Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 47

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 47

Natigilan ako dahil sa sinabi ni Kuya. Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita dahil sa narinig ko. Hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba siya, at kung seryoso siya... bakit? Why would he even suggest that?

"C'mon, Imo. Kakayanin ba ng konsensya mo na iwanan siya?" he said.

"Kuya, hindi pwede," I reasoned.

"What? You can even invite Saint if you want. Just don't leave him alone."

I chewed on my lips again. Pakiramdam ko ay magkakasugat na ito dahil sa mga sinasabi sa akin ni Kuya. He knew that Parker's a sore spot. Hindi pa nga masyadong maayos iyong kay Saint. Although I assured him that Parker's no more than a friend to me, I knew that he still wasn't okay... It took him a lot of courage to admit that he was afraid of Parker. And I wouldn't betray Saint's trust. Hindi ko kaya. And I refuse.

"I'll call someone, okay? I'll look for someone to watch over him. Basta hindi ako, Kuya," I said.

"You really love Saint?"

"Yes, Kuya. And I don't want to hurt him. Lalaki ka rin naman. Ano ang iisipin mo kung ang girlfriend mo ay may kasamang ibang lalaki sa hotel room?"

Natahimik siya. I knew I sounded rude, but I just wanted to make my case. Ayoko na isipin niya na wala lang akong pakielam kay Parker kaya ko 'to ginagawa. I care about Parker, but I also care about Saint. I didn't want to do anything that might jeopardize our relationship. 

I promised that I wouldn't hurt him, and I was doing everything that I could to fulfill that promise. 

"I'll see you in a few minutes, Kuya," I said before ending the call.

Agad akong bumaba at saka hinanap si Manang. Pagkakita ko sa kanya, agad kong sinabi sa kanya na may kailangan ako pero sikreto lang namin dapat. Good thing Manang didn't ask questions because I had no time to answer. Agad ko siyang hinatak papunta sa sasakyan, and asked Manong to drive us to the hotel Kuya texted me. And while we were on the way, I was praying that Mama won't go to my room because she'd see that I wasn't there. Ayoko kasing magpaliwanag, at ayoko rin na magsinungaling. So it would be better if she wouldn't ask me.

When we arrived, we immediately went to the room number Kuya gave.

"Unbelievable," I muttered when I noticed that the door was ajar. Agad akong pumasok at nakita ko si Parker na nakahiga sa kama. Iniwan ba siya ni Kuya dito? And he left the door open! Paano kung may pumasok dito at kung ano ang ginawa kay Parker? Si Kuya naman!

Tinitigan ko si Parker. Hindi ako lumapit.

"Ma'am, e basang-basa po ng pawis si Sir Parker... Palitan kaya natin ng damit," Manang suggested. "At saka may sugat pa po sa labi. Gamutin po natin."

"Ah, oo nga po. Pero wala pong damit dito," I replied. Baka magkasakit si Parker kapag hinayaan namin na pawis lang siya.

"Kami na lang po ni Roger ang bibili," she said and I gladly gave her my wallet para mabili niya ang mga kailangan niya. Hindi ko rin kasi alam kung ano ang mga dapat kong bilhin.

And before I even knew it, I was alone in the room with Parker.

He was quietly sleeping. He just stirred a little and then went back to sleep. I just stared at him. I couldn't get too close. Naaawa ako sa kanya. It felt like he just lost everything. Si Cindy, si Auntie... his dad's dealing with his own problems. Parker's left all alone. And he didn't even want any help from any of us. He's enclosed, and he didn't want to let anyone in. And it was hard for me to see him destroying his own life.