Chapter 16
Family
"Elle," I called to get her attention. She stopped tidying her things and looked at me. "Why do you have those bracelets?" I asked.
"Aruna, please don't tell anyone" Pinag salikop niya ang mga kamay. "I didn't steal this! I don't know why..."
"Anong nangyayari? Para kayong baliw" Shoanne whispered.
"I don't know why these bracelets are in my bag. Please, Aruna. Wag mong ipagkalat! Hindi ko ito ninakaw! Wala akong ninakaw, Please, tell them. I'm scared, Aruna. I'm so scared. They might hate me like they hate you! I don't want that! I need to graduate with Latin honors, I know you're family is powerful but-"
"Elle, Anong pinagsasabi mo?" Hinawakan ni Shoanne ang balikat ni Elle at mahinang tinulak-tulak ito.
I watched her plead as if she was scared of something. Hindi ako makapag salita dahil sa gulat at pagtataka. My mind isn't functioning well, hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya. I have to recall everything and understand word by word.
"Inhale... exhale"
"Elle, okay ka lang? Anong nangyari, I can't-"
"Okay lang ba kayong dalawa? Bakit parang bigla na lang kayo nag explode?" Tanong ni Shoanne. Tulad ko, gulat din ang kanyang ekspresyon.
"I don't know, nagtatanong lang ako" Sagot ko.
Elle couldn't say anything. She stayed seated on her chair while looking down. Nakayap siya sa kanyang sarili.
"Elle... What are you trying to say? Anong hindi mo ninakaw? The bracelets in your pouch?" Umangat ang tingin ni Elle kay Shoanne at sa akin. I gave her a faint smile.
"Speak, Elle" Utos ko.
"Aruna, your tone!" Saway naman ni Shoanne. "Hindi ko kayo nai-intindihan! Can somebody tell me something please"
"Hindi ko din alam! Nag tanong lang ako, then Elle keeps saying nonsense" Hindi iyon nonsense. She's scared of something. She looks anxious right now. Parang takot na takot siya sa amin. Nakayakap pa rin siya sa sarili at pilit na kinakalma ang sarili. "Elle, ano 'yon?"
She shook her head. "Sorry, Aruna"
"Hatid ka na namin sa bahay niyo," I said. Umiling ulit siya.
"I'm sorry. H-hindi ko alam kung p-paano s-sasabihin sayo" She said while stuttering. Maririnig sa boses niya ang takot. "But it's keeping me awake at night"
"Sabihin mo na, Elle! Tinatakot mo ako eh" Sambit ni Shoanne na ngayo'y naka pamewang na. Lumuhod ako sa harap ni Elle at binigyan siya ng maliit na ngiti. To encourage her to speak more.
"Are they familiar to you?" Tumango ako. "Hindi ko iyan ninakaw, when I was having lunch without you guys... someone put that in my bag"
Ibig-sabihin hindi siya? Yes! Of course! Bakit naman siya? She's my friend, she won't do anything to harm me.
"Kilala mo ba ang nag lagay?" Tanong ko.
"It's your cousin"
"Julie?"
"Yes, Nilagay niya sa bag ko. Noong nakita ko na, nilabas ko ito, and then she appeared in front of me. Saying, I stole her pouch. Sinubukan kong ibalik pero ayaw niyang tanggapin. She told me she would get me suspended and drop out. I was so scared" Humikbi siya. Her shoulders are shaken because of the tears she's pouring.
Natahimik si Shoanne sa tabi namin. I couldn't speak as well. It's too hard to understand. Ayaw mag sinks sa akin lahat ng sinabi niya. It's like my brain is blocking everything I don't wanna hear.
BINABASA MO ANG
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