Let Me Chase You

Chapter Thirty-eight

Wendy's POV

It's been a week since the last time Ten talked to me. Hindi ako makatulog every night thinking I might lose my best friend forever because of what happened. Sobrang bigat pa rin sa pakiramdam, hindi ko magawang magsaya kahit patuloy pinaparamdam ni Sandro na magiging okay din ang lahat.

One time, nakasalubong ko si Ten sa hallway pero hindi manlang siya tumingin sa akin kahit pa tinuro na ako ni Lucas. Galit pa rin talaga siya sa akin. Nakarating na rin sa buong Teatro Club ang nangyari dahil hindi na um-aattend si Ten ng club meeting. Kahit nung araw na naging official na ang presidency ni Markie sa Teatro Club, Ten's nowhere to be found.

My best friend doesn't wanna see me and it's breaking my heart.

Nakaupo ako sa sofa habang nanunuod ng T.V nang tumunog ang doorbell.

Ang bilis naman yata ni mommy mag-grocery. Agad akong tumayo para silipin sa bintana kung sino 'yung nag-dodoorbell...

...hindi ko inaasahan ang taong makikita ko sa harap ng bahay namin.

It's Tita Karen, mommy ni Sandro at Ten.

Kabado kong binuksan ang gate. Nakangiti akong sinalubong ni Tita Karen, she's glowing, sobrang ganda niya pala talaga sa personal, pero anong ginagawa niya dito?

"Wendy, right?" She asked me right after I opened the gate.

"Y-yes po." I stammered.

Kilala niya ako?

"I'm Karen, Sandro and Tyrone's mom." In-offer ni Tita Karen ang kamay niya for a hand shake.

Mas lalo akong kinabahan nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. "P-pasok po kayo."

Pinagmasdan ni Tita Karen ang paligid bago umupo sa sofa. Ngumiti siya sa akin nang mahuli niya akong nakatingin sa kanya.

"U-umh, meron po kaming coffee, tea or juice, ano po bang gusto niyo?" Pagbasag ko sa katahimikan.

She waved her hands. "It's okay! I'm not really thirsty. Come and sit here beside me!"

I was so nervous, I couldn't stop blinking.

I smiled timidly when she patted my head.

Ang ganda ganda ni Tita Karen! She's wearing a red dress paired with a black high heels. Ang bagets pa rin tignan.

"Ikaw lang mag-isa dito sa bahay niyo?" Tanong niya.

"Nag-grocery po si mommy. Dalawa lang po kami dito sa bahay."

Tita Karen hummed. "I see..."

There was a short pause. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin kaya pinagmasdan ko na lang ang carpet sa sahig.

"You are probably wondering why I came here." Napatingin ako kay Tita Karen, she started talking again. "Sandro asked me to talk to you. He never asked me for a favor before so I figured you must be really special to him."

"..." I didn't even realize that I am making him worry. Masyado akong naka-focus sa nararamdaman ko, hindi ko man lang naisip na nasasaktan din si Sandro.

"Nakilala kita because of Tyrone, he told me about you 4 years ago. Ikaw ang unang babaeng kinuwento niya sa amin ni Jerome."

Tita Karen continued. "So I was really shocked when Sandro stood in front of me. He looked really helpless, naawa ako when he asked me to talk to the girl he loves the most which turned out to be the same girl his brother likes."

I don't want to cry in front of Tita Karen kahit sobrang bigat na sa pakiramdam.

I feel so bad. Everything seems to be my fault.

"They fell in love with the same girl, just like Mikko and Jerome. History really does repeat itself."

That is when my tears began to fall.

Tita Karen noticed it, she started patting my back. "Shhh...It's not your fault."

"You are in love with Sandro? Go choose him. You like Tyrone? Go with him. It doesn't matter kung sino sa dalawa ang pipiliin mo. It's you that matters, just make sure you won't regret anything in the end."

Pinunasan ni Tita Karen ang mga luha na umaagos sa pisngi ko. "Let me tell you something that my mom told me before;" She held my hand tightly. "just follow your heart, Wendy. I know you don't want to hurt my sons, but the choice is yours to make. I'm the one who raised them, I'm sure they will accept whatever your decision is."

She gave me the warmest hug I didn't know I needed until now.

Ten's POV

Napatingin ako sa itim na jacket na nakapatong sa sofa.

Nako naman, Lucas! Tatlong jacket na yata ang naiwan niya dito sa bahay.

Biglang tumunog ang doorbell. Himala, binalikan pa ni Lucas 'yung jacket niya. Kanina pa siya umalis ah.

"Buti hindi ka pa nakakalayo, Lu---"

Tangina naman.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito, Sandro?"

"You have to talk to Wendy."

"Wala akong sasabihin sa kanya---" Isasarado ko na sana ang gate pero pinigilan niya ito.

I scoffed. "Gusto mo na naman bang masuntok sa mukha?"

"Hit me all you want, just talk to Wendy! She has been miserable for days because of you!"

"Wala akong pakialam."

Sandro aggressively grabbed my collar. Naninigas na rin ang panga niya sa inis, akmang susuntukin ako. "She's still your best friend for fuck's sake!"

"Dati 'yun, huwag mo akong hawakan!" Tinulak ko siya palayo.

"You are just gonna throw all those years you spent with her? All those beautiful memories together? What is wrong with you, Tyrone?!"

I laughed bitterly. "Ako pa ang mali? Ako na ang nawalan, ako pa ang mali?"

"Look, I know you have different issues with me, please leave Wendy out of this."

"Walang pinagkaiba 'yun sa pinagkait mong pamilya sa akin, Sandro. Did I even hide the fact that Wendy is special to me? Pinili mo pa rin siyang agawin sa akin kahit alam mo kasi doon ka magaling!"

Sandro scoffed. "Our family's issue is not my fault! How many times am I going to tell you that? Mom equally loves us and you know that! She didn't make us feel like we came from different dads. Aren't you the one who is being selfish here? You pushed me away when I was a kid! I still have no idea why you said those nasty things to me aside from you being petty. Did you even realize how much you traumatized me? What did I even do for you to hate me this much, huh? I don't remember treating you differently just because you are my half-brother! But you! Y-you've been doing that to me for years!"

Sandro's voice started cracking. "I just want my brother back. I want my Kuya Ten back."