The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 40: Hello, Goodbye

Fresia was speechless for a while. Nanlamig ang buong katawan niya. Natakot at nahiya sa sarili. She was ashamed because she now knows how stupid she was for pushing Bullet away without hearing his side of the story first.

Mona was right. It's not the absolute truth. She should have known better. She should have listened. Pero pinairal niya ang galit.

"I-It wasn't his fault..." nangangatal niyang sabi. "Oh god! What did I do?!"

Her mom held her hand and said, "There's still a chance, anak."

Despite the turmoil building up inside her, she froze when she heard that term. Matagal na panahon na rin niya iyong hindi narinig mula sa ina. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mararamdaman. Kung dati siguro ay baka binara na niya ito. But now, all she could do was stand there and stare at her mother like an idiot.

Tumayo ito at inalalayan siya papunta sa guest room.

"Magpahinga ka muna. You'll need your strength tomorrow."

"Ma..."

Hinawakan siya nito sa pisngi. "Get some sleep, okay?"

Her mother took the diary that she was still holding. Isasarado na sana nito ang pintuan nang kumapit siya sa braso nito.

"Will you stay with me, please?" she pleaded. "Kahit ngayon lang, Ma."

Kita niya ang pag-aalangan sa mukha nito. It's not that her mother doesn't want to. It's just that... siguro kasi never naman silang naging close. So this is new to both of them. And it's definitely awkward.

But her mom said okay anyway.

Tinabihan siya nito sa kama. Her mother was sitting up. Nakasandal ito sa headboard habang siya naman ay nakapatong ang ulo sa kandungan nito. Yumakap siya sa bewang ng ina. Hinagod nito ang buhok niya.

"I should call him," she told her mother.

"You should rest first. You've been through a lot."

Kinusot niya ang mata. Nangangati na iyon dahil sa kaiiyak niya. "Sana nakinig muna ako sa kanya..."

"Yes, you should have. You shouldn't have let your emotions get the best of you," pagsang-ayon nito. "But you were angry because you love him. You trusted him. At hindi mo matanggap na nagawa niya iyon sa kapatid mo, na mahal mo rin. That's understandable."

Tiningala niya ito. "Nagalit ka rin ba sa kanya?"

"Noong una. I was angry at him because I thought that he took Fiona away and that he was trying to steal you too. Tapos... nalaman ko kaninang wala pala syang kasalanan sa nangyari sa kapatid mo."

"But you still like Richard better, huh?"

Tumango ito. "Of course I do," pag-amin nito. "If I could adopt Richard, I would. But you love Bullet and because you're stubborn, I know that you would never listen to me."

"I won't," she replied truthfully.

Ngumiti ito. "I'm glad that he made your sister happy, even for a short while. At matutuwa ako kung magkakaayos kayo. I want you to be happy."

Hinalikan nito ang tuktok niya.

"You know... this is weirding me out," she told her mother. "You're like a different person now."

Tumawa ito nang mahina. "I didn't change. You just see me now in a different light."

Bumangon siya at sumandal sa tabi nito. "Ma, Richard told me something..."

"What?"

She bit her lip, suddenly unsure if she should tell her mother what she knows. Nakakahiya kasi. But this is part of healing, treating the ugly wound. Lulubusin na rin niya, tutal ay medyo maayos na silang mag-ina.