Sin City

07: One-eyed Beast

As soon as Rouqil left, I turned off all of my lights at napahiga ako sa kwarto ko. My entire house was dark, tanging ilaw lamang mula sa ibang building ang nagpapaliwanag sa bahay ko.

I just stared at my ceiling habang inaalala ang nangyari kagabi. That asshole, I just want to kill him right now. Naalala ko tuloy ang nangyari noon, only my mom knew about it and I don't know what she did but I never saw those guys anymore.

Kinuha ko ang telepono ko at tinignan ang contact name ni mommy. I haven't seen her for so long, huling kita namin ay pagkatapos na finalize ang divorce. She went to Europe to travel and to soul search.

Hannaveva Hernandez, my mommy. She was once a great author before but my dad told her to stop to take care of us. She loved being a mother, but she always wanted to be a writer.

"Hi, mama," rinig ko ang lungkot sa boses ko. Napalunok agad ako to swallow the lump in my throat as I felt how I yearned for my mom.

"Hi, love. How are you, baby doll?" I could imagine her sweetly smiling right now.

"I'm doing good," naramdaman ko ang pag init ng mga mata ko. "I miss you, mom," naiiyak kong sabi.

"Oh baby," napalitan ng lungkot ang masayang boses nito. "I miss you, too. May problema ka ba?" nag aalalang tanong nito sa akin.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I gain the courage ko speak. "Bakit ba ako lapitin ng mga traydor?"

"Did that girl do something to you?!" mom slightly raised her voice. Worried about what Right might've done to me.

Agad akong bumangon at sumandal sa headboard ko. "No," I wiped the tears on my cheek. "Ruth's the best, mom, it's not about her, pero natatakot din ako na baka traydorin lang din niya ako," malungkot kong sagot.

"Then who is it? Is it one of the guys that you were with at the lake? The one that you posted on your social media?" she curiously asked.

"No, they're great, too," depensa ko agad.

"Tell me who it is, anak, and I'll deal with them," she sternly said pero bakas pa din ang pag aalala sa boses nito.

I chuckled and shook my head. "I can handle it, mommy." My voice cracked, I couldn't stop myself from crying anymore, umiyak lang ako na parang bata na iniwan ng nanay niya. "I'm sorry," I said between my sobs. Pinilit ko pang takpan ang bibig ko para pigilan ang sarili ko sa pag iyak.

"I know the divorce has been hard for you, Nardan. Things have been hard for you, but you don't have to do this alone. Mommy's here and as long as I'm alive, I will protect you. Your dad and I are going to protect you. Hindi mo dapat sinasarili ito, I know you want to live by yourself but you have to tell me what's going on with your life so I can protect you and be there for you," malungkot nitong pagpapaintindi sa akin to comfort me.

Huminga akong malalim to compose myself. I hastily wiped my tears away. "I'm good, ma. I just missed your voice."

"Oh Nardan," I heard her sobbed and that just broke my heart into pieces. "Don't hesitate to call me and if you want to see me, let me know and I'll fly down to go to you."

I titled my head back para ubusin ang alak sa bote habang sumasayaw. Kahit nakapikit ako, ramdam ko pa rin ang liwanag mula sa neon lights.

"Isn't this so fun?" I happily exclaimed to Ruth habang tumatalon talon ako sa gitna ng dance floor. People were crowding me but I didn't mind it. Ruth just stared at me from our seat, being a debbie downer, but I also didn't mind her. I want to have fun and it looked like she didn't.