Masked Feelings

Chapter Fifty-Four

S T A C E Y

Learning a painful truth about Jho and Ate Colet nearly broke me. It hurts as hell like I got stabbed in my chest several times.

How can this be? Papano sila naging magkapatid? How?

I knew about Ate Colet's missing sister because she accidentally told me about it when we were still kids. Hindi lang siguro nya naaalala but she told me about. Saying that she misses her sister so much and wanted to look for her.

At first, I didn't know how to react about it. Imagine a five years old kid who just learned that she have a missing cousin. Worst is, she got missing just a day after she got born. How am I suppose to react on that?

Ni hindi ko nga alam na may pinsan pa pala ako na mas nakababata sa'kin. I always thought na ako yung bunso sa aming magpipinsan. Hindi pala kasi Ate Colet had a younger sister who's just a year younger than me. She's the youngest yet I never heard about her being born not until Ate Colet accidentally told me so.

Maybe she really missed Naiah that much and couldn't stop her emotions and it burst out. The thing is, sa'kin nya nalabas yung kinikimkim nyang lungkot at pangungulila sa kapatid nya.

I even almost forgot about it now but after I accidentally heard Ate Colet and Ate Yves's conversation earlier, it suddenly went back into my memory.

I couldn't believe it. I even got rooted where I was standing after after I heard Ate Yves say that Jhoanna was Ate Colet's sister. But Ate Colet was shaking her head as if she don't want to believe it.

And I clearly know the reason why. Because of me.

But as the saying goes, truth hurts but we need to accept it. Both of us don't want to accept it but what choice do we have? Yun ang totoo.

As much as I don't want to believe and accept it, I have to. Kahit masakit.

Though, I am happy for Ate Colet kasi nahanap na nya ang kapatid nya. Masakit lang tanggapin kasi yung taong nagugustuhan ko pala yung kapatid na matagal na nyang hinahanap. Tapos sa mismong araw pa ng birthday ko pa namin nalaman.

Saklap, right? I was about to confess pa naman to Jho mamaya but I guess, hindi ko na magagawa pa yun. Not after knowing she's my cousin. I should move on starting this very day and forget this feelings I have for her. It will only hurt me more if itutuloy ko pa din tong nararamdaman ko for her.

I can't let that happen. I can't let this feelings grow more. I should move on. I must to. As I've said, wala na akong magagawa kundi ang tanggapin ang katotohanang hindi kami pwedi. Masakit man pero yun na yun. Tanggapin na lang.

We're better stay as friends na lang. That should be the best decision for both of us. It should be.

"Do you like my gift, Staks?" Ate Aiah asked while grinning at me.

I laugh a little even though I'm starting to get teary-eyed and said, "I don't just like it—— I love it! Thank you so much, Ate Aiah. This is the best gift ever!"

She just smiled and squeeze my hand as I'm still holding her birthday gift to me, her Ice Skates. God! I still can't believe she gave this to me as a gift. Alam ko kung gano ka-importante sa kanya tong skates na 'to.

"You're very much welcome, princess." She said and both of us heard a loud 'aww' from Shee.

Parang sya pa yung pinakana-touched sa sinabi ni Ate Aiah more than me kaya natawa kami sa kanya.

"Pero seryoso, Ate Aiah, ah. Nakakatampo pa din na hindi mo man lang nabanggit sa'min na nagi-skates ka pala. We've been friends for what? Almost three years! But you never told us about it." Sheena exclaimed sulking for not being informed.