Played (Montellano series #1)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Wala na ako sa tamang wisyo hanggang sa matapos ang event dahil sa iniisip ko. 'Di ko na nga napansin kung ano na'ng pinaggagawa ng mga pinsan ko. I was just absentmindedly watching and following them while thinking how to ask Rake about his mother.

Alam kong magagalit siya sa gagawin ko pero gusto kong malaman kung anong nararamdaman niya. I've already thought about waiting for him to tell me but knowing him, I'm sure he won't share. If that's the case, how will I be able to comfort him?

I want him to feel that I am here for him. That if he's hurting, I'm here to listen. I'm here to comfort his hurting heart. That's why I'm going to ask him about his mother.

I'm sorry. I'm just really concerned about him. I don't want him to take it all alone. I want him to feel that he can share his pain, that I'm here for that. That I'm by his side and I can understand him.

Hindi ko na alam kung anong oras na sila nagdesisyong umuwi. Pagkatapos ng event, nagstay pa kami para sa picture taking at nakipagtsismisan pa yata si Kim sa mga kaibigan niya. Ang ibang mga pinsan ko, hindi ko na alam kung anong mga ginawa o saan nagpunta.

"Napagod ka ba?" Rake asked while we were walking home.

Maingay pa rin ang mga pinsan ko sa kung anong pinag-uusapan nila. Nag-aasaran na lang ata sila. Hindi ko na masundan dahil sa pag-iisip.

"Huh? No, ayos lang ako." May pagkalito ko pang sagor sa kanya.

"Ayos ka lang ba? Mukhang kanina ka pa wala sa sarili."

"I'm sorry, may iniisip lang ako."

Huminto siya kaya napahinto rin ako. Nahuhuli kami sa paglalakad. Hinarap niya ako.

"What is it? Tell me."

I stared at him. I'm sure concern is written all over my face, mirroring his but we have different concerns. His concern is about what I'm thinking while mine is about him and his mother.

Huminga ako ng malalim at bumuntong-hininga. Pinasadahan ko ng daliri ang buhok. We're on the roadside, lit by the streetlights. Mahina na ang tawanan ng mga pinsan ko, hudyat na naiwanan na kami. Hindi na rin naman kalayuan ang mansion.

Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang kamay ko para abutin ang braso niya. Lito niyang sinulyapan ang kamay ko bago ako muling tinignan.

"Rake..." I slowly spoke.

"What is it? Is there something wrong?"

My heart started to dribble. Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I know he'll get mad for my meddling but I'm just really concerned about him. I don't even know if this is the right thing to do or not. I just really want him to feel that he's not alone.

"I heard about your mother." dahan-dahan kong sinabi. "She returned home."

Nakita ko ang unti-unting pagdidilim ng mukha niya at pagbabago ng kanyang ekspresyon. Even with the streetlight under us, his face turned darker than the night.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa braso niya. My heart drummed even more while watching his expression.

"Are you alright?" mahina kong tanong sa kanya.

"Sinong nagsabi sa'yo?" mariin at malamig niyang sinabi.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko. "I'm sorry, no one told me. I just overheard it."

"She did not return home. She doesn't have a home here." aniya at umambang aalis.

Mabilis kong hinuli ang kamay niya para pigilan siya. He snapped back and glared at me.