Spring Onions

Chapter 26. Café

'How come we're supposed to act so politely when we cross paths with someone who used to make our lives a living hell?

We're expected to have forgotten everything that happened despite how scarring it was.

They made us feel less human, so why can't we treat them as the abuser that they really are?

Why do we have to be kind to them when they have never been kind to us, just because everything 'is already in the past'?

They can forget me and what they did.

And God, I wish I can do the same too!

But no matter how long it was and how often I was told me to leave everything behind.

The emotional wounds they left me are still fresh.

I can still hear everything they have told me so clearly in my head.

I can still see the disgust and disappointment in their face whenever they look at me.

Those memories are too wounding to forget so easily.

I want to forget it.

I want to forget everything.

But why can't I?

How come she has forgotten and I haven't?

Why do I have to be the one who is burdened by what they did?

Why can't they be the ones who are burdened by what they did to me?'

Ngumiti si Mayumi at sinubukan na magsalita kahit na sumisikip na ang kaniyang lalamunan.

Kasi ano pa nga ba ang iisipin ng iba kung tatarayan niya siya?

Siya pa ang nagtatanim ng sama ng loob.

Siya pa ang bitter.

Siya pa ang masama.

"Catherine. Hello." sabi niya. "We were just looking for the café, you wouldn't know it, would you?"

Tiningnan siya nang maigi ni Catherine tapos tumingin siya sa mga kasama ni Mayumi.

"New friends?"

Dalawang salita, ngunit sapat na iyon upang pahintuin ang takbo ng isipan ni Mayumi.

Lalo na noong nalipat sa kaniya ang tingin ni Catherine nang hindi naaalis ang kaniyang ngiti na matalim sa pakiramdam.

Alam niya na masama itong senyales.

'I need to leave. Now.'

"So you don't know where it is." tumango si Mayumi. "Okay, thank you anyways."

Tumalikod si Mayumi upang maglakad paalis ngunit nagsalita muli si Catherine.

"Do they know?"

Napahinto si Mayumi sa paglalakad at napatitig kela Chelsea at Franchesca na nakatingin sa kaniya ngayon nang mayroong pag-aalala.

Bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ni Mayumi at nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata.

Ngunit nagpatuloy pa rin siya sa paglalakad papunta kela Chelsea at Franchesca.

"Oh my, so they don't know!"

Nagtaka ang mukha nina Chelsea at Franchesca at napatingin na sila kay Mayumi.

"Ang alin?" sabi ni Chelsea.

Mahina ito at para kay Mayumi lamang, ngunit narinig pa rin ito ni Catherine.