"Are you sure you'll be fine?"
Tumango ako sa kanya at nagpasalamat, bago tuluyang lumabas ng sasakyan. Jared asked me where I'm going so I asked him to drive me here. Isa pa, wala na akong lakas makipagtalo at kumuha ng taxi.
Dumiretso ako sa top floor ng building kung nasan ang penthouse niya. He's been trying to reach me earlier pero hindi ko sinagot ang mga tawag at text niya. I don't want to cry anymore. Pagod na ang mga mata ko. Nang makarating ako sa pinto ng penthouse ay isinalampak ko ang sarili ko sa sahig. I know his passcode but I don't want to barge in.
For the hundredth time, I tried to dial her number but she's unreachable. This is ridiculous! I know Mom may just be overreacting. Dad told her everything. And it's not like an old picture would ruin everything!
Kahit ako ay nasigawan ko si Daddy. I should apologize to him, but not now that I'm a mess...
"Elizabeth?" Si Arvin. Both eyes smiling at me.
Bago ko pa maitayo ang sarili ko ay itinayo na niya ako at niyakap. "Tinatawagan kita bakit di mo sinasagot? How did you get here? At bakit hindi mo na lang ginamit ang passcode?....."
Bago pa ako makasagot ay buhat na niya ang gamit ko at iginigiya ako sa loob.
He didn't notice that I am so drained. He didn't notice my big bag full of clothes. He didn't notice my eyes. He's still overwhelmed to find me here.
"Anong gusto mong kainin? I'd cook for you, you can watch-"
Nabitawan niya ang hawak na sandok nang makita ang ekspresyon sa mukha ko. This time, he knows.
Kusa nang nahulog ang mga luha ko nang yakapin niya ako. I'm just tired. Tired of everything I had to deal with. Growing up and needing to be responsible immediately. Coz my parents are a mess. I remember trying hard not to cut my classmate's dress when I was young. Because I want them miserable as well. I don't want to suffer all by myself.
Ilang beses akong tinanong ni Arvin kung anong nangyari pero hikbi lang ang tanging naisagot ko sa kanya. Nagising ako sa isang panaginip na iniwan kami ni Dad... mali. Iniwan ako. Pati ni Mommy.
"Love... shhh."
I found myself crying again in Arvin's arms. He held me until I stopped crying. He helped me out to the kitchen and grabbed us something to eat dahil hindi na kami nakapaghapunan.
Matapos naming kumain ay naghugas ako ng kinainan. Natigilan ako ng pumalupot sa bewang ko ang mga bisig ni Arvin. His hot breath beneath my ear.
"You know that I'm always here for you, right? Hindi kita pipilitin na sabihin sakin kung anong problema, but I want you to know that you can tell me everything, anytime."
Kinaumagahan ay ngiti ni Arvin ang bumungad sakin like he was waiting for me to wake up. Nadatnan ko siyang nasa paanan ng kama at may dalang tray.
"Good morning. Breakfast?" Bati niya sa akin.
Tumango ako at nagtungo sa banyo para maghilamos bago kumain. Nang makabalik ako ay wala si Arvin sa kwarto. His phone is ringing in the bed-- the bed where we first slept together.
Kassandra calling...
Bago ko pa mahawakan ang cellphone niya ay tumigil na ang tawag.
Then a message popped up from the same person who called.
Kassandra:
Where are you? We're supposed to meet today, right?Agad nabaling ang atensyon ko sa pinto ng bumukas iyon.
BINABASA MO ANG
Stranger's Bed
Storie d'amoreAva's idea of fairytales and happy ending is broken since she was young. She's born to an environment where people keeps on hurting her. Just when she decided to kick out these kind of people in her life, Arvin came along. She knows his kind. He wil...