365 Days Contract [EDITING]

Chapter 33

Tulala ako sa kwarto ko habang nakaupo sa kama. Nakatingin ako kung saan habang lumilipad ang isip sa nangyari kagabi. Sakit at galit ang nararamdaman ko. I couldn't forget how I was on my knees, begging Governor to stop his dirty game. Mas lalong nadadagdagan ang galit ko habang paulit-ulit kong naaalala ang umiiyak na itsura ni Amara.

How could she cry like that when it was my family who had been suffering all along?

Nakarinig ako ng mabibigat na yabag na papalapit sa kwarto ko. I thought it was Zion, but when the door opened, Calen's eyes and mine met.

"Bakit ka nandito?!" Pagalit kong tanong kay Calen na hingal na hingal. "Paano ka nakapasok?! This is trespassing!"

Calen was so worried while looking at me. I was on the verge of crying again, but I stopped myself. Tinuon ko na lang ang galit sa kaniya para pigilan ang mga nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata ko.

"What happened to your knees?!" Nag-aalalang tanong niya at hindi pinansin ang sinabi ko.

He rushed to me. Mabilis niyang tiningnang ang mga tuhod kong mayroong mga gasgas mula sa pagkakaluhod ko kagabi sa bahay ng mga Silva. I didn't notice the pain until now that Calen mentioned it.

"Umalis ka na rito. Kaya ko ang sarili ko." Mariing sabi ko at iniwas ang tuhod sa kaniya.

I saw him gulp and pause before lifting his eyes to see mine. He just stared into my eyes without talking as if he was keeping it all in. I caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes, but I just ignored it.

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaluhod. "Where's your first-aid kit?" Lumingon-lingon si Calen sa kwarto ko.

"Ang sabi ko umalis ka na, Calen. Hindi mo ba ako naririnig? I can treat this without your help. Kaya ko naman—"

"Found it," Sambit niya sa sarili at lumapit doon sa first-aid kit na nakalagay sa glass wall-rack.

Bumigat ang dibdib ko habang pinapanood siya. He went to get the first-aid kit and kneel down to treat my scratches. Tahimik lang siya habang ginagamot ang sugat ko. Walang umiimik sa aming dalawa. I could not even feel the stingy feeling of my wound. All I felt was the heavy pain inside my chest.

"Umalis ka na," Sabi ko ulit nang makitang tapos na siya at ngayon ay nililigpit na ang first-aid kit.

"How are you?" He asked. Hindi niya ulit pinansin ang naunang sinabi ko.

The moment he asked that question, my eyes welled up with tears. Bumigat lalo ang loob ko nang maalala ang sitwasyon ni Daddy. All I felt was this throbbing pain inside me that I wanted to burst so bad. Kahit gaanong karaming luha na ang naiyak ko ay hindi nababawasan ang bigat ng loob sa dibdib ko.

"I heard about what happened to your father. I'll pay for all the expenses. I also hired two bests doctors for your father to prioritize his recovery—"

"You don't have to do that, Calen. You can stop helping us now." I swallowed the huge lump in my throat.

He flinched because of what I said. It hurts to see him in pain, but I don't have anything else to do. There was nothing in between us. He...he wasn't the father of my child. Paano makakayanan ng konsensiya kong tumanggap ng tulong sa lalaking walang kamalay-malay kong niloloko?

And my family... the only solution to end my family's misery is to leave this man alone. Dapat hindi na ako nahihirapan, eh. Dapat hindi na ako nahihirapan na pakawalan siya, pero bakit ganito? I was hurting more seeing how hurt he was. Sobrang bigat sa dibdib.

"Lavender, please..." Halos magmakaawa niyang sabi sa akin.

Natahimik ako at napalunok, hindi dahil sa wala na akong masabi kung hindi dahil malapit nang tumulo ang mga luha ko.