t/w: slight mention of abuse
* * *
[MESSENGER]
Bubby ⭐️
01:20
Evie
BUB
Evie
WHAT HAPPENED?
Jachin
Bakit gising ka pa, bub?
Evie
I woke up sa notifications!
Evie
WHAT HAPPENED? CAN I CALL?
Jachin
Wag na. Okay lang ako, bub, promise. Niyeyelo ko na mukha ko.
Evie
YOUR WHOLE FACE?
Jachin
Medyo oo 😞
Jachin
Pero ayos lang talaga. Masakit lang panga ko.
Evie
I will call pls pls
Jachin
Makikita mo pa eh. Bukas na lang.
Evie
NO STAY AT HOME TOMORROW
Jachin
Bub 😭 Ginawa mo naman akong elementary. Malayo sa bituka 'to. Kayang kaya ko yeluhin. Tapos mawawala na pamamaga.
seen
Jachin
Bub?
seen
Jachin
Galit ka? Ayoko lang na mag-alala ka.
Evie
I already am
Evie
The least you could do is show me so I know
Jachin
Hay
Jachin
Sige na nga. Tumawag ka na, bub. Ayokong galit ka sakin, baka mawalan ako ng kiss.
Evie reacted 😠
Evie
Okay, I'll call you.
* * *
[VIDEO CALL]
Bubby ⭐️
01:29
Bub?
Evie lets out a gasp.
Oh my God, bub. . .
Wag kang mag-alala.
Di naman masyadong masakit.
But there's already a bruise. . . Bub. . .
Jachin heard Evie's sob before he saw her face.
Evie?
Bakit ka umiiyak, mahal?
Please don't. . .
How?! It looks painful! Your lips are bleeding!
Evie. . .
Kailangan kong saluhin 'yong mga suntok. . . kasi ayokong si Mama ang saktan niya. . .
Gumitna na si Mama sa 'min. . . hindi ko kakayanin kapag siya ang nasaktan.
Jachin. . .
Kaya rin ako nag-sorry sa 'yo. . . kasi alam ko na 'di maganda 'yong ginawa ko at mga sinabi ko sa kanya.
Kaya siya nagalit sa 'kin.
Pero, bub. . . wala siyang karapatang insultuhin ang mga kapatid ko. 'Di niya sila anak.
Kaya ako na lang. . .
W-What did he say?
Na anak sila. . . anak sila Mama sa animal.
'Di ko kayang marinig. . .
I'm sorry, bub.
The line goes quiet.
Jachin?
Yeah?
I don't want you to get hurt again. . . but I also know that you did that for your family.
So don't say sorry.
Nag-alala lang ako. . . kasi baka biglang magbago tingin mo sa 'kin.
Ang tagal kong kinikimkim 'yon, bub. Simula nung makulong siya. Mga salitang 'di ko masabi.
Mga salitang gusto kong isumbat sa kanya. . . sa pananakit niya sa 'kin nung bata pa ako.
Lahat 'yon nakatatak sa 'kin.
Kaya ayokong maramdaman ng mga kapatid ko.
Kaya kailangan kong gawin 'yon.
Para sa sarili ko at para sa kanila.
Jachin pressed the ice on his jaw.
Do you have first aid kit?
Yeah, meron.
He lifted his other hand to show her a small box.
I want to go there and help you.
Wag na, bub. Bumalik ka na sa tulog kasi madaling araw na. Sasakit ulo mo mamaya.
But I can't. . . I can't sleep when
I think of you.
Jachin chuckled a little.
Gusto ko sana sabihing wag mo akong isipin pero. . . ayaw ko 'yon. Gusto ko iniisip mo ako.
So how can I go back to sleep?
Jachin went quiet for a few seconds.
You want to stay on call?
Until you fall asleep. Dito lang ako.
Di rin siguro ako makakatulog sa sakit.
So, it does hurt.
Iyon lang talaga narinig mo, bub?
I want to be there.
Tomorrow, promise. But right now, kailangan mo na matulog. Gusto mo ba maging panda bukas?
Pandas are cute!
Eyebags ang hindi, bub.
Okay. . .
I'll stay hanggang makatulog ka.
Promise?
Evie slightly lifted her hand, just enough so that the camera sees it, and showed him her pinky finger.
Promise.
Jachin did the same.
* * *
#ATSWHIwp
BINABASA MO ANG
as the stars would have it
RomanceAFTER HEARTACHES SERIES #1 Evie Santandes was always the odd girl, and she was fine with it. Between caring for her three cats, all with different personalities, volunteering at a local veterinary clinic, and studying, she doesn't have much time on...
