Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 66

Yes or no

Arik:
Did you really mean it?

I've been staring at that text from Arik for a few minutes now, and I still can't figure out what he's referring to.

It was already 12 a.m, and we were still here at the tower's bar lounge. Rusty fulfilled his promise to stay in one of the suites, but he insisted on paying for it.

Sumunod naman si Oliver kasama sina mom and dad, pero kami na lang ang gising pa hanggang ngayon, naglalasing.

"Ba't di mo tanungin? Replyan mo," Kim suggested to me.

Agad na bumusangot ang mukha ni Aurora. Mabilis niyang nilagok ang shot ng tequila at napamura pa.

"And what? Magpapakatanga na naman? Syempre! Halata naman kung ano ang tinutukoy ng gagong 'yon—na ayaw mo na siyang makita pa ulit," she said.

I put away my phone and let it be.

That text has been there since earlier. Around ten o'clock. Akala ko may kasunod pa iyon dahil hindi naman ako nagreply, pero wala na. I guess Aurora was right. That's what he meant.

"E ano ba talagang status nila ni Hannah? Nakakadiri ampota! Pagkatapos tumira sa iisang bahay bilang magkapatid nang ilang taon, biglang ganito? Yuck!" Aurora snidely remarked.

Napatingin tuloy ako sa direksyon nina Oliver at Rusty dahil sa sinabi ni Aurora. Her voice was so loud that even though the two guys were at the counter, they could hear her.

When Rusty caught my gaze, I quickly looked away.

"I don't know. I'm tired of asking. Halata naman kung anong sagot."

"But that's it? You know it's just Arik's mind. He's confused, Celeste," Kim insisted.

I suddenly remembered what he said when he saw the pictures that Hannah showed the other day. As much as I want to shrug it off and not get hurt, I can't. I'm consumed by anger because of it. I can't accept it, especially since he said those things in front of that girl.

"Naguguluhan din naman si Celeste, Kim. Si Arik lang ba ang may pinagdadaanan? Si Arik lang ba ang hindi okay ngayon? They're both going through something. Hindi naman puwedeng si Celeste lang ang palaging iintindi," pasaring muli ni Aurora.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko sa sinabi niya. She's really on my side while Kim remained neutral.

Kim sipped on her vodka and cursed.

"I know that, bitch. Ayoko lang na pagsisihan nila ang nangyari dahil sa galit. You know what anger can do."

"Tangina, bahala ka! Ganyan ka mag isip dahil sa pamilya mo. Kaya ka naaabuso, e," Aurora retorted and turned to me.

"Celeste, give yourself time. You both need it. Now, if one of you gives up and lets go of the process, you'll lose control. You tried anyway. You've done enough. May utak pa rin naman siya! Nakakapag-isip pa rin siya! Let him face the consequences of his actions," she said firmly and stood up.

"Wow. After that speech, you're leaving?" I remarked to her.

She rolled her eyes. "Naiihi ako."

Dumiretso siya kay Oliver at nagpasama si banyo. Nang tingnan ko si Rusty, nagulat ako nang makita kong nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin. I awkwardly smiled, but he didn't reciprocate.

He's now sitting at the bar counter facing our table, leaning on it. Both of his arms are resting on the island. He's holding a glass of alcohol and not smoking. He just kept looking at me, so I looked away.