DEREK ARKE: In Dark, I Saw Light [Arke & Serenity]

Kabanata 3

Maraming mga tanong ang gumulo sa isipan ko habang ibinabalik sa shelf ang makapal na libro, kung bakit may ganito rito at kung bakit binabasa niya ito, pero naalis ang isipan ko roon nang pumasok si Millie at kulitin akong magkuwento.

“Tats, anong nangyari? Nakapag-usap ba kayo? Did you apologize to him? E, bakit mukhang badtrip pa rin si Kuya?” sunud-sunod na tanong niya.

Napaismid ako. “He didn’t even give me a chance to explain,” sabi ko. “Ano ba ang problema ng kapatid mong ‘yon, ha, Millie? Bakit galit na galit? Ilang oras lang naman akong nawala.”

I knew Arke had every rights to hate my guts if he wanted to, but could not he at least tell me why he was acting like this?

“Baka in love pa sa ‘yo,” hagikhik ni Millie.

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya dahil nababaliw na siya kung ganoon nga. What that guy had for me was pure hate, and besides, he was in a relationship already.

“You are talking nonsense, Millie. Anyway, bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na girlfriend pala niya si Vivienne Almendras, ha? That woman! How could you not tell me about that thing?” I asked in disbelief.

Hinablot niya ‘yong isang pabilog na unan sa inuupuang couch at saka niyakap.

“Hoy! Ilang beses ko kayang sinubukang sabihin sa ‘yo, ano! Pero sa tuwing babanggitin ko si Kuya Arke ay sinasabi mo agad na hindi ka interesado. And besides, you said you don’t care about each other na, ‘di ba? Bakit, Tating? Nagseselos ka ba, ha? Yiee! May feelings pa siya kay Kuya!” she teased.

“Again, what you are saying is nonsense,” irap ko. “Kasi naman! Bakit siya pa? Sa dinami-rami naman diyang ibang babae! Sandamakmak ‘yong mga fangirls nila, bakit hindi na lang isa sa kanila ang piliin niya? At ang daming celebrities na nalilink sa kaniya, ano! Dami ring papakamatay sa kaniya! You know how bitch that woman is!”

Evilness ran with the Almendras. Hindi ko malilimutan ‘yong maraming beses na ginawan ako ng kamalditahan ng Vivienne Almendras na iyon, ‘yong mga pang-aapi niya at pagpapahirap sa akin, and all because she was jealous that Arke was my boyfriend and she liked him a lot. I bet she was the happiest girl in the whole world finally having him as her boyfriend.

Ugh! What really came to his mind? He was a smart man and she was everything she hated in a girl. Papaanong naging girlfriend niya ang babaeng ‘yon? Bakit niya pinatulan?! Papaano niya natitiis ang kaartehan ng isang ‘yon?

Millie took a deep sigh and said, “I know, and we both hated her to the bones. But what could I do, Tats? I have no say to his relationships, to all of my brothers’ relationships.” 

I emitted a resigned sigh. “Tara na nga sa labas!” sabi ko na lang at dahil ayoko na munang isipin pa ang kapatid niya. I was really tired of him being always in my mind. Because to be honest, he did not leave my head at all. I had been always in overdrive with ruminating thoughts of him since our breakup. I could not seem to stop thinking about him no matter how hard I tried and how many guys I dated.