Sin City

31: After party

"I can explain!"

"Bitch! You better explain it now!" singhal ni Andrea sa akin, nakapamewang pa ito. Everyone intently looked at us, they looked betrayed and confused, maliban nalang kay Chanty.

"Uhmm..." napalunok naman ako, hindi alam kung saan magsisimula. Napatingin ako bigla kay Rouqil nang maramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa kamay ko, he sweetly smiled at me. Mabilis na nawala ang takot at kaba na nararamdaman ko nang hawakan at ngitian niya ako. 

"I got it, mahal," he comfortingly said. My heart fluttered. Tumingin agad siya sa mga pinsan at kapatid ko na nakaupo sa mesa. They were very eager to hear the entire story.

"This is going to take us all night guys so can we please sit?" he carefully asked them. Buti nalang at tumango sila kahit nakakatakot na ang mukha ni kuya Adrian, kuya Eugene, ate Nadia, at Andrea. Hinila agad ni Rouqil ang upuan namin para maupo kami dalawa.

Rouqil held my hand under the table the whole time he was telling everyone our story, as if he was getting his strength and courage from me. He told them everything, even the littlest details.

"Kaya I'm sorry," malungkot na nginitian ni Roux silang lahat matapos siyang magkwento. "I'm sorry for hurting Jillian and I'm sorry for keeping it from y'all, I wanted to respect Jillian's decision to not tell you guys about it yet," he sincerely said.

My gaze shifted to my cousins and siblings. Lahat sila ay naiiyak dahil sa kwento ni Roux, nakatitig pa sa kawalan habang prinoproseso ang lahat.

"And if you guys have doubts dahil sa kwento ni RJ," kuya Aidan suddenly said, he stood up from his seat and stood beside Roux at inakbayan ito. "I can vouch for this guy," he smirked. I confusedly looked at them, napatanong agad ako kung paano sila naging okay. "This guy's far different from his family. Araw araw yata akong sinuyo nito para mapatawad ko siya," natatawang kwento pa ni kuya Aidan. "He's a truthful man, lumapit agad siya sa akin para sabihin ang totoo and I commend him for that."

"Thanks, man," nakangiti na sagot ni Roux kay kuya Aidan, he let go of my hand as he stood up to hug my brother.

"So you're the one who painted the paintings in his bar and in his house, at kayaking J'Lian because Jillian..." kuya Adrian mumbled as he intently looked at me. Umupo naman ulit si Rouqil sa tabi ko at hinawakan muli ang kamay ko.

I pressed my lips and nodded, I'm embarrassed that I wasn't truthful to them.

"When you called me years ago to tell me you like this guy... si Rouqil ba yon?" ate Nadia curiously asked. Tumango naman agad ako.

"So we were right all along!" hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Andrea.

"Kaya pala kilalang kilala ka nung pusa niya," dagdag pa ni kuya Eugene.

"I'm sorry, guys!" I pouted and clasped my hands together. "I didn't think na magkakabalikan kami, nagalit kasi talaga ako sa kanya cause I didn't know his side. Hindi ko din inexpect na magiging sobrang close siya sa inyo, I told him to stay away from y'all but kayo naman ang laging lumalapit sa kanya," mangiyak ngiyak na pagpapaliwanag ko sa kanila. They all looked like they were trying to justify my actions. Alam kong mahal nila ako at maiintindihan nila kung bakit ko itinago ang relasyon namin ni Roux.

"Chant? Ano? Ba't wala kang reaksyon diyan?" nagtatakang tanong ni Andrea kay Chanty na nakaupo lang sa gilid at nakangiti.

"You knew?!" kuya Adrian audibly gasped, bakas pa sa singhap nito na tila ba trinaydor siya ng asawa.