VOLS 1: Stacia Walker

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

After settling back into his old home, Kian knew his mother wouldn't let him get her out of sight. For a few days, that has been the set-up in the household. Stacia wouldn't let Kian do anything, but take a rest until his follow-up check-up. Stacia let Brian check him on from time to time and there was Jordan who seemingly stood like the man of the family. 

"Ate, nasaan ka ba? Hindi ka ba pupunta rito ngayon?" tanong ni Kian habang kausap sa phone ang kapatid.

"I don't know. Parang ayokong pumunta riyan ngayon, Kian. The last time I went there. . . Naku, 'wag na lang natin pag-usapan 'yon. I tried forgetting about it and moved on. Masaya ako na okay ka na. 'Wag mo lang din kakalimutan na i-update ako palagi sa kondisyon mo, ha!"

"Oo naman, ate! E, ikaw naman 'tong lost in the act palagi, e. Hinahanap ka nila. Tinatawagan pa, pero hindi ka naman daw sumasagot. Saan ka ba nag-stay ngayon? Sino mga kasama mo?"

"Secret! I'm just hanging out with my high school friends. Sa kanila rin ako nakikituloy while I'm still here. . . Wala namang problema kasama nila. Magkakaroon lang ako ng problem whenever I got to be with Mom. . . Hindi na talaga ako natutuwa."

Napahugot naman nang malalim na hininga si Kian at pasimple itong binitawan. "Well, mukhang alam ko na 'yang reason mo. Was it because of Jordan?" Hindi sumagot ang kapatid nito sa tanong niya. Sa puntong iyon ay nakompirma naman niya na tama ang hinala nito. "Mabait naman si Jordan."

"Naman," pag-uulit pa nito, pero may halong pabalang ang tono.

"Hindi, ate. I could attest na mabait naman talaga siya."

"Mabait siya because she was trying to get Mom's attention. I don't think he's being sincere enough to his intentions kaya hate na hate ko siya. Nadadamay na rin si Mom do'n. I tried not to, pero sa tuwing makikita kong magkasama silang dalawa, I couldn't help, but to think that it was easy for her to move on."

"I get it, Ate. . . I understand your point naman. But I would just like to say to you na no'ng nasa hospital ako, nagbabantay rin naman siya sa akin. He was there for me and Mom. He got whole other stuff out there na mas importante, but he chose to stay. Kapag nakilala mo naman siya, hindi mo na masasabi 'yan."

"Do you know the reason why I hate him? I think nagbubulag-bulagan si Mom sa kanya, e," anito. Napakunot ang noo ni Kian, pero hindi rin ito nagbigay ng reaksyon sa kapatid. "One time na nagpunta ako riyan sa bahay, Mom told me mag-isa lang siya sa bahay, but later on, Jordan was walking down the stairs shirtless, and who the fuck knows what they did! Ayoko na lang isipin." She grunted and Kian tried to understand where her anger was coming from, but he thought it was getting irrelevant at this point.

"I'm sure Mom knew what she was doing with Jordan. Hindi naman natin kailangang pangunahan kung anong gustong gawin nila sa buhay nila. Remember, Mom and Dad are separated now. Dad had a new partner and Marlyn's pregnant. And I knew you supported their relationship, why can't we just do that to Mom? Both of us knew it was hard for them to go through separation and we've been hurting for so long. We just need to accept it."

Hindi naman sumagot si Thamara sa kabilang linya. On the back of his mind, naiisip nitong hindi niya mababago ang isipan ng kapatid. It was like she was already set her mind into something no one could ever change them. Iyon na ang paniniwalaan niya. Kian believe it was senseless to explain his side to Thamara.

"Nabalitaan mo rin ba 'yong nangyari kay Jordan?" tanong nito, pero hindi umimik sa kabilang linya ang kapatid nito. "He was mugged off. Hindi namin alam ung napag-trip-an lang ba siya o kung ano man. He went to the police station, but they've got no updates about the people who had done it to him. Nakakaawa kaya si Jordan kung makikita mo lang. Mom felt like it was her fault. Na lahat nang nangyayaring hindi maganda ay dahil sa kanya."