Hating Him (COMPLETED)

Chapter 40

I was so stunned to even continue reading the whole article. Napaatras ako nang hindi ko din makayang titigan ang litrato nila. How could this happen? What did I do? Imagination ko lang bang okay kami? What happened to their island wasn't true? 

Naninikip lalo ang dibdib ko kapag tumatama ang mata ko sa babae. She's pretty, her body is something to brag about as she has her hourglass body, and I hate that I'm feeling insecure over her, but not because she's beautiful! Because I know I'm too! I just can't accept that she's wearing a ring and she was damn smiling because of it as if she's mocking me. I hate her! 

May kumawalang hikbi sa bibig ko kasabay nang pagkahulog ng kumawalang luha sa mata ko. The urge to lashed out was so strong for a moment I saw myself breaking things out.  Pero hindi ko nagawa dahil biglang bumukas ang pintuan at natigilan ako. Fiona immediately locked the door as she entered. 

"You shouldn't have seen it!" agad niyang sinabi. She immediately went near the sink with her nervous glances at me. 

Seeing her trigger my tears. Parang nakakaawa ako na nakita niyang engaged na si Harden at hindi ako. I feel ashamed. Agad nagsiunahan ang luha ko. Hindi kona napigilan pa. 

"You know about this?" nanginginig na boses na tanong ko. My vision blur and I have to wipe my eyes to see Fiona clearly. 

Fiona immediately closed the magazine. She sighed heavily as she walked back and forth. Hindi niya alam kung saan ibabaling ang attention. Sa akin o sa iniisip niya. Kita kong mahihirapan din siya sa situation ko. 

"Couz, I'm sorry," she said after a while of contemplating. Nakita kong nanubig din ang mata niya. "Nalaman ko lang noong dumating tayo galing Australia. I was with Alic at some parties. Hindi ko alam kung dahil lasing lang siya… pero he mentioned it out of nowhere, na engaged na si Harden. I was confused kasi akala ko may something sa inyo… Kaya tinanong ko kung sino, akala ko ikaw. Hindi pala." 

So it's true? Ayaw kong paniwalaan pero si Fiona na ang nagsabi. Napatikip ako sa bibig at napatungo sa baba. 

"Sino tong Charlotte?" 

"Couz, that's not important." Lumapit siya sa akin saka ako pinatingin sa kanya. "Good thing wala si Mama. Binalaan niya ako… kaming tatlo." 

I saw her gulp nervously. 

"Binalaan? Saan?" 

"Yong away sa mansion nina Harden sa isla, walang planong ayusin yon nina Tita. Couz, I just found out na pinakalat ni Tita Diana na engaged kana kay Duke Silverio. I don't know how did she convince Mrs. Guevera and her family. Pero sinabi ng kaibigan ko na galit na galit daw ang mga Guevera dahil sinabi pa ni Tita na kinidnap ka ni Harden even knowing na engaged kana!"

The sudden realization at what Tita Diana did immediately enraged me. Naghalo na ang galit at lungkot ko sa nangyayari na hindi ko na matukoy kung ano na ang dahilan ng iyak ko, dahil sa lungkot o sa galit.

"I'm not engaged!" 

Fiona steps away from me. "I know. Please calm down!" Sinusubukan niya akong pakalmahin sa paraan ng marahan niyang titig. "But, Elea, you can't blame them. Naniwala sila kay Tita. At ang masaklap ay akala ng lahat na kaya tayo pumunta sa Australia ay para sa exclusive ng kasal mo. They thought you're married now. At siniraan pa ng pangalan si Harden. May lumabas na rumor na he did something vile to you as you stayed in their island. Your Mom and Tita Diana planned all of this para siraan si Harden. We were warned not to tell you this. I just can't help it." 

I have to lean on a wall to support my weight. Agad sumiklab ang galit sa katawan ko. I was so lost for words for a moment pero nang matauhan ako ay agad akong tumayo, ready na sanang umalis pero pinigilan ako ni Fiona.