A Love To Remember

Chapter 20: Secrets

Chiara

Nagising ako nang maramdaman kong may humahaplos na kamay sa braso ko, a soft and comforting one. Sino ba 'to? I tried to open my eyes but my visions were blurry so I decided to close it again.

Ospital na naman? Goodness gracious, suki na ako rito! They should give me a discount or what.

Wait... ba't nga ulit ako nandito?

Ah, I tried to poison Lea but the luck is on me so instead, ako itong nalason. Kung hindi siguro naagapan kaagad, patay na ako ngayon. Istupida, Chiara.

With all the remaining strength that I have, I opened my eyes and I was surprised upon seeing Lea standing beside me, anong ginagawa nito dlrito?

"You're awake. Gusto mo ba ng tubig or what?" she asked, 'di ko siya pinansin at dahan-dahang naupo as I roamed my eyes around at halos manlumo ako nang mapagtanto kong kaming dalawa lang ang nandito ngayon.

"Where's Dad?" tanong ko nang hindi tumitingin sa kanya, I just can't.

She's the reason kung ba't nalason ako, I'm blaming her more than I do blame myself.

"He's outside, may binili lang
saglit." sagot nito sa mahinang tono, she's tired? Anong oras na ba? Kung gabi na, ba't pa siya nandito?

Probably waiting for my Dad.

"What time is it?" tanong ko ulit, from my peripheral vision, nakita ko siyang tumingin sa relo niya bago sumagot.

"10:24 pm." she answered, tumango lang ako at hindi na nagsalita muli.

The whole room was filled with silence, nakayuko lang ako habang si Lea namam, pinaglalaruan ang kamay niya at nakatayo pa rin sa gilid ko.

We stayed in that situation for a minute or so not until she broke the ice, "Why did you do that?" tanong niya as my forehead creased in confusion.

"Do what?" I questioned, don't tell me, alam nila ang tungkol sa lason? Impossible, if they do, paano?

Bumuntong hininga muna siya. "Lason. You poisoned yourself, didn't you?" wika niya na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko.

So alam nga nila? How? Urgh shit, lagot naman ako nito! But of course I won't admit my mistake, hanggang kaya ko, I will deny it. Sabi nga nila, don't let your horses down.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I shrugged my head, "Besides, how dare you accuse me? Do you have any proof?" dagdag ko pa at this time, tumingin na ako sa kanya.

She looks tired but damn, how can she manage to look good at this moment? Ba't ang ganda pa rin niya?

Shit, I'm drooling again. For Pete's sake, stop praising her Chiara!

"We saw the poison inside your bag, Chia." malumanay nitong wika as my eyes widened, pinakialaman nila ang bag ko? The heck?

"You opened my bag without my permission? Wow, ang galing niyo naman! You guys just invaded my privacy!" sambit ko at pumalakpak pa, I'm doing this to prevent myself from crying dahil natatakot ako kay Daddy at sa mga pwede niyang gawin sa 'kin.

I might be tough but I'm vulnerable, you know? Kahit sinasagot-sagot ko si Daddy, natatakot pa rin ako sa kanya.

Before Lea can even say a word, bumukas ang pinto, revealing Dad who looks fuming mad, lumapit siya kay Lea at hinila ito palabas ng kwarto ko leaving the door open and me in complete shock. What the hell just happened?

He didn't even seemed to noticed my presence at diretso lang siyang pumasok at lumabas ulit. Saan ba sila pumunta at iniwan na lang ako dito bigla-bigla? I'm here people.

Mariin na lang akong napapikit, ang gulo talaga ng buhay ko!

Aga

"Why are you here?" tanong ko kay Clara habang nasa hallway kami ng ospital.

Clara smiled sweetly, "Ganyan mo ba batiin ang asawa mo,  Ags?" she asked, napailing na lang ako at umiwas ng tingin.

This woman, this woman..

"Shut up, Clara. Why would I address you as my wife if in the first place, iniwan mo kami?" I asked.

Yes, I don't love Clara dahil all these years, na kay Lea lang ang attensyon ko at sa kanya lang nakalaan ang pagmamahal ko but at the same time, nasaktan din ako nang iniwan niya kami basta-basta sa ere.

"Come on, Ags. Matagal na 'yon! There's a saying forget and forgive, why won't you try it nang maayos na ulit ang pamilya natin!" wika niya na parang wala lang!

"Bullshit, Clara! Stop saying nonsense, will you? Huwag ka nang umasa pa dahil hindi na maayos ang pamilya natin. You ruined it then might as well better face the consequences of your actions!" I exclaimed with gritted teeth.

"You're saying that because of Lea! Lea, Lea, Lea na lang palagi! God Aga, umalis lang ako, nakahanap ka na kaagad ng iba 'tas si Lea pa talaga? That's why our relationship didn't work well because of Lea!" she hissed.

So she's blaming Lea? Kung hindi ba siya umalis, sa tingin niya, mangyayari pa kaya ang lahat ng ito? Kabaliwan.

"Stop it, Clara. You're worst than I thought." I said, she rolled her eyeballs at me as she took few steps closer and out of the blue, she kissed my lips. What the fuck?

Agad ko siyang naitulak, kung hindi niya lang naayos ang sarili niya, siguro natumba na siya ngayon. I immediately wiped my lips using my hands, she's insane!

"What? Don't tell me na hindi mo nagustuhan ang flavor ng lipstick ko? God, Aga! It's strawberry, that's your favorite right?" wika nito at ngumisi pa.

I glared at her at akmang aalis na but she stopped me, hinawakan niya ang braso ko at mariing tinignan ako.

"I know Lea's secret.." aniya as she smiled mischievously, tinapat niya ang bibig niya sa tenga ko at binulong ang mga katagang 'di ko akalain na maririnig ko.

Lea

"Aga, what the heck is your problem?" tanong ko kay Aga nang bigla-bigla niya na lang akong hilain palabas ng kwarto ni Chiara.

He looks furious and I don't even know why! Dinala niya ako sa parking area and now, we're both inside his car and I don't have any idea kung ba't niya ako dinala rito.

"Tell me Lea, bukod kay Sabel, may iba ka pa bang anak?" he asked na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko. What is he saying?

"Wh... what? Hindi kita maintindihan." I said with gritted teeth, he sighed in frustration as he brushed his hair using his fingers.

"Three years ago, nawala ka sa industriya. Rumors said that you went to Australia and silently, lived your life there. A year or two ka ring nawala, Lea. Anong ginagawa mo dun sa Australia?" he asked again, my heartbeat is pounding really fast at sa tingin ko, pinagpapawisan na rin ako ngayon.

Saan niya naman nakuha ang mga bagay na iyan?

"Why are you asking me this? Anong paki mo kung nanirahan ako sa Australia? Matagal na 'yon, Aga!"

"Kasi nga, may nakakita sa'yo! Someone saw you carrying an infant!" he exclaimed, what the hell?

Aga is accusing me but swear, it is not  what he think it is. Kung hahayaan niya lang akong magpaliwanag, I'll voluntarily do that just, not in this way.

"Tell me Lea... Bukod kay Sabel, may ibang anak ka pa ba?" ulit niya, I looked at him as I slowly nodded my head.

"Oo Aga.. oo!" sagot ko.

Sana, hindi ko pagsisisihan ang sagot kong ito. I hope, Aga will be able to comprehend everything before judging me. Wala silang alam.. wala.

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