How Love Grows (Completed)

Kabanata 26

Kabanata 26

Familiar

"Why don't you try this company?" Binigay sa 'kin ni Leana ang isang application form. 

Ethel and I know about what happened to my work. Hindi alam ni JP at Ivory ang tungkol doon, isa pa ayaw kong abalahin silang dalawa. Alam ko kung anong gagawin nila kung sakali man na malaman nila pareho. I had received enough help with them; I don't like to burden them in the grave. Gusto ko sanang itago kay Leana and Ethel, pero nalaman nila kay Anton. They called, and Anton unintentionally told them. It's fine, though.

 

“What the hell happened to you, Felicity?” Ethel called me at midnight. It was all of a sudden, and I got awake to her call.

 

Anton slept in my unit tonight, on my couch here in my room. I insisted on telling him not to, but he really wanted to sleep, so I didn't have any choice but to let him. Even though I am very hesitant to let him in, I am slowly learning his pure intentions. My mind is getting to trust him without any fear. Kaya napatingin ako kay Anton na mahimbing na natutulog. 

 

How I wish to be okay, so Anton wouldn't deal with me like this.

“What do you mean? ”My voice sounds very sleepy. Umiwas ako ng tingin at humiga ng bahagya. 

 

“You got fired? Why?! ”

 

Nagising ako sa sinabi niya. Napasulyap ulit ako kay Anton. Dahil walang iba pa ang nakakaalam kung hindi siya lang! I know he told my friend. I know.

 

“And don't lie to me; sinabi ni Anton kanina nang tumawag ako. Kakamustahin sana kita! Why? What happened? Bakit hindi mo tapos lahat ng pinapagawa ni Dani? Hmm? Are you okay? Is this because you know that she's back?

 

“What? Eve is back, Ethel? ”

 

Para akong nabuhayan sa narinig ko. I don't know how to react! My best friend is back after 7 years. Those fucking years feel alone, but hearing about her again makes me want to run to come home.

 

But how can I run when I am no longer home with her? I am already lost in the wild. Catching up with darkness... breathing heavily. Embracing the coldness painfully pinches my skin to a deeper level.

I couldn't contain the happiness I felt until I saw her in my own eyes with nothing but anger in her face. Tama nga talaga si Ethel na bumalik na si Eve. Hearing those words from her feels more painful than I ever thought it would. Akala ko, nagbibiro siya sa sulat niya, pero totoo pala. Makita siyang may kasamang kaibigan. Those eyes, those voices, those faces—all are unfamiliar to me. She change. She's mad. 

 

She indeed left.

 

Halos lahat nalang, lagi akong sinsabayan ng ulan sa aking pagiyak. Parang sa tuwing tutulo ang luha ko, tinatabunan niya iyon gamit ang ulan na pumapatak sa aking katawan. Sa ganoong paraan, pwede akong umiiyak ng walang nakakaalam.

"SYL?" I asked.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko habang tinitignan ko'yon. Then I held my head to look at her.