Journey With You (Completed)

Chapter 31: See You

Journey With You
Chapter 31: See You

"How are you?" Was my first question when he opened the door of his home for me. The awkward high pitch signified how anxious I must have been for this encounter.

"Come in," he just said.

Pumasok ako sa loob at napansin ang nakakalat na mga lata ng beer sa sala. He's usually neat and organized even at home, so this means something horrible had happened.

"How are you, Sven?" I asked again as I settled down on the couch.

"Not so good," tipid niyang sagot habang pinupulot ang mga lata ng beer at nilalagay sa isang paper bag. "As you can see, the house is a mess."

That translates to, kung magulo ang bahay ko, ibig sabihin magulo ang buhay ko in my head.

"I dropped by to give you this." I showed him the invitation, which he accepted.

"Chairman informed me you were coming to give me this." He said, still cleaning up.

"You knew I was coming, yet you did not put the trash away. Why bother with it now? Umupo ka na. I am not bothered by the mess." Saad ko, pero hindi pa rin siya tumigil.

Umaksyon na ako at inagaw sa kaniya ang paper bag at ako na ang naglagay ng mga lata doon. Dinala ko yun sa kusina para itapon at napansin na may mga hugasin na nakatambak sa lababo. What is going on?!

"So, Serenity isn't pregnant." Saad ko pagbalik sa sala. Nakaupo na siya at ganoon din ang ginawa ko. "Napanood ko yung livestream."

"Then you probably discovered she's still in that hospital."

I so did!

"Oo, pero hindi na yun issue sa akin. You did what you have to do as her brother. Ang tanong ko, nasa kaniya na ba ang phone?"

"Yes."

"How about your secret? Anong sabi niya?"

"She won't use it against me anymore."

"Ayun naman pala. Anong problema, kung ganon? Why is everything a mess here?" I asked earnestly.

"Parang... hindi ko pala kayang sabihin." Pagtatapat niya. "Hani... I swear... Gusto kong sabihin na kina Yuri ang tungkol sa nakaraan namin ni Euphemia dahil pwede pa rin namang gamitin ni Serenity yun laban sa akin balang araw, pero naisip ko rin, no one's going to believe her. She doesn't have proof."

Ay? Kaya pwedeng ibaon niya nalang ng tuluyan, ganon? And deny it when push comes to shove?

I'm not sure what to feel about this. Kasi... naniniwala ako na dapat maging honest siya sa mga kaibigan niya. Lalo na't pwede siyang i-blackmail ulit ni Serenity hanggat hindi niya pa nailalantad iyon sa mundo.

Pero sa isang banda, to come clean like that is only nice in theory. But in execution, trust will be broken, friendships will take a hit, life will not be the same. The risk is high. The consequences are not minimal. His fear is rational. And who am I to dictate what should be easy and what should be difficult for him?

"Alright," I said, which had him stunned. "Kung ano man ang desisyon mo, hindi kita pipigilan. Hindi kita huhusgahan."

He looked at me, horrified. "That calmness, it makes me scared."

"Sven..."

"Fine, drop it. Drop the bomb. You're not just here for the invitation."

Sharp, as expected. He knew I went here for something else.