(Forbidden Short Stories 2) ❤️ACANTHA RILEY❤️

FIVE

❤️ACANTHA RILEY❤️

Two years ago...

Hindi ako mapakali, I got my grades last sem, it seems partying got a toll on

me. I got a C-Fair grade in one of my subject, this is my first time, my grades are straight A to A+

from freshmen to second year. I feel so guilty na parang nagaksaya ako ng money, although ako na

ang nagbabayad ng tuition ko, well from my share in the family corporation. Kasi kahit itanggi ko

I got actually affected sa mga pinagsasabi sa aking masama ni Marga. Pinilit ko si Uncle Jaden na

ako ang magbabayad nang pagaaral ko even my allowance, nang ayaw niyang pumayag tinakot

ko na magstop ako magaral if he won't give in. Kahit galit siya napilitan nang magpahinuhod

sa gusto ko, yung house naman libre na ako kasi bahay yun ni Uncle Jaden. Pero ang ginawa

naman ni Uncle Jaden pinagshopping ako ng food at damit, shoes and bags. Fully stocked ang

food ko parang pang three months tatagal at ang closet ko naguumapaw sa mga bagong gamit,

na halos hindi ko na magamit, may mga tags pa. I feel so guilty yung good grades ko na nga

lang ang maiisukli ko sa utang na loob ko kay Uncle Jaden, pumalpak pa ako. Although isang C

lang naman un kung sa Pinas equivalent sa tres, the rest of my grades are A and A+ pa rin, but

it's a wake up call for me hihintayin ko pa ba namang maging C lahat ng grades ko.

Wala naman akong napapala sa kagigimik ko, puyat at company ni Zack, pero pwede naman

kaming magdinner na lang ni Zack once in a while. We were not exclusive anyway, we kiss but

we are more of bestfriends, so I will not lose him if hindi ako gumimik kasama siya.

I decided to talk to him and finish whatever it is between us, hindi naman kami seryoso

pareho. Sinabi ko na lang ang cliche na linyang, "Let's just be friends, Zack." It was an

amicable decision, okay din naman sa kanya.

I was moping around the house still thinking of my grades when I received a call from

Riley. "Where are you going tonight, party animal?" pangaasar ni Elise.

"I'm not going out tinatamad ako, nakakapagod na ding gumimik, I'll just relax here

sa house kakatapos lang ng exams ko." "That's a first, napapagod ka? Kahapon nahihilo ka,

Di kaya buntis ka Bestie?" pang aasar pa rin ni Elise. "Adik kang babae ka, meron ako noh

kaya tamad na tamad ako." Then I heard something fell and break at Elise's line.

"Elise, what happened?" tanong ko. "Uncle Jaden, naghaharutan lang po kami ni Riley,

it's not true po," nanginginig ang boses na paliwanag ni Elise.

"Hi Uncle Jaden," bati ko naman dito, "Elise turn on your video call, I want to see you

guys. I miss you all so much," excited kong sabi.

"Hi Elise," sabi ko ng lumabas na sa video call ang mukha niya. "Why do you look pale?

Put on some make up," sabi ko sa kanya. Pilit ang ngiti ni Elise sa akin, hindi nagsasalita.

"Let me talk to Uncle Jaden," naiinip kong sabi wala pa rin kasing nagsasalita sa kanilang

dalawa. "Riley, how are you?" medyo seryosong bati ni Uncle Jaden. "I miss you Unca Jaden,

why so serious?" malambing kong sabi. "I don't like what you and Elise are talking about."

"Why? naglolokohan lang naman kami," lumabi ako sa kanya. "Basta, ayoko!"

"Bakit nga? You don't wanna be called Granpa yet?" pangaasar ko. "Shut up Riley!" galit

na galit nitong sabi at matalim na tumingin sa kanya. "T*ngina! Pinapainit ninyo ang ulo

ko!" tapos initsa nito kay Elise ang Ipad at umalis ng walang paalam.

"Anong nangyari dun? Masama yata ang mood ni Uncle Jaden?" tanong ko kay Elise.

"Why did you have to say that Riley, sh*t I better call dad baka magbasag na naman si

Uncle Jaden." "Ano? Naglasing yan nung minsan, nung narinig niyang niloloko ko na

maganak ka na kasi tumatanda ka na, naalala mo ba yun, nung nagalit din siya?" "Oo,

anong nangyari? Bakit hindi mo agad nakwento sa akin?" "We're both busy, I forgot to tell you."

"After ni Uncle Jaden malasing nagwala, nagbasag ng mga gamit, nashock si Dad at Uncle

Avery, ayaw naman magsalita kung anong problema. Dad, Mom and Uncle Avery said that

that was the first time they saw Uncle Jaden like that, kahit daw nung mamatay si Uncle Jerik

kalmado lang si Uncle Jaden. Binantayan pa nila ng isang linggo si Uncle Jaden kasi baka

kung ano gawin. He just became his old self again after he visited you."

"I don't think it has something to do with me Elise, obviously naglolokohan lang tayo nun,

maybe he has a bigger problem. And I didn't even know this happened, di ko man lang

natulungan si Uncle Jaden sa problema niya."

"Elise please inform me about things like this next time, he's all I have, I don't know

what I'll do if I lose him," napaiyak kong pakiusap kay Elise.

"Oh no, please don't cry bestie, this is why we didn't inform you. We don't want you

worried, malayo ka at magisa dyan."

"No, please please I need to know bestie, I love him so much, don't keep things from me,

he's there whenever I need him, it's my turn to take care of him if he has problems this

big he losses control," umiiyak ko pa ring pakiusap.

I can't help but cry, binalot ng kaba ang puso ko, anong malaking problema ni Uncle

Jaden para magwala ng ganun? He's a very solid guy, laging masayahin at makulit.

"Promise me Elise, that you'll tell me right away if this happens again." "Okay, I promise

bestie," sabi ni Elise.