Scarlet Strings of Love

Chapter 36: afgørelse

"Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we're proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we chose to be."

– Graham Brown

ANGELO's POINT OF VIEW

As Ellie walked away with Tito, I couldn't help but take a deep breath. That was... scarier than anything I've seen. I never knew such a quiet woman like Ellie would be able to do something like that.

And the things she said... I couldn't even fight back. How can I when everything she said was true? I was a coward. A coward who thought he wasn't. I had a choice, but I picked the wrong one.

"You okay?" tumingin ako kay Kuya Harry. Nakatayo siya sa harap ko. Tumango na lang ako.

"Okay lang," sabi ko, kahit ang totoo ay parang bibigay na ang tuhod ko sa kaba.

"That's good," sabi ni Kuya Harry, nakatingin pa rin siya sa pinto kahit na wala na sina Ellie. That got me worried. Naalala ko kung ang emosyon sa mukha ni Tito kanina. He looked cold, when usually he looked approachable and warm.

"Galit ba si Tito?" tanong ko. Tumingin sa akin si Kuya Harry and he shrugged.

"Malay ko. Anyway, I don't know how to say this and I don't want to invalidate your emotions right now, but you'll have to understand Ellie," he looked at me and I saw sadness in his eyes, "She's been through a lot."

Tumango ako, "I understand. Sorry rin kanina, Kuya, and... I apologize for what I did to your sisters."

Dahil sa naging away namin kanina ni Ellie, I realized na dapat noong una pa lang nagsorry na ako kina Kuya Harry. If I had a little sister and someone did to them what I did to Ysa and Ellie magagalit din ako, for sure. Kung hindi mature si Kuya Harry siguro sinapak niya na ako at binantaan na huwag magpakita sa harap nila.

Kuya Harry glanced at me before adjusting his tie, "Wag ka sakin mag-sorry dahil hindi naman ako affected sa nangyari, but do that again and I'll take it personally, understood? Calum and I are good friends. Hindi ko gustong masira ang friendship namin."

"Yes," I said. It doesn't show in his face, pero alam kong naiinis siya sa nangyari. I really fucked up.

"Good. Babalik na ako sa loob, sama ka?" He looked at me, gesturing to the door. Umiling ako.

"Dito muna ako. Magpapalamig muna ako," I said, pero ang totoo takot lang ako harapin ang mga tao sa loob dahil for sure nakita nilang lahat kung ano ang nangyari.

Kaya nga lumabas agad sina Kuya at Tito nang nakita nila... Hm. That doesn't seem right.

"Okay. Sabihan ko na rin si Calum at si Astrid," napatingin ako kay Kuya Harry.

"Salamat, Kuya Harry."

"No worries. And thank her, too," sabi ni Kuya Harry na nakatingin sa babaeng nakaupo sa bench malapit sa pinto na nagbabasa ng libro.

"Kung hindi niya kami tinawag baka nasaktan ka na talaga ni Ellie," sabi ni Kuya Harry at pumasok na siya sa loob.

I knew it, may tumawag sa kanila. If from the start everyone saw, they would've gone out to end the fight earlier. Baka hindi pa ako nasaktan. Oo, totoo ang sinabi ni Ellie, but as much as it's true, I can't deny the fact that the truth hurts like hell. All this time akala ko ok na ang lahat dahil nagsorry na ako kay Tita at Ysa...

I sighed and looked at the porch. I saw a woman with brown hair and a pair of blouse and pants sitting on the bench alone. She was the one that apparently called Kuya Harry and Tito. I decided to approach her.