The Badass Girl in Whitehaven Palace

Chapter 58

"Leticia Perez, you are pleaded... guilty."

I was still spaced out by the scene yesterday. Nasaksihan ko ang magkahalong pagkadismaya, lungkot at galit sa mga mata ng ina ni Giovanni habang sinisigawan ang huli sa courthouse. She thought Giovanni would help her. But no. Giovanni passed the concrete evidences that he have on the courthouse, to fully corner his mother.

I saw how a tear escaped from his eye the moment he turned his back on his mother. I know it hurts on his part. Kita ko ang mahinang pag-iyak niya habang nagmamakaawa ang ina niya sa kaniya. Rinig ko ang iyak niya matapos makauwi sa bahay. He put his mother in jail even though it broke his heart into pieces.

Susubukan ko sanang kausapin si Giovanni tungkol sa nangyari pero alam kong mabigat pa ang pakiramdam niya. Hinayaan ko na muna. I know he wanted to think. I know he wanted to soothe himself.

Naglalakad ako sa loob ng mansion nang may humila sa kamay ko. It was Clive. He then cornered me on the wall.

"What are you doing here?" nakatiim-bagang na aniya.

"Clive---"

"Ang kapal din naman ng mukha mong bumalik pa rito." He smiled bittely. "After leaving Giovanni? After leaving him behind..."

I saw how he clenched his jaw as he punched the wall on the side of my head, making me flinched in shock and fear.

"Fuck it! After leaving him behind, you have the gut to be back here?! Alam mo ba kung anong mga pinagdadaanan niya noong tinalikuran mo siya?" Kita ko ang sunod-sunod na pag-agos ng luha niya, naroon ang sakit sa mga mata. "He fought the life and death alone, Aaliyah! Alam mo 'yon?! He was in coma! Fuck it! My pitiful brother is in coma for months!" paninigaw niya sa akin.

Napapahawak nalang ako sa bibig ko sa gulat. I never know Giovanni's in coma when I leave him behind eight years ago. I never thought it would take him into coma. Malala pala talaga ang nagawa ni Dad sa kanya.

"Alam mo ang nangyari matapos niyang magising? Nalaman niya nga kung sino ang totoong mga magulang niya pero putangina... Putangina, nalaman niyang pinatay ang ama niya! S-Si Manong rider, siya ang ama ni Giovanni... My brother had fought his battle alone. My brother... had grieved alone. He was all alone while you! It was all easy for you to leave him behind!"

Nanlumo ako sa narinig. I can't bear to hear more. I don't know if I could bear to handle another revelation. A revelation where I wasn't in Giovanni's side to comfort him. To hug him. Wala ako para damayan siya. Wala ako para samahan siyang magluksa.

I am so sorry, Giovanni.

"I know I don't have the right to question you about being back here... but let me ask you." He stared at me, eye to eye. "Why are you back?"

I was taken a back by his question.

I saw how his jaw clenched. "If your intention was pure, maybe I could approve that. But if you're back to play with his heart again..." I saw how he playfully smirked at me with eyes full of hatred. "Sorry to tell you... but I think I'll take part. Ako ang makakalaban mo, Aaliyah. Tandaan mo 'yan."

Mas naging lutang ako sa sinabi ni Clive. Napapatigil ako sa paglalakad nang makaharap ang pintuan ng kuwarto ni Giovanni. I know he's still crying inside. I know he's still hurt.

Do I deserve him? Ni ang lumapit nga lang sa kanya para i-comfort siya ay hindi ko magawa. I'm afraid I could hurt him by just nearing him.

I lift my hand to hold the door handle. I was halfway and my hand stopped in the air when I reminisced what Clive had said earlier.

"What are you doing here?"

Right. Ano nga bang ginagawa ko rito?

I was about to turn my back when I stopped again. I am still bothered.