Chapter 8

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"I feel like, I can relate to him." Bulaslas ko. Tinignan ako ni Jacob at yumuko siya.

"You are nothing like him, Ari." Pagkukumbinsi niya pa. Hinawakan niya yung kaliwang kamay ko, he was kissing the back of my hand. It felt like an assurance that I wasn't anything like what Miguel is, pero iba yung nararamdaman ko.

"But why do I feel like I'm not given enough credit for the things I have been doing. Dad doesn't acknowledge my efforts, Jace. I feel like he treats me as someone he needs. Kaya nga ipinapakasal ako sayo, di ba? He wants power, Jace. Something I can't give him without you."

"Your Dad loves you, Ari. I know he does. He loves you and Tita Bianca so much." Maniniwala ba ako sayo, Jace? Bakit parang hindi ko kayang paniwalaan na he's capable of doing that.

"When mom died, parang namatay din pati pagmamahal ni Dad sa akin." Sabi ko sa kanya. For 13 years, iyon ang naramdaman ko. That's why I had to please him, do everything he says, para kahit paano ay maramdaman ko naman na mahal niya ako at proud siya sa akin.

"I became invisible when mom died, Jace. But when Tita Marie came into our lives, he became happy again kaya pinabayaan ko siya. Then Leo was born and I felt I was out of the picture." I started weeping. Sumandal ako sa balikat niya.

"This is the reason why I wanted to have my freedom so badly, Jace. Napapagod na akong patunayan ang sarili ko. Gusto ko nalang gawin kung anong magpapasaya sa akin." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"You'll be able to that, Ari. I promise you." Ipinikit ko lang ang mga mata ko.

Jace and I, we don't see eye to eye most of the time. I always push him away dahil sa palagay ko, mas makakabuti sa kanya iyon. I know I had to distance myself to him dahil ayokong sa bandang dulo, disappointment lang din ang mararamdaman niya towards me.

But Jace doesn't know how to stay the hell away from me. And for some reasons, I find comfort from him whenever possible.

He's like the ocean always waiting for my sun to set, and hides me away whenever darkness comes.

He has always been my Ocean.


"Hey love, wake up. It's Leo birthday." Rinig na rinig ko ang boses ni Jacob habang niyuyugyog ako ng dahan dahan. Unti-unting natamaan ng sinag ng araw ang mukha ko.

"Good morning, love. It's already 10am, you slept soundly and I didn't want to wake you up, but unfortunately, the party starts at 4pm. I still need to take you home to your condo para makapag-ayos ka." Malambing niyang sabi sa akin.

Tumango ako at hinanap ang aking telepono.

15 missed calls from Solene Andrea
3 text messages from Solene Andrea
12 missed calls from Tita Marie
5 missed calls from Dad

"Oh my god Jace! Dad's been calling me 5 times already! Bakit di mo ako ginising?!" Paghihisterikal ko ng makita ko yung call logs ko.

"Don't worry, I answered one call from each of the person who called you. They already know you're with me." Sabi niya pa sa akin.

"I told Andrea na sa bahay nalang kayo magkikita. I told Cayden to fetch her, I'm sure your best friend would love that as she really likes my cousin." Nang-aasar ba tong si Jacob? Bakit pati pagkacrush netong si Andy kay Cayden alam.

"You know everything." Sarkastiko kong sagot sa kanya.

"I have to know everything for you." Sabi niya pa. Ano ibig niyang sabihin doon? Pabigat ako, ganon? Gago din e.

Tumayo na ako sa pagkakahiga at pumasok sa banyo. I just used mouthwash dahil wala naman akong toothbrush dito sa condo ni Jace. Naghilamos na din ako ng mukha at inayos ang sarili. Ni hindi na ako nakapagpalit ng damit kagabi, I just ended up in his bed.

Sunset OrangeTahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon