Querencia (Midnight #1)

Chapter 4

warning : physical abuse

Four
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈✧༺ ♥༻∞

Two weeks have passed after that incident where my Ate Hera saw Maxeus and I. She told me after pulling her away from that place I owe her an explanation. She even scared me that she would tell that about Kuya Harlow if I didn't tell her the whole story.

Of course me, being so scared, I told her everything we talked about. Tuwang-tuwa siya dahil may improvement daw. I told her that was just nothing, I just want to be friends with that guy because he'll be my seatmate for two months.

"Sige na lang, Harmony, kunwari naniniwala ako, ha?" She teased me.

I groaned in annoyance.

"Ano ba Ate Hera! Please, don't tell this about Kuya na nga!"

"Sure, babe. . . basta tell me everything, I love you." Napaawang ang labi ko sa ginawa niya.

Why are we even siblings?!

Hindi niya na lamang ako pinansin nang makalapit ako sa kanya.

"Bakit ang tagal ninyo?!" usisa ni Kuya Hunter.

I rolled my eyes when he got near me and gently shuffled my hair. He even squinted his eyes at me. I heaved a sigh before leaving him there and following Ate Hera—who's on the way to Kuya Harlow.

"Kuya-"

"Ampogi mo so much, sabi ko," I said as I smiled at them, it was fake.

Ate Hera's eyes widened a bit when she heard me. She eventually asked why I did that.

She heaved a sigh before shaking her head. I smiled at her nervously.

Tumambad sa akin ang mukha ni Vida at Ela na halatang-halata ang dismaya.

"Like legit? Wala talagang. . . improvement lang?" si Ela.

I nodded.

"Yup. Plus, he seems not friendly—literal na aral lang ang ginagawa niya. I'll only talk to him when I need to ask something—which is I always have,"

Ang mahinang hagikgik ni Ela ay nauwi sa halakhak habang si Vida naman ay nakangisi lamang sa 'min. I groaned as annoyance hit me again.

"Para-paraan talaga ang baby ko! That's my girl!" natatawang ani Ela. I just gave her a fake smile and shook my head.

We all turned our heads towards my door when we heard a harsh knock. They looked at me as the confusion passed through their faces. I stood up and slowly opened the door.

Niluwa noon si Kuya Hunter na nakasimangot sa akin.

"Tagal buksan, ha? Ano ba pinag-uusapan ninyong tatlo?"

I heaved a sigh.

Papansin na naman 'tong isa na 'to.

"Can we have our privacy, my beloved Kuya Hunter, please?"

He raised his brows at me. "Kailangan mo nang bumaba at nand'yan si Mom, may dalang mga bisita,"

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil doon, lumunok ako at ibinababa ang tingin. I closed my eyes as I felt a big bang inside my chest—I slowly held it and nodded at him.

Why is it always like this?

Bakit parang kahit anong tagal at luma ng pakiramdam na ito sa akin ay hindi pa rin mawawala ang takot at pangamba sa dibdib ko? Is this going to last forever?

"May sinabi ba 'kong 'di ka komportable, Harmony?" Kuya Hunter suddenly uttered in front of me.

I can't see his reaction because my head's still down. I felt him hold my right elbow, I can feel the gentleness and softness of how he held it.