The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 36: Only Love Can Hurt Like This

Fresia feels like her head would explode. Didn't Fiona tell her? Of courase not! Her sister never told her anything. Para itong estranghero sa buhay niya. Kakaunti lamang ang alam niya tungkol dito dahil masyado itong masikreto.

But she expected a lot from Bullet. She expected him to be honest because she was honest with him. Kahit may kutob na siya noon, kahit na may nararamdaman siyang mali... nagtiwala pa rin siya rito. Naniwala siyang magsasabi ito ng totoo.

As it turns out... honesty is too much to ask for.

"Totoo ba 'yon?" tanong niya rito.

He couldn't look her in the eye.

"It's true," singit ni Ernest. "I introduced them during my wife's baby shower. They—"

"Would you just shut up for minute?!" iritado niyang sabi rito. Tiningnan niyang muli si Bullet. "I'm asking you."

"I think it's better if we talk somewhere else." Hinila siya nito patayo. She shushed Ernest with her finger. He'll probably tell her parents right away. She'll deal with them later. Right now, she needs to deal with him.

Wala sa sarili siyang nakatingin sa magkakapit nilang kamay habang naglalakad. His hand was cold. He was shaking. Nahawa siya bigla sa takot nito. A part of her just wants to go home and forget this ever happened. Pero nandito na ito. Nandito na sila sa parte kung saan pwede silang pumili kung kalilimutan o haharapin nila ang lahat.

No more lies. Everything is out in the open. But after this night, she's afraid that she will lose so much more.

Hinayaan niyang dalhin siya nito sa labas ng restaurant.

"Here is fine," she told him when they reached her parked car. "Ngayon sagutin mo ang tanong ko. Did you know my sister?"

Kinuha rin nito ang isa pa niyang kamay at ikinulong sa mga kamay nito. "Fresia..."

"Just answer the fucking question, goddamnit!"

"Well... yes..." mahina nitong sagot. "I knew your sister."

There's this indescribable feeling that quickly erupted inside her. Halo-halo ang naramdaman niya sa sagot nito. Sobrang galit. Sobrang sakit. Lungkot at panghihinayang. Gusto niyang maglupasay at umiyak nang umiyak hanggang sa mailabas niya ang lahat ng sama ng loob. Gusto rin niya itong saktan. She wants to punch him until her knuckles bleed, and then punch him some more.

But everything she was feeling just stayed in. She was too shocked to absorb it right away.

"Fresia, I came here to tell you everything," narinig niyang sabi nito. "You said that you would understand. Please understand me now."

Ramdam niya ang pag-iinit ng mga mata. When she spoke, her voice shook. "How long have you known?"

"I-I... Fresia..."

"How long... have you known?" she repeated.

Yumuko ito, na para bang nahihiya sa sarili. "A while."

Ikinuyom niya ang mga palad. Kumawala siya sa pagkakakapit nito. "A while?! Gaano na katagal?! Did you already know when I showed you that bullet? Is that why you're having nightmares even though you're with me?"

Hindi ito sumagot.

She punched his chest. "You told me that it was just coincidence. I trusted you!"