Hanap-Hanap ni Mr. Antipatiko. [JaDine]

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

Mahal Kita

"Anong ginagawa n'yo rito?"

I'm shock. Why are they here? Akala ko ba oras nila 'to para sa get together nilang dalawa? Ni hindi niya man lang ako napansing umalis dahil sa pakikipag-usap at sobrang lapit nito kay Candace kanina.

"James, I know this may shock you the most, but we need to talk. Just the two of us." mahinang sabi sa akin ni Nadine. Her eyes were tired, it was even reddish, she cried so much, huh?

I reached for her hands and tightly held it. I racked her hair away from her face. I quickly kissed her forehead. "Anong pag-uusapan natin?"

Tumingin siya kay Candace. "Can you wait inside?" tanong nito. Tumango lang si Candace at pumasok. Dinaluhan siya ni Manang.

"What is it about?" I asked. She held my hands tightly before breathing in, kumukuha ata ng lakas ng loob.

"James... Candace need to talk to your father." mahina niyang sabi. I forehead knitted, why? "James, Candace needs you."

"W-What?" umiling ako. "Saan?"

"James, please believe me. Kay Candace na mismo nagmula ang bagay na 'yon. I want your complete understanding and cooperation." she bit her lower lip. "Pwede ba?"

I kept my silence. Tungkol saan ba?

She cupped my cheeks. "James, ate mo si Candace." It felt weird. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. I bet my eyeballs would pop out of my eye because of its wideness. I can't speak, I feel like a mute.

"James, kay Candace na nanggaling. She is your older sister, from a different mother." she looks like she's about to cry. "Tulungan n'yo siya, please. Her stepdad abused her. It's too much, James. Have you see her face? Her arms? James, hindi ko kaya. Ang sakit sakit makita siyang ganoon."

Wala parin akong masabi. I can't find the right words to speak my thoughts. Nabablanko ako. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba 'to o ano. If this while thing is a joke or what. I can't believe I have a sister.

"Kailangan namin makausap si Tito Raf. We need your help. H-Hindi ko hahayaang bumalik si Candace sa lugar na 'yon. Not in that state! This is her reason for not coming to school. For missing so much of her life!"

"I don't k-know." I said truthfully. "I don't know what to think and what to do. N-Naguguluhan ako."

Her hands fell. Even her tears fell from her eyes. It was painful. Ang sakit sa parte ko ang makita siyang umiyak. I want to wipe her tears but I can't think straight.

Anong gagawin mo kung ikaw ang nasa posisyon ko? You won't even know what to do. Magiging katulad ko lang ikaw. Everything is rumbled. Gulong-gulo ako. This is too much for me to even handle.

I have an older sister. At masakit 'yon dahil nauna siya sa 'kin. I couldn't imagine myself being in her position. Knowing my father and mother didn't end up together.

My father having a happy family, and my mother getting married. It would probably be hard. She had suffered so much, for sure. And being abused by her stepdad was surely the worst.

"Help her. K-Kahit gawin mo nalang 'to para sa 'kin." she wiped her tears. "Please, k-kahit ngayon lang." she pleaded. I think it was more on begging.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at mabilis siyang hinila papasok sa loob. Nakita ko si Candace na nakaupo sa sofa, her head down. Nasa katapat na upuan si Mama at si Papa naman ay kakababa lang mula sa taas.

"Nadine, nandito ka pala." my mother greeted. Nadine just smiled weakly before making sure there were no tears forming around her eyes.

"Pa, can we talk?" tanong ko kay Papa. She was shocked. I was never this serious. Tumingin siya kay Mama at aakyat na sana pero pinigilan ko. "With Mama as well, Pa."