Always and Forever (COMPLETED)

Chapter 35

"Are you alright?" nag aalalang tanong ni Olivia nang makarating kami sa aming tinutuluyan.

Tumango lang ako sa kanya at akmang pupunta sa banyo nang higitin niya ako at niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Let go, Olivia." namamaos sabi ko.

Hindi siya bumitaw. Sa halip, mas lalo niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa akin. I want us to just stay like this, but I'm a mess right now. My mind says this is wrong and I shouldn't like her, but my heart says otherwise. This fucking feels so right and I'm so afraid of these feelings.

"I'm sorry I made you feel that I don't want your presence. But believe me, love. I'm just really concerned about your family. I have kids, and I constantly worry about them. I'm sure your parents are so worried right now." marahan niyang hinaplos ang buhok ko.

Parang sasabog na ang puso ko sa sobrang lakas ng pag tibok nito. Damn that endearment. I feel like I'm going to melt whenever she calls me that.

And again, I believe her. I fucking believe that she's really concerned about what my family feels. But I want to be here with her. I hate that I'm selfish, and I like someone as selfless as her.

"If I contact them right now, would that make you feel at ease?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Humiwalay siya sa yakap at malungkot na ngumiti. "It will, but that's really up to you. I don't want you to do something you don't want to do."

"I'll do it." deklara ko. "But they will be able to track me down if I use my phone. Can I borrow yours?"

"Sure." mabilis niyang sagot at inilahad ang kanyang cellphone. "I'll just take a bath." she added.

Tumango ako sa kanya. Tumalikod siya sa akin at nagtungo sa kwarto, siguro ay para kumuha ng pangbihis. Nang makalabas siya ay ako naman ang pumasok at isinara ang pinto. I spelled the room to make it soundproofed. I don't want her to hear my dad yelling at me. That's embarrassing.

I dialed mom's number. Numero niya lang naman ang memoryado ko. Wala pang tatlong segundo ay may sumagot na ng tawag.

"Who's this?" diretsong tanong ni mommy sa kabilang linya.

"It's me, mom." pabulong na sagot ko.

"Kaylee!" sigaw niya. "God, where are you? We're so worried! Come home this instance!" she sounded hysterical.

Napapikit ako. Olivia's right. They're so damn worried. Narinig ko ang boses nila dad, uncle Dawn, auntie Riley at uncle Kinley mula sa kabilang linya. Dad's insisting to hand the phone to him.

"I'm fine, mom. You don't have to worry about me." pagpapakalma ko sa kanya.

"Where are you?" muling tanong niya.

"I can't tell you, but I assure you I'm safe. I'll come back soon."

I heard dad again on the other line, and I think mom handed him the phone. Naririnig ko ngayon ang mga malalalim na buntong hininga niya.

"I will not repeat myself, Kaylee Andrea. You need to go home, now." wika niya sa nakakatakot na boses.

He's always been so protective of me because I'm her only daughter. But I'm an adult now, and I'll do whatever I want. He can't stop me this time.

"No, dad." matigas na sabi ko. "I'm no longer a child. I make my own choices. Just be thankful that I contacted you to let you know I'm safe." wika ko ng may bahid ng inis.

If not because of Olivia, I won't do this shit. Naiinis lang ako. I don't want them to worry, but I also don't want them to treat me like a child. I'm so sick of it.