Illicit Sky [✓]

Chapter 50

I thought my mother would bring me to one of the cabins, but I was surprised when we rode a small boat. Naiwan si Papa Simon sa yate kasama ang iba pang Griego. I wanted to resist, but my mother's glare and grip stopped me.

Isang guwardiya ang sumama sa amin. Wala ako sa sarili. I was worried about Angelus. Everything happened so fast. Ang bilis din ng galaw ni Gunther. I thanked him for that. If he was a second late, Angelus probably hurt Maureen and Margaux.

But... I can't stand to see Angelus being treated like that. He lost it again. Because of me. This time, it's not only in front of my friends. But also in front of my mother and his cousins. Hindi iyon kasing simple ng nangyari noong nakaraan.

He was enraged and very intent on inflicting harm on someone. Lalo akong nanlamig. We went to Papa Simon's rest house in Batangas. Inutusan ni Mama ang mga kasambahay na sumalubong sa aming tulungan akong maligo at mag-ayos. 

Angelus wasn't the only one who lost it. I lost it, too. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan ang pangit na pakiramdam kanina. Nakaupo na ako sa kama nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan at niluwa nito ang nakarobang si Mama.

She's seriously looking at me. Muli akong kinabahan at nagbaba ng tingin. I gulped and fisted my hands against my thighs until my knuckles turned white. 

"I called them. Your friends were transferred in a smaller boat. Kinakausap na ng Papa Simon mo at ng ibang Griego si Angelus."

Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Mama at nahuli itong mapanuring nakatitig sa akin. 

"D—Did they hurt... Kuya Angelus?" sa kabado at nag-aalala kong tinig. 

"Why would they hurt him? Farida, Gunther just put him under restraint a while ago. Your brother was keen to harm your friends."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin at muling lumunok. Dinukot ng kaba ang puso ko at paulit-ulit itong hinampas sa aking dibdib nang maupo si Mama sa katapat kong upuan, seryoso at mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

I was... out of it a while ago. Kung kumalma lang ako kagaya ng nais ni Reina, hindi sana hahantong ang lahat sa ganito. 

Ngunit hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang sinabi nila sa likuran ko. They called me weird and two-faced. They talked behind my back as if... they weren't my friends. Maureen is not a friend to begin with. But Margaux? 

Kumirot ang puso ko. 

"Tell me what happened, Ari. Why were you crying? Ano ang ginawa saiyo ng dalawang batang iyon? Aren't they your friends?"