All for Naught (NOTHING SERIES #1)

Chapter 21

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"What? No! It's not like that." He sighed. "It's just..."

"What?" Naiinip kong tanong.

He shook his head and pursed his lips, walang planong sabihin sakin. Sumama ang tingin ko dito at hindi rin umimik. Fine! Edi wag!

Wala naman na kami, bakit niya pa sasabihin diba? Yan siguro ang iniisip niya.

Gusto ko mang umalis na ay hindi ko rin magawa dahil hindi ko alam. Siguro dahil ineexpect ng Tito niya na sasamahan ko siya. And also, he looks like he's sleeping.

Nakacross ang braso nito sa dibdib niya habang nakasandal sa sandalan ng sofa at nakapikit. I sighed at hinayaan na lang ito.

Hindi ko rin maiwasang maisip na kung kami pa ay paniguradong yayakap ako dito habang tulog siya. I would've comforted him with his situation. Kaso... hindi na eh.

It's his fault.

Gusto ko man aluhin siya pero hindi pwede. I can really just forget my anger for him for now pero ayaw ko rin talagang isipin niyang okay kami.

I stood up and sat on Chi's bed. I held her hand. She looked so innocent. Sobrang nalulungkot ako na ganito ang pinagdadaanan niya, ang bata niya pa para mapagdaanan ang ganito kalalang mga pangyayari.

Lumabas ako matapos iyon. I already bought food pero lumabas pa rin ako para bumili ng panibago. Snacks na rin nila habang nandidito sila.

Hindi ko naman sinasadyang magtagal sa isang nearby convenience store. Marami kasi ang tao at mahaba iyong pila kaya natagalan.

Nang makabalik sa hospital ay naabutan ko si Cairo na gising na. He immediately looked at the door when he heard it open. I saw how his face lit up when he saw me. I looked away and went to the sofa. Nandoon pa rin ito sa pwesto niya.

"Saan ka galing?" Tanong nito.

"Sa labas." Maikli kong sagot.

"Bumili ka ng pagkain?"

"Obviously."

Napakagat labi ito at tumango, hindi na muling umimik pa. Naiinis ako tuwing kinakausap niya ako. Nagagalit rin! Nakakainis at nakakagalit na makita siyang ganito! Sobrang pagod niya talagang tignan. And I'm guessing it's because of his jobs.

Three jobs, really?

Ano ba ang akala niya sa sarili niya? Robot? Tao siya! Napapagod!

"Look," I started. Napatingin ito agad sakin. "I don't know if you trust me or not but I really hope you'll stick to having one job."

"I trust you." Agad nitong sabi. Tumaas ang kilay ko pero hindi ako umimik. Talaga? Duda ako. "Hindi ko sinabi dahil ayokong masali ka pa dito. Na problemahin mo rin ito."

"So you chose to ignore me?" Tiim bagang kong sabi.

Napapikit ito ng mariin bago napailing, "I didn't ignore you because I want to."

"You had no choice?" I said sarcastically.

He immediately looked guilty. Napatiim bagang ako.

"I had no choice but to work hard. I wanted to contact you but I didn't consider that option because I don't want you to see me at my weakest. I don't want you to feel hurt. I don't want you stressed with this. I don't want to involve you in this mess."

"But I'm your girlfriend. I at least deserve to know where you are! Atleast text me, call me! You should've at least contacted me, Cairo. Iniwan mo ko bigla eh." Hindi ko na naiwasan ang pagiging emotional.