Sad to Belong

Chapter 2

Na-surpresa si Zayelee sa mga sinabi ng binata. Parang alam na alam nito ang kanyang mga iniisip at nararamdaman... Is he going through something as well? Because it doesn't look like it. Maybe people are just good at hiding their pains, her mind replied.

"But I was wrong. I thought he cared enough for me and somehow, I made myself believe it and those thoughts were shattered into pieces when I saw him kissing another woman on the day I was ready to tell him that I love him." She could feel the lump in her throat but she doesn't want to cry in front of this stranger. She doesn't even know if she's got the energy to cry. She decided not to tell him that the 'incident' happened today. Ayaw niyang kaawaan siya nito. Para ano pa? Bago pa niya maikwento ang talambuhay niya'y napagdesisyunan na ni Zayelee na tumayo at magpaalam sa binata. She no longer wants to talk about her problem. Sasariliin niya na lang siguro ito.

"Leaving so soon? Was I right? Did it help telling your problem to me?" tanong ng binata ng mapansing papaalis na ang dalaga.

Zayelee scrunched up her nose and said,

"Hmm, a little. Thank you Ryder! I think I should go."

"You know what, before you go, you should know that you'll heal. I know this sounds gay but I've tested and proved it. It'll take time. 'Wag mo madaliin ang pag-move on. Because the moment you convinced yourself you have, is the moment you started lying to yourself. Hope to see you around?..."

Zayelee couldn't resist herself but smile to him. He deserves it. Ang bait nito sa kanya kahit ngayong araw lang sila nagkausap.

"Call me Zayelee. Thanks again. I'll keep it in mind." She replied. Nginitian siya nito pabalik saka tuluyang umalis.

Maga-alas kwatro na ng hapon ng makauwi si Zayelee. Inaasahan niyang uuwi siya sa parating bakanteng bahay nila and for once, she really hoped it was.

"I'm home." Sabi niya sa sarili. Naging kagawian niya ng sambitin ito tuwing darating siya sa kanilang tahanan kahit pa alam niya sa sarili niyang wala namang makakarinig sa kanya.

"Good to know." Sagot ng isang boses lalaki na seryosong tinitignan si Zayelee. Tila nabuhay ang kanyang pagkatao ng makita kung sino ito. It's been a year since the last time they spent time together. Paano ba naman ay naninirahan ito sa Maynila at siya nama'y nagpa-iwan rito sa kanilang lugar. Kaka-resign niya lang sa pinag-tatrabahuan niya rito kamakailan lang dahil tila nawawalan siya ng kakayahang mag-concentrate, even on the littlest of things at ayaw niya namang mapahiya ang kanyang sarili kaya't siya na mismo ang nag-resign.

"Aaaaah!!!! Kuya Jace, I've missed you so much!" tumakbo si Zayelee para hagkan ang kanyang paboritong Kuya.

"I've missed you too baby sis! Kamusta ka na?" tugon nito saka hinagkan pabalik ang kanyang bunsong kapatid. "I'm sorry kung ngayon lang ako bumalik. Masyado kasi akong busy sa trabaho lalo na't kaka-resign lang ng presidente ng kompanya namin. But everything's taken care of that's why I'm here."

"Okay lang ako Kuya." Tugon niya rito. Patuloy pa rin sa pagyakap si Zayelee sa kuya niya. Sobrang nangungulila siya sa mga kapatid niyang parati niyang kakulitan sa bahay. A place that was once so 'homey', so relaxing and full of love has become so sad to live in. Wala ka ng maririnig na tawanan na dati ay nagbigay buhay sa paborito niyang lugar. How come the place that once was so full of love has become a place she can barely call home? Home shouldn't make you feel like this right?