TW: Sexual harassment, mental illness.The sun was setting over the ocean, casting a warm golden glow across the beach. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and chatter as families and friends enjoyed the last few hours of daylight. But amidst all the noise and commotion, I was sitting alone on the sand, staring out at the waves when someone sat beside me. It was Shem.
"How is she?" I asked. Shem Justice Rhodes, my boy best friend. If you're asking kung may girlfriend ba siya ay oo, he has a girlfriend. He has been dating for over a year and a half.
"She's doing fine, thanks to you. Nagpunta kami kanina sa therapy session niya and she's healing na raw," Tumango-tango ako. Hindi ko alam kung maging masaya ba ako o mainis dahil hindi ko lang man kayang aminin kay Justice ang totoo dahil mismong ako hindi sigurado. Ang stress ni Justice no'ng time na nangyari 'yong aksidente, pati academics niya naapektuhan.
That moment, malapit ko ng sugurin ang girlfriend niya. I was preoccupied with my rage about her girlfriend's self-centered behavior, pero natauhan ako when he frankly told me na wala akong karapatan mangialam. Tama naman!
Mapait akong natawa ng maisip ulit 'yong away naming dalawa. That was our really heated disagreement na ilang weeks din kaming hindi nagpansinan, totally. Akala ko nga he will cut me off as his best friend.
"I'm sorry about what happened last time, Amara. Really, I didn't mean to yell at you in that manner. What had happened to Elara was all that was on my thoughts," Nakayuko lang siya habang nagsasalita. I smiled kahit hindi niya nakita, matagal ko na naman siyang napatawad.
"Stop blaming yourself, Shem. Hindi mo kasalanan na may mga lalaking manyak mag-isip," I saw him clinched his fist. Galit pa rin siya sa lalaking nang-harass sa girlfriend niya.
Aminado akong ang toxic ko pero hindi ko mapigilang isipin na what if sa'kin nangyari 'yong incident? Ganiyan din ba kung umasta si Justice sa harap ko?
"Her parents didn't want to file a case dahil anak ng mayor pero hindi ako papayag na hindi makulong ang gagong 'yon!" He exhaled deeply. "Nevertheless, my parents wish to bring a lawsuit against that jerk! Knowing mom, I know how eager she is to win lalo na nangyari 'to sa girlfriend ko,"
"I'm always here if you need a friend," I tap his shoulder. Tumayo ako at nagpagpag sa mga dumikit na buhangin sa shorts ko.
"Balik lang ako sa hotel," Tears filled my lacrimal gland as I turned my back on him.
Elara Niamh Grey, Shem's girlfriend. Her name sounds very familiar. I am certain hindi ko lang siya narinig from Shem or somewhere, para kasing siya mismo nagpakilala sa'kin.
Although I was present for the accident, I have trouble recalling specific details from that evening. Nagising na lang ako na nasa kwarto ko while I heard the news na Shem's girlfriend is in the hospital. Kuya Finn told me na he found me in the street near our school kasama ang babaeng nagngangalang Elara. Nagkataon lang bang same name sila? Or is it a same person, as well?
"Tinawagan ako ng therapist mo, Amara! Why aren't you attending your session?" My mom asked in the line.
"Why do you care, mom? Can you please stop pretending like you really care? Hindi bagay," I hung up the call. Taena! Kung talagang may pake siya, eh 'di sana ginawa na niya noon pa!
"Amara Scarlett! Really?! Papabayaan mo na naman ba sarili mo? What do you think you're doing, ha?" Sumugod ang pinsan ko sa hotel room ko, I'm pretty sure tinawagan siya ni mommy.
"It's for your own good, couz! Pagbalik natin sa city, promise me na pupunta ka sa therapist mo," Tinabihan niya ako sa sofa sabay hawak sa kamay ko. Only my family and Zara knows about my illness, hindi ko pinaalam sa mga kaibigan namin dahil baka mag-alala lang sila. I'm okay tho,' I mean okay ako ngayon.
"Okay, fine!" I laughed. Kumuha ako ng isang pares ng swimsuit, pinatungan ko lang ng manipis na tshirt at shorts. This summer, I want to have fun and let go of all the bad things that have happened to me.
Bumaba kaming magkakaibigan to grab our lunch, kasama na ito sa perks ng resort nila Adel. Yes, her parents owned a resort. Gusto ko nga rin sana magpatayo ng sariling resort! Choss.
"Amara Scarlett, dito ka nga sa tabi ko," I rolled my eyes, parang close na close na ulit kami ah! Kung makapag-demand naman 'tong si Shem. Na miss rin kita, charot!
"Hoy, kumain ka ng marami! Ang payat mo na bes," Mga seafood lang kasi kinuha ko dahil favorites ko ito, hindi na ako kumuha ng rice.
"Tumahimik ka nga! I want to eat peacefully," Sagot ko sabay subo sa shrimp na binalatan niya.
"Ako muna mag-aalaga sa'yo habang wala ka pang boyfriend." Napahinto ako. Dahan-dahan ko siyang tinitigan at mukhang seryoso nga siya sa sinasabi niya. Napalingon rin ako sa kanila Zara at Adel kung narinig din ba nila ang sinabi ni Shem at mukhang narinig nga nila dahil pati sila ay napahinto sa pagkain.
"Amara, sabihin mo sa'min mga manliligaw mo ah? Hindi lang si Amara, kayong dalawa rin," Sabay turo niya sa dalawa na nakatitig sa'min.
"It's none of your business, Justice!" Pagmamaldita ni Zara.
"Aba! Kausapin mo nga 'yang alaga mo Rhodel, sumasagot eh," Natawa ako dahil nagbabangayan na nga ng tuluyan sina Zara at Shem.
Napuno ng tawanan ang pananghalian namin, matapos ay napagdisisyonan naming subukan ang mga sea activity ng resort.
"Seryoso nga Amara, gusto kitang ipagdamot but you have your own life too, pero choose wisely in men dahil hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko pag nangyari sa'yo 'yong nangyari kay Elara," He said on his serious face. Napahinto pa ako dahil hindi sanay na kinakausap niya ako ng ganito.
He whispered something in my ears pero hindi ko narinig. Matapos niya sabihin iyon, he kissed my forehead. I close my eyes, as I realized kung gaano ko na siya kamahal. Loving you is red nga pero....Kakayanin ko pa bang bumangon kung ganito tayo?
Bakit parang hindi ko rin kaya na mapunta ka sa iba, Justice? Kahit na may girlfriend ka na.
Gustong-gusto rin kita ipagdamot kaso...
I have no rights to do so.
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<33
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The Summer Secret
Teen FictionAmara, born into a prestigious business family, craves the attention and love she's never received from her busy parents. As she pursues her dream of studying medicine, she crosses paths with Shem Justice, from the family of laws and politics, who t...