapos ang araw na may tampuhan kami . . . at iyon rin ang unang beses na nasabi niyang nahihirapan siyang kapain ako.

Those were just simple words, but they pierced right through my heart.

Pakiramdam ko ay dumadating na ang puntong napapagod ko siya. I had too much going on in my head, and my feelings were all over the place. Ang tapang kong magyaya ng hiwalayan gayong alam kong hindi ko naman kakayanin kapag wala siya.

I really should stop talking when my emotions are bursting at the seams. Wala akong magandang nasasabi. If I want Leon to be patient with me, I shouldn't give him any more reasons to leave.

Maaayos namin 'to. Sigurado ako. We've lived through a lot of hurricanes already. With our love, there's nothing we couldn't conquer.

"What?!"

Ang malakas na sigaw ni Leon ang nakapagpagising sa akin. Pupungas-pungas akong sumandal sa headboard ng kama at tiningnan siya.

Alas kwatro pa lang ng madaling araw iyon. He had his back turned to me and was sitting on the edge of the bed while holding his cellphone up to his ears.

"Nay naman! Ano'ng gagawin ko?" he asked, frustration dripping from his voice. "Kaka-18 lang nila. Puwede na talaga silang makulong!"

Nawala ang antok ko sa narinig.

"Anak, hindi ko nga alam na ganoon ang mga kapatid mo," naiiyak na sagot ni Tita.

Leon brushed his hair angrily, and although I wanted to ask what was going on . . . I felt like I wouldn't be much of a help. Isa pa ay kausap niya si Tita. I don't want to interrupt them.

He took a deep breath. "Nasaan sila? Kakausapin ko."

Hikbi lang ang naisagot ni Tita.

"Nay . . . nasaan sila?" mas madiing tanong niya.

"G-Gusto ko silang itakas, Leon!" tumatangis pa ring sabi ni Tita.

Umiling ang lalaki. "Kapag napatunayang nagdo-droga nga sila, kailangan nilang managot sa batas, nay."

I gasped, drawing Leon's attention to me.

"Kapatid mo sila! Paano mo nasasabi 'yan?!" sigaw ni Tita. "Eighteen lang sila, Leon! Hindi mo ba naiisip kung ano ang mangyayari kapag nakulong sila?! Mawawalan sila ng kinabukasan!"

Huminga siya nang malalim bago tumayo at lumabas ng kwarto. I was left alone there, surprised by what had happened.

Nash and Nathaniel were involved in drugs, and it was possible that they would go to jail.

Dati pa man ay sakit na ng ulo ni Tita Leah ang kambal . . . pero hindi naabot ng isip kong ma-i-involve sila sa droga. Ngayong hindi na sila mga menor de edad ay malaki ang tyansang makulong sila, lalo kung may witnesses.

Hindi na ako nakatulog. I was worried. I waited for Leon to come back so I could ask him what happened, but he never did. Nang mag-alas sais ay saka ako bumangon at naaabutan ko siyang nakasubsob sa mesa, mahigpit ang hawak sa cellphone.

My heart clenched at the sight. He looked . . . helpless.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at humigit ng upuan. Ang pag-ingit noon ang nakapagpaangat ng ulo niya.

His eyes were almost bloodshot, probably because he was crying. There were tears in his cheeks and his lips were quivering.

Hindi ako sanay na makita siyang ganoon. I could feel my heart sinking into my stomach because I knew how much he loved his family.