Sin City

18: Thanksgiving

"Did you fucking do it?"

I put the pen down when Roux barged into my room. Kinabahan agad ako nang makita ang galit at dismaya sa mga mata at mukha niya. Mabilis pa ang pagtaas baba ng dibdib nito. "Were you the one who paid for it?" he clenched his jaw.

Huminga akong malalim nang tumayo ako mula sa study table, I slowly nodded as I tried to walk up to him. My heart broke when he took a step back at dismayadong umiiling iling. "Is the money from one of your brothers again?" he calmly asked kahit bakas sa mata niya ang lungkot.

I nodded again. "From kuya Aidan," I said almost whispering.

He sucked the bottom of his lip and looked at me with so much pain and disappointment. "You're fucking unbelievable," he shook his head before turning his back on me.

Agad ko siyang hinabol at hinawakan ang braso niya para pigilan siya. "Mahal naman, I just want to help you! Hindi naman pwedeng lagi ka nalang nagpapasundo kay Yohan," pagpapaintindi ko sa kanya.

He slowly moved his arm away from my hand. "I don't need your help, Jillian. Kayang kaya kong maghanap ng pambili ng bagong makina," he sternly said.

My brows furrowed. Bakit ba siya nagsisinungaling sa akin? "No, you don't," I blurted out. "Tingin mo ba hindi ko alam na naghihirap na ang Mabuhay? Tingin mo ba hindi ko alam na lahat ng kita mo pinangbabayad mo lang ng loan at ng mga bills mo? I am not dumb, Roux!" hindi ko mapigilang mapataas ang boses ko. His eyes started glistening, unti unting namumuo ang mga luha sa mata nito. "Why is it so hard for you to ask for my help!" I cried.

"Because I don't need your help," he said emphasizing don't. Tiim bagang ako nitong matalim na tinignan. "I don't fucking need your family's money, lalong lalo na yung sayo!" he exclaimed.

My shoulders and my heart dropped as I watched him walk out of my house. I stood there for few minutes, waiting for him to come back pero hindi na siya bumalik.

"Hey babe, it's okay," dahan dahang hinagod ni Ruth ang likod ko habang mahigpit akong niyakap. I cried on her shoulder. "Simpleng away mag asawa lang yan," she giggled, trying to make things lighter.

I pulled away from our hug and looked at her, blurry pa siya sa paningin ko dahil natatabunan pa ng luha ko ang mga mata ko. "Is he going to leave me now?" naiiyak kong sabi. Marahas ko agad na pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "Ruth, hindi ko kakayanin if he breaks up with me," I cried again.

"Gaga," pilit itong ngumiti. She helped me wipe the tears on my cheeks. "Hinding hindi ka iiwan non, patay na patay sayo yon!"

Mas napaiyak ako. Patay na patay din ako kay Roux! "Mali ba ang nagawa ko? I'm just trying to help him!"

"Mali na hindi mo man lang tinanong muna si Rouqil kung okay lang ba pero mas mali din si Rouqil dahil ma pride siya," sermon nito sa akin habang inaayos ang buhok ko.

Napatakip agad ako sa mukha ko nang magsituluan na naman ang mga luha ko. "Mag sorry kaya ako?" I asked nang mapatingala ako at nagtama ang mga mata namin.

"Ikaw bahala," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Puntahan ko ba siya sa bahay niya?" I said between my sobs.

She looked up at me from looking at her phone. "Wag na siguro, mahal ang uber eh," sagot naman agad nito.

"Ruthie!" I whined. "I could care less about money if it's for Roux," ani ko. Agad akong tumayo para kunin ang telepono ko.