State of Grace

Chapter 12: Come Back... Be Here

SKY

(Flashback)

I walked inside the boarding house shortly after Sage had left, planning to go straight to my room when I heard someone uttering my name in disgust.

"Oh ano? Masaya ka na ba, Sky?"

I turned around and saw Sandara glaring at me. Looks like she wouldn't let me get away this time.

I just heaved a sigh. "Sorry, I don't have time or the energy to waste, Sandara."

Nakaka-ilang hakbang pa lang ako palayo pero hinarang niya ako kaagad.

"Ah ganun? Walang time or energy to waste, pero ang lakas ng loob mong saktan ang kapatid ko?!" She bellowed. Thank goodness the great hall was empty or she would cause a scene.

"What the hell is your problem?" I muttered. "Bakit ka ba nakikialam?"

"Bakit ako nakikialam?" She echoed in disbelief. "I'm calling you out because you treated my sister like shit! At hindi ko kayang palampasin yang kagaguhan mo!"

"Kagaguhan ko?" I echoed back and then smirked. "Matagal na akong gago, Sandara. Your sister knows that well."

"Aba tarantado ka rin pala ano?! Proud ka pa sa ginawa mo sa kanya?" She snarled. "Wala ka nang ginawang tama pagdating sa kanya and I can't stand here watching in the sidelines. Kung ayaw mo talaga sa kanya, you could have just talked to her nicely. Matatanggap pa ni Ate yun. Pero yung binalahura mo siya after she put a lot of effort for you? That's a low blow, Sky!"

I squeezed the skin between my eyes in annoyance. Nabu-bwisit na talaga ako. "Pwede ba, Sandara? Just shut the hell up and back off! Kung anuman ang issue namin ni Sage, it's just between us at labas ka na dun!"

"Wala akong pakialam sa issue niyong dalawa!" She shot back. "Ang akin lang, respetuhin mo man lang ang kapatid ko. You don't have to be ruthless to tell her na hindi mo siya gusto. Mahirap bang gawin yun ha?"

I rolled my eyes. "Wala na akong magagawa, Sandara. Damage has been done..."

"And you're not sorry about it, Sky? Ganun na lang ba yun?" She said in disbelief. I just shrugged.

"Ay naku, kung hindi mo naman pala itatama ang mali mo, then my sister made the right decision by staying away from you. She'll be better off in a faraway place to pursue her dream, kaysa naman magpakatanga siya sa 'yo dito sa Pilipinas."

Now that caught my attention, and for some reason, it rang a bell. I quickly recalled what Sandara also told me on the morning of my birthday.

"Kapag narealize mo itong mga sinabi ko, sana hindi pa huli ang lahat."

Now she just implied that Sage would be leaving soon. But as far as I know, she would just have a vacation shortly after her graduation. Bakit parang sinasabi ni Sandara na matagal na mawawala ang ate niya?

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tanong ko.

"Edi itanong mo kay Ate." Sandara raised her brow at me. "Kasasabi mo lang na wag akong makialam sa inyo, diba? So I won't tell you. Bahala kang magtanong sa kanya."

She gave me another death glare before turning away and left. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang magkapatid na yan.

Instead of asking Sage herself, si Yco ang tinanong ko, pero wala rin siyang idea. Kung hindi ko pa binanggit kay Yco, hindi rin niya malalaman na aalis pala si Sage.

I would definitely ask her if given a chance, pero paano naman mangyayari yun kung hindi ko naman siya mahagilap?

❤️🤍