How To Act Straight? [COMPLETE]

KABANATA 30

Pain seeping through her heart as her mind were clouded by thoughts.

Lagi nalang nagkakaganito si Kitty magmula noong aksidente niyang natawagan ang numero ni Nikolai. Sariwa pa sa ala-ala niya ang mga nangyari sa araw na iyon. Muntik na siyang bumigay roon but the strong boundaries she set between her feelings and his persuasion is still going strong, hindi niya hahayaan ang sariling maging marupok na naman kay Nikolai pero kontra ang puso niya at may parte sa kaniyang gusto niya ulit makasama ito.

Irony, isn’t it?

Nakapinta ang panghihinayang sa mukha ni Kitty habang nakatitig sa mga kuha nilang litrato kasama si Nikolai. She treasured those moments but now it’s only a history for her. Mahirap na atang ibalik ang masasayang nakaraan nilang dalawa lalo na’t magulo na masyado ang kanilang sitwasyon.

She closes the photo album at ibinalik ulit iyon sa kabinet. Nandoon lahat nakatago ang stuff na related sa kaniya. She decided not to dump them.

“Mommy… can you read me some bedtime stories? I can’t sleep po.” Ryker requested. Bahagya pa siyang nagulat dahil sa biglaang pagsulpot nito sa likuran niya.

She quickly hides the picture from the sight of her son. Kinakabahan siya na baka makita niya ito.

Unti-unting umikot si Kitty para humarap sa bata. She smiled slightly as she carries him on her arms and stood up. Hinalikan nito ang pisngi ng bata.

“What do you want to have?”

The kid chuckled, “Anything mommy, ‘wag lang po ‘yong about sa ghost.” napalabi ang paslit.

“Copy that baby.” Kitty pinched his nose.

Ryker giggles at pumunta na sa room ng bata.

~•~•~

Nikolai keeps on staring at his phone screen, umaasahang tumunog iyon at ang dahilan ay si Kitty.

Ilang oras na ba siyang naghihintay? Tatlong oras na. Pero heto parin siya, nakatitig lang sa telepono nito at paminsan-minsan naman ay nakatulala sa labas ng bintana. Salitan lang.

Malakas ang tunog ng kaniyang pagbuntong hininga. Hinilot nito ang nangangalay na leeg at tumipa ng mensahe sa numero ni Kitty.

Nikolai can’t wait a miracle or an accident phone call anymore. Mabilis ang mga daliri niyang nag-compose ng message.

To: Kitty

Hello, I just want to know that you’re alright now. Sorry, I shouldn’t have message you but I sincerely worried about your condition Kitty and It’s my fault after all.

Hindi na siya nagdalawang isip pa at agad niyang pinindot ang send button. It was delivered successfully.

Biglang siyang kinabahan. He’s aware that he is crossing the line but Nikolai can’t help but to care about her. God knows, he still loves Kitty so much at hindi niya mapapatawad ang kaniyang sarili kung may mangyaring masama sa kaniya.

Muli siyang napatitig sa screen ng phone. He bit his bottom lip, still waiting for her response. Minutes have passed but still no replies from Kitty. Kahit na ganun ay hindi parin nawalan ng pag-asa si Nikolai.

Mapait siyang napangiti at napayuko, “Maybe she’s busy and maybe she had fallen asleep.” gaslighting himself.

Napasulyap siya sa kaniyang relo. Time check, 9:28 pm.

Pumasok si Nikolai sa banyo at napagdesisyunan na niyang maligo. He left his phone on the top of his bed.

Bumuhos sa kaniyang katawan ang maligamgam na temperatura ng tubig. He closed his eyes for a moment. On the back of his mind, Kitty’s face was there. She’s smiling and laughing.