If I Could Fall (Love and Mishap Series #1)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Birthday

I stared at his complete name with a green dot on his black and white icon—indicating that Primorious Juan Velarmino is currently online.

Kinagat ko ang labi at nginiwian ang sarili. Nakakatakot kahit wala naman akong planong i-chat si Primo. I'm just here to read something again and again.

Isang linggo na kasi ang nakalipas nang ihatid ako ni Primo. And it's already a week ago the first time he messaged me. I know he said he'll update me once he gets home safely but I didn't expect that he would really do it!

Hindi tuloy ako makapaniwala. Call me crazy but I feel like I was floating, especially when I saw how formal he is even through chat.

Primo:

I'm home safely. I'm sorry for the trouble again. And I really hope your parents won't get mad at you. 

My mother was angry that night, though. I was silently crying with the hurtful words she said to me. At sobra sobra ang takot ko sa kanila. I tried to explain what exactly happened but it only made the problem worse. Sobrang pangit sa pakiramdam dahil buong akala ko, makakaramdam si Mama ng pag-aalala sakin ngunit hindi. She even blamed me for almost having an accident.

"Ganyan! Ganyan ang napapalala mo sa pagsuway sa amin ng Papa mo, Isla! What came into your senses to go home this late? You're disappointing!"

Yumuko ako at pinisil ang mga daliri. A tear fell and I immediately wiped it with my trembling hand.

"Hindi ka ba nag-iisip? O nakakaintindi ng mga bilin namin sayo? Halos mabaliw na kami kakatawag sayo. At babae ka! Uwi ba ng matinong babae 'yan?"

I glanced at Papa. Naka-cross ang mga braso sa dibdib at nakasandal sa pinto. My father didn't say anything but I felt like he's also upset. His eyes were cold to me before he finally let me go inside my room. Naiintindihan ko naman iyon dahil pasado alas dose na nang makauwi ako ng tuluyan.

Primo insisted again to explain to my parents but I was too afraid to let him. Kasama niya nang bumalik palabas ng Silay si Saint na siyang tumulong sa amin. Mabuting desisyon nga na huwag siyang hayaan dahil baka pati siya, mapagbuntungan rin.

I sniffed as I typed in my reply to him.

Ako:
Thank you. And don't say sorry. Wala kang kasalanan.

Nilunok ko ang bukol sa lalamunan, medyo hindi pa nakakabawi sa kaunting gulo. Minutes after, Primo replied.

Primo:

You're welcome. Napagalitan ka ba?

Malungkot akong ngumiti. Oo, pero ayos lang. Masaya naman ako. Lalo pa't nakasama ako ngayon, kasama ang kaibigan at syempre, ikaw.

I wanted to say that but I did the otherwise. I was so hurt by what happened inside our household that I honestly shut down Primo's question.

Ako:

Oo pero naiitindihan ko. Sinuway ko kasi ang kondisyon nila. Thank you nga pala ulit. Matutulog na ako. Good night.

Buong akala ko, hindi na ulit siya mag r-reply. Napasinghap ako nang tumunog ulit ang aking cellphone.

Primo: