When The Bitch Falls

CHAPTER 13

Akala ni Kira ay kung saan na siya dadalhin ni Cadmium. Iyon pala, sinundo lang nito ang kapatid nitong si Caia upang mag-lunch. Magkakilala na sila dati pa at tuwang-tuwa ang bata nang makita siya. Habang nasa biyahe sila patungo sa malapit na fastfood ay walang putol ang kanilang naging usapan.

"Ate Kira, hindi ka ba talaga girlfriend ni Kuya?"

Ngumisi siya at marahang umiling. "No, Caia."

Umawang ang labi ng bata at kunot-noong bumaling sa kanyang Kuya. "Bakit kuya? Ayaw mo po bang maging girlfriend si ate Kira? She's pretty naman."

In the back of her mind, she was thanking Caia for asking. She wanted to hear his answer, too. She was hoping for a good response, but the deafening silence tells her otherwise. She held her breath when he finally spoke of his thought.

"Hindi sapat sa akin ang maganda lang. Kung magkaka-girlfriend man ako, gusto ko 'yong disente at mabait," walang prenong sambit ni Cadmium habang ang mga mata ay nakatutok sa daan.

Tila may pumitik sa tainga ni Kira at libo-libong karayom ang tumutusok sa puso niya nang marinig iyon. Masakit, pero hindi niya hinayaang talunin siya ng pakiramdam na iyon.

Kira's mind and heart couldn’t and will never accept Cadmium's rejection. What now if he doesn't want her as a girlfriend? It shouldn't matter. This isn't the time for giving up. It's the time to make him fall. And yes, Kira has her own wicked ways.

She smirked and flipped her hair to the side which made Caia chuckle. The little girl seemed so amused of what she did.

"Ate, can you do it again? Itong ganito mo po," masiglang wika ni Caia kasabay ng panggagaya nito sa ginawa niya kanina.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Kira. "Why?"

"Mas lalo ka po kasing nagiging pretty. Siguro po maraming may crush sayo." Humagikhik si Caia habang tinatakpan ng palad nito ang sariling labi. Dumukwang pa ito palapit sa kanya at bumulong,"Ate Kira, marami ka na bang naging boyfriend?"

"Oo naman. I've had a lot of boyfriends and I'm currently in a relationship," she uttered, cheerful enough to hint pride in her voice.

Kira made sure that Black could hear it. That was a lie, though. She’s single and reserved. But she intended to make him believe on a false information for she knew that Cadmium is aware of her feelings towards him. And it would surely piss him off to know that she's still dating other guys. You know, man's ego.

Nang lumingon si Kira sa rearview mirror upang silipin kung ano ang magiging reaksyion ni Black ay nakita niya ang pagdilim ng mukha nito. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanyang paningin ang higpit ng kapit nito sa steering wheel. Mukhang naasar nga ito sa sinabi niya.

Bumaling ang atensiyon niya kay Caia nang mangulit na naman ito tungkol sa naging boyfriends niya. "Are they all pogi, Ate?"

Tumango siya bilang pagsang-ayon at nginitian si Caia. "Of course. They all look good."

"Paano po kayo nagdi-date?" muling tanong nito. Kinukurot pa nito ang sariling pisngi na kasalukuyang namumula.

"Caia!" Black's baritone voice covered up the whole place as he grunted in anger. "Stop interrogating her about stupid things. Kung may boyfriend na siya, may boyfriend na siya! Kung ano man ang ginagawa nila sa date nila, wala ka ng pakialam doon. Kung magpahalik man siya ng ibang lalaki, hindi mo na problema iyon. You are too young for that!"

Kira was taken aback with Cadmium's outburst. She couldn’t even take a glimpse of his face directly. She averted her gaze to Caia, but she looked down just before she could have a full view of her face. She heard Caia sniff. Seemed like she’s suppressing her tears. It struck her.

"Bakit ka ba nagagalit?" Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang upuang nakaharang sa kanilang dalawa. "Nagtatanong lang naman ang kapatid mo. You are unreasonable!"

A loud gasp escaped from her mouth when her body was thrown a little forward because of the sudden brake. The car stopped on a busy roadside. She let out a soft groan when she felt her head aching because it banged in mid-air. Inayos niya ang kanyang buhok bago nag-angat ng tingin. Masamang tingin ni Black sa rearview mirror ang sumalubong sa kanya.

"Paanong hindi ako magagalit kung may isang tao dito na nagdadala ng masamang impluwensiya sa kapatid ko?" manghang na tanong nito habang pinupukol siya ng makahulugang titig. "You keep on lying," biglang humina ang boses nito.

Pagkatapos nitong magsalita ay muli na nitong pinaandar ang sasakyan. Ramdam pa rin ni Kira ang galit ng binata. Bumalot ang katahimikan sa loob ng kotse. Napasandal si Kira sa bintana ng backseat. Wala ng muling nagsalita sa kanilang tatlo hanggang sa makarating sa Jollibee.