He Suddenly Came Back

Chapter 50

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CHAPTER 50: The Consequence of Getting My Hopes Up

(Zoe's POV)

One week.

One week and it's already like hell. He didn't contact me after I ignored his call. Siguro naintindihan din niya na ayaw ko muna siyang kausap. Pero may parte pa din sa akin na naiinis kase di na siya tumawag o nagtext man lang. Aish! Ang gulo-gulo ko talaga.

But one thing I'm sure about is that I already miss him... so much. I've been fighting this urge to fly back to the Philippines and forgive him... to forget everything that had happened. But I know it's not the right thing to do. It's not that easy. He cheated on me. I was hurt and I think I still couldn't face him. Not now.

It's just that I want to hear his voice. That's the least I could do to ease this longing building up inside me. Should I call him? Perhaps?

I reached for my phone on the bedside table and searched for his number. I stared at it for a moment, still having second thoughts. But nonetheless, I pressed call after having a heavy breath.

I heard the other line ringing and my heart started to thump loudly.

There's this feeling of hope that he would answer but the other side is hoping that he wouldn't.

After a few more rings, someone finally picked it up.

'Yes? What do you want?'

A woman with a bitchy tone spoke on the other line. By means of it, I could already tell who it is.

Erinn.

That son of a bitch! I grasped the phone tightly until I felt my blood left the palm of my hands. Wrong move. Dapat pala hindi na ako tumawag. Dapat hindi ko nalang pinagbigyan yung sarili ko.

Fvck you Tristan! Fvck you to death!

Unknowingly, I threw my phone on the wall and screamed. Sinigaw ko lahat ng frustrations ko, lahat ng sakit, lahat ng galit... lahat lahat. Wala akong pakialam kung marinig man ako ng mga tao dito sa bahay o kahit ng mga kapitbahay. I just wanted to let it out. Ang sakit sakit na kase. It fvcking hurts to know that they're both enjoying my absence in the picture. Screw them.

I didn't notice that I was already on the floor crying everything out when my brother hurriedly went inside my room. He knelt in front of me.

"Princess, what happened?"

"Kuya." Yun lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

He rose to his feet. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at dahan-dahan akong itinayo.

"Ano?" he pressed. His voice is low.

I stared at him even when my eyes are still clouded with tears.

"Zoe!" He shouted and I blinked in surprise. He massaged his temple out of frustration. I know he's angry. Damn, he's even furious. "Hindi mo ba talaga sasabihin sa akin? Ha? Sa isang linggo mo dito, kahit minsan hindi kita kinulit na sabihin sa akin kung ano ba talaga problema mo kahit kating-kati na akong malaman! Kuya mo ako Zoe at nag-aalala ako sa'yo! I'm your brother, I'm your bestfriend! Princess naman, paano kita matutulungan kung ganyan ka? Lagi nalang bang ganito? Lagi mo nalang ililihim sa akin ang lahat? Ganun ba?!"

I was still quiet. I was guilty. Ayoko lang kase na sabihin sa kanya na niloko ako ni Tristan. I don't want my brother to hate him more. Kase iniisip ko na isang araw mapapatawad ko din si Tristan. That one day, we would mend things out. Mahal ko siya 'e. Kahit gago siya, mahal ko siya. I know that's bullsh-t but I'm still hoping everything would be okay, somehow. At pag dumating yung araw na yun, ayokong may tumutol sa amin na kahit isa sa pamilya ko. Mas mahirap kase yun. It's like you against the world.

"Goddamn it Zoe! I know it's him! Kung bakit ba kase ayaw mong sabihin sa akin! Natatakot ka ba? Natatakot ka ba na malaman ko na niloko ka niya? He cheated on you, didn't he?!"

Right there, all my hopes disappeared.

"Kuya, I-?"

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil may biglang nagsalita.

"Kuya Sky, anong nagyayari?"

I averted my gaze on where the voice came from and I was stunned.

"C-Clive? Anong-"

"Kausapin mo yan Clive. I'm done here." Kuya said and left the room slamming the door behind.

I closed my eyes. Maybe this is the consequence of getting my hopes up.

"Hey." Clive gently spoke and I opened my eyes to look at him. I weakly smiled. He rushed to my side and welcomed me into his embrace.

"It's okay. It's going to be okay." He whispered while caressing my back. Somehow, I felt ease. Clive has always been my comfort zone. He will always be.

"Clive anong gagawin ko? Sobrang sakit na."

Parang anytime sasabog na ako.

"I wish I could take that pain away Z."

I pulled away from him and wiped my tears. I sat on my bed. Bakit ganito? Habang tumatagal, parang dumadami lalo ang problema. Nagpatong-patong na. Hindi ba dapat isa-isa lang? Isa lang naman kase ang katawan ko at hindi kakayanin nito na pagsabay-sabayin ang sakit. Tapos ngayon, ang taong umiintindi sa akin simula pa sa simula ay mukhang sinukuan narin ako. Hindi ba dapat one step at a time lang? Tama nga talaga siguro na 'When it rains, it pours'.

Clive sat beside me.

"I'm sorry Z." he trailed off. "I'm sorry if I wasn't able to protect you from getting hurt."

"Clive, it wasn't your fault."

"No Z. I knew it all along."

I looked at him with questioning eyes.

"I knew he has been cheating on you all this time."