MY JOURNEY OF LOVE START WITH A DEAL - NO ORDINARY LOVE

NOL - Chapter 35

LAREEN

Takang taka si Frank kung bakit ako umuwi ng di man lang nagpapaalam sa kanya. I just texted him na sumama ang pakiramdam ko kaya hindi ko na siya naintay pa. He also said na I can skip work tomorrow.

Totoo naman kasi.

Sumama talaga ang pakiramdam ko sa mga nalaman ko ngayong gabi.

Si Arkin at Arnulfo III ay iisa?

Kahit anong gawin kong isip ay hirap paring magsink in sa akin ang mga nangyari kanina - pero wala. Nalilito ako.
Naguguluhan.

Arkin is the one I ran away from?

Paano?

Paano to nangyari?

He promised me that he'll explain everything to me. Everything! And that includes kung kelan at paanong kilala niya ako bilang si Lareen Castillo.

Kelan? So nagpapanggap ba siyang hindi ako kilala nung mga panahong nasa Barangkal kami?  Niloloko niya ba ako? Pinaglalaruan?

Akala ko, ako ang nagpapanggap...hindi pala. Si Arkin pala.

I want to know the truth but I am afraid whatever that truth is.

I've been staring at the ceiling for hours. Motionless. Waiting for Ate Lala's text. I need someone to talk to right now. Badly.

"I saw your text. What happened?" Ate Lala called up. My heart rumbles when I hear my phone finally rings. Thank God she finds time. I know how busy they were.

"Is Mom there?" Nagmamadali ako tumayo pagkasagot ko at lumapit sa bintana. Nasusuffocate ako ng lahat ng nangyayari. Parang nahihirapan akong huminga.

"She's resting already. Why? You want to talk to her?"

"No! No! In fact I want to keep it from Mom" napahawak ako sa ulo ko.

There's pain pero di ko alam kung nasaang eksaktong parte ng katawan ko.

"Oh, okay. So what happened?" Bakas ang pagaalala sa boses ni Ate Lala.

"Promise me you won't tell Mom!"

"Oh!" She sigh. "You're making me nervous with your 'promise you won't tell Mom' Riri"

Di ko alam kung tama bang si Ate Lala ang sabihan ko samantalang marami na silang iniisip ni Mommy sa Manila patungkol kay Dad. Dadagdag pa ba ako? Pero kanino ako magsasabi?

"I'm sorry, Ate,  for making you worried"

"Oh, please, Ri. Stop with that. Go on and tell me"

"Promise me that-"

"I promise! Spill it! You are making me really nervous!" She cuts me off.

"I met him and he is someone I knew!" I blurted out. My voice is shaking. My breathing becomes heavier.

"W-What? Who? Someone you knew? where?"

"He is Arkin, Ate. The guy I met in Barangkal. He is Arkin!!!"

"Arkin? Arkin who?"

"I can't believe this, Ate. I dunno -"

"Hey, hold up! Naguguluhan ako! Who's Arkin by the way?"

She asked at natigilan ako. Oo nga pala, hindi niya kilala si Arkin. I bit my lower lips.

"I - I met Arkin at Barangkal, Ate. He is -"

"Do you like Arkin? Huh? Is he one of the reasons why you can't leave Barangkal, isn't he?" Sunod sunod niyang tanong.

"Hold up. He is one of the reasons why I wanted to go back here and redeem myself. He's one of the reason why I wanted to be Lareen Castillo again and yes, I like him."