Direct Me, Rhein (Epistolary)

98

Trigger warning: This chapter may contain scenes that might be triggering to you. Reader's discretion is advised.

***

Rhein Javier
9:12 PM (in Paris)
3:12 AM (in Manila)

Rhein Javier is calling...

Accept | Decline

"Rhein?"

"...."

[silence]

"Rhein?"

[silence]

"Bakit gising ka pa? Alas tres na dyan ah? Hello? [annoyed] bakit di ka nagsasalita? Prank call ba 'to?"

"Nevermind me [deep breath] I just want to hear your voice."

"Hmmm? May problema ba?"

"Hmm"

"Aww. I wish I could hug you right now."

"It's alright, I feel better just hearing your voice."

"May problema ba sa work? Gusto mo bang pag-usapan natin?"

"Aren't you busy?"

"I can make time for you just as you make time for me. Hindi naman 'to urgent. [pouts] Nakakatampo ka naman."

[weak smile]

"I miss you [voice crack]"

"I miss you too, Rhein. Why do you sound like you're crying?"

"..."

[long silence]

"Stella's in jail now." [guilty voice]

"Huh? Bakit?"

"Her twin filed a case towards her."

[Rhein silently crying]

"I- I was the one [whimpers] who persuaded Skyla, her twin, to do it. I feel... I feel guilty. My heart feels like it's about to burst out."

"..."

"Before we broke up, Stella threatened me that if I broke up with her, she'd drugged her sister. [deep breath] But I didn't listen to her and decided to end our relationship. The next day, she cried to me saying that the guy [voice slightly raised] who she cheated on me with sexually assaulted her twin. [pause] I recently found out that it was Stella who drugged her sister and gave her to that bastard.... She blamed me for not making time for her. She told me she was so lonely that she decided to seek warmth from others."

"She deserved it. She fucking deserved it, Rhein. [Voice crack] So you don't have to feel guilty about it. It was her punishment for her crime. Hindi dapat maguilty ng biktima dahil naparusahan ang perpetrator.. [sobs] Para niyo na ring sinisisi ang sarili niyo sa kasalanang ginawa niya."

[long silence]

"When I met her again, she pleaded with me, telling me how guilty she was with what happened with her twin because the bastard mistook her twin for her. She asked for a favor and I had no other choice because she always mentioned her twin. I was too guilty to decline."

"I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, Rhein. Hindi mo deserve ang nangyari sayo and -"

"Thank you, Seanna. I don't know what would I do without you."

"[Heaves a breath] Hindi ako magaling sa ganito [slight laugh] kaya pasensya na. Pero I'm proud of you. Sa dami ng atraso sayo ni Stella, namaintain mo pa rin yung kabaitan mo. Kahit na... Kahit na [whispers] naabusado na ang kabaitan mo. You don't have to feel guilty anymore, you did a great job."

[long silence follows]

[soft snores]

"Tulog ka na ba?"

[silence]

[smiles] "Good night, Rhein. I hope you have a sweet dreams... In short, dream of me [chuckles] The pain in your heart will be gone when you wake up. I love you."

Call Ended...