HATED
“GISING KA NA PALA.”
Frankie was suddenly inside... My room? Why was I in my room? “How did I get here?” I wondered to myself.
“Someone brought you home.” she coldly reply.
Everything that happened in school flashes at the back of my mind. Who was I with the last time I could remember? It was my ex boyfriend, Nate. And as far as I remember, he took me home. Oh shit. Nakatulog ata ako sa biyahe habang nasa sasakyan niya.
Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Frankie na mukhang may inaayos siya sa bedside table. “Kumain ka na ng almusal mo. Wala ka pang kain simula kahapon.” aniya. “Andito na rin ʼyung gamot mo. Uminom ka pagkatapos mong kumain at bumaba ka.”
Base sa tono ng boses niya, I already knew she was upset—somehow...
Ginawa ko agad ang mga binilin niya sa akin bago siya lumabas ng kwarto. Binanggit niya ang salitang kahapon. “So today is already tuesday? Valentineʼs day?” bulong ko sa sarili ko. Tumayo na ako nang ma-realize na ngayon pala ang performance ni Cyrus. I need to watch him today. Dinalian ko lamang ang pag-ubos sa pagkain ko. Bumaba na ako matapos kong uminom ng gamot. Iʼm kinda feeling lighter and better than yesterday. Dinala ko ang tray ng mga pagkain at ang mga dinala ni Frankie sa kwarto ko.
Mula sa kusina, pumunta ako sa sala para kausapin si Ate. When I saw Marcus who sat beside Frankie on the couch, that was when I recalled that they were also a part of the event. They were also participating.
Nang magkatinginan kami ni Ate, ang tanging naisip ko ay hindi ko siya kayanh harapin. Sigurado akong nagtataka siya at naiinis ngayon. Nagtataka kung bakit may komunikasyon pa rin kami ni Nathan at naiinis dahil simula palang ay hindi niya gusto si Nathan para sa ʼkin.
“Papunta na kayo ng school?” nahihiyang tanong ko sa kanila.
“Yes. Mamayang kaunti, aalis na kami.”
“Nasaan si Mom?” tanong ko.
“Maaga siyang umalis.”
“Anong oras siya umuwi kagabi?”
“Late na siya umuwi.” Seryoso siyang tumingin sa akin. “Tulog ka nung dumating siya.”
“Hinanap niya ba ako?” tanong ko ulit. Alam kong naiinip na siya sa kakasagot sa mga tanong ko. I just wanted to make sure about something without directly asking her. First, I know how exactly she feels at the moment. And lastly, itʼs very unsettling to make a conversation about what happened yesterday in front of someone whoʼs not involved.
Whatʼs between me and my sister, stays between me and my sister alone.
Imbis na sagutin ako, tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin. Marcus really didnʼt mind me borrowing his company.
Nang nasa harap ko na si Frankie, hindi ko maiwasang kabahan. Sheʼs never put up a close distance between us and Iʼm still making our ties meet up again. “Hindi alam ni Mom na may sakit ka at nahimatay ka sa school.” she said.
Napatitig lamang ako sa mukha niya. I was analyzing every detail she said. It was overwhelming my brain. I was expecting her to tell me that sheʼs mad about the man who brought me home last night. I was thinking that by now sheʼs probably going to scold me. But everything falls into opposite. Sheʼs rather calm and—who knows?—maybe containing her rage.
