Forbidden Relationship (Forbidden Series #3) (Completed)

Chapter 40

"Si Ate Grapes po? Kumain na ba siya?" tanong ko sa Filipina nurse ni Ate Grapes.

"Ayaw niya pa pong kumain," magalang na sagot ng Nurse kahit mas matanda siya sa akin.

Paniguradong nasa kwarto na naman si Ate. Tulala at hindi makausap.

It's been two months since Ate and I moved here. We're in France, currently living in Daddy's house. Ever since that day, Ate Grapes has become even quieter.

She often just stares blankly into the distance, but I still talk to her whenever I have time.

I'm now enrolled in college here. I took the course I've always wanted. In the universities here, it doesn’t really matter what track you graduated from—what matters is that you can stand by the program you chose.

When I see Ate on the veranda of her room, I immediately grab a sweater from her cabinet and put it on her.

She's looking at the vast mountains. She's seated on a chair, gazing at them.

I kneel in front of her, even though I know she won't look at me—not even for a second. I hold her hand before speaking. "How are you, Ate? I was only gone for the whole day, but your nurse already reported that you didn’t want to eat."

"Come on, Ate, let's eat together. I bought your favorite French fries because, hey, we're in France." I even add a laugh, but she still doesn't respond.

Hindi ko na siya pinilit na umimik. Bumalakit ang mapait na ngiti sa aking labi. "Mahal na mahal mo talaga si Kuya Zade, 'no?"

She only looks at me with her lifeless eyes.
"You lost yourself when he left. B-But why me... Yhael left me, but why am I still here? Why am I not like you?"

I silently cry with my head bowed. Then I feel Ate gently stroking my hair.

"Why does Yhael's death feel like nothing to me? Why did I only grieve for a week?"

"Hindi ko ba siya ganoon kamahal?"

"Hindi sukatan ang pag-iyak at paghihinagpis para malaman mo kung gaano mo kamahal ang isang tao." Seryoso niyang sinabi. "Alam kong hindi ka pa tuluyang nakakaahon. Mahirap naman talagang makaahon sa taong unang nagparamdam sa'yo na nabubuhay ka."

She slowly stands up, so I do too. Without a word, she returns to her room and covers herself with a blanket on her bed.

"Ate, eat something first," I say, wiping my tear-stained cheek. "Your therapist will be here soon."

"I don't want to see him," she says flatly.

Just then, my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket and see that Ate’s therapist is calling. He must be on his way.

I step out onto the veranda before answering the call.

"Good afternoon, Aphle. Where's your sister?" Dr. Cedric asks immediately. He's a Filipino therapist. Kuya Mark's friend recommended him.

"Ayaw niya raw pong makita ka," kamot batok kong sinabi. Nakakahiya man sabihin pero iyon naman talaga ang sinabi ni Ate.

Narinig ko ang bahagyang tawa ng doktor sa kabilang linya. "On my way," sinabi niya bago pinatay ang tawag.

Bumalik naman ako sa kwarto ni Ate at napabuntong hininga dahil ang tigas pa rin talaga ng ulo niya. Kapag ayaw, ayaw talaga.

I just leave her room to go downstairs and eat.

As I sit on the kitchen stool, my phone rings. I glance at the screen and see that Ate Grapes accepted my friend request—two weeks ago.

I changed my account. I deleted my old one that was connected to my friends. I kept seeing all sorts of messages, and they weren't good for me.