Chapter 43
"Jensen, what exactly are you doing here?" Kinakabahan kong tanong. She can't be... My friend would never betray me.
"Athena Iris..." Kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa narinig. I never told her my second name. I never told her my real name.
"Jensen... You are my friend, right?" Pinilit kong ngumiti ngunit alam kong nagmumukha lamang akong katawa tawa.
Warm tears started to stream down her face. Guilty tears.
Then suddenly, anger burst inside me. I want to escape. I want to vanish. I can't accept that Jensen is... Damn it!
Suddenly I found myself at the shiny black tiles of Mreine - The only place I thought was safe.
"Iris." Charlotte...
"What happened?" Tanong niya. Two droplet of tears fall down my face.
Nilagpasan ko siya at tinungo ang daan papunta sa kwarto ko. Darkness... Home... That is all that I need right now.
I locked the doors and let myself break down.
A friend, for me, is a rare thing I would ever have. Alam ko, I don't treat those two like how a friend should treat them. But, I love them. I love them to the point na nabulag ako ni Jensen sa pagkakaibigang ibinibigay niya.
I can't accept this.
"Iris, open the door." Isang malumanay na boses ang kumatok sa aking pinto.
"Ion..." Lalo lamang nabasag ang boses ko nang banggitin ko ang pangalan niya.
I am so bad to suspect Ion. He is my first friend. Nandiyan siya palagi sa aking tabi. How could I do that with this kind of man? Ion would never betray me.
"I am sorry," Nauutal kong sabi.
"Let us talk, please? Athena, open this for me." He carefully said.
Huminga ako ng malalim at dahan dahang binuksan ang pinto na nakaharang sa akin.
His warm hug embraced me the moment I open the door. Wala akong ibang nagawa kung 'di ang humagulgol sa balikat ni Ion. I feel so weak but, the way this childish man stand... I don't think I would ever fall. Hinahagod niya ang likod ko na tila isa akong babasaging bagay na maaaring mabasag.
"Tell me what happened." Tinapos ko muna ang iyak ko bago ako humiwalay sa kaniya. Seeing his formal suit wet made me feel awkwardness towards him. Ni hindi ko man lang napansin ang formal attire niya.
"Bakit ganiyan ang suot mo?" I asked to lift up my mood.
"Tell me what happened to you first." I heaved out a sigh and told him what had happened.
"Did she say anything?" he curiously asked.
"She didn't... Hindi ko na makakaya pa kung may sasabihin siya." Jensen, why didn't I suspect her?
"Listen to me, Athena Iris. I would never betray you, kung wala ka nang makapitan, kapit lang sa akin. Kumapit ka lang sa akin." He seriously said. But still the way he delivered those words made me at ease.
"Now tell me, why are you dressed like that?" I asked trying to divert the conversation.
"Your father is here."
Nanglaki ang mga mata ko. I haven't seen him for years. Naibsan ang lahat ng iniisip ko.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"Athena, kung ano man ang maririnig mo, please try to stand still." Ngumiti siya at bigla akong kinabahan doon. He reached for my hand and hold it tightly.
