Sad to Belong

Chapter 15

"Pasensya ka sa kuya ko. I guess he's just being protective over nothing." Zayelee told Pierce. They just left the cottage and are now walking side by side. Lumalalim na nga ang gabi ngunit tila hindi ito batid ng mga turista kagaya nila dahil patuloy pa rin sila sa pag-iinom at pagpa-party.

"It's alright. I'd do the same to him when it comes to my sister." Nagulat si Zayelee na tumugon ito. Akala niya'y hindi siya nito papansinin dahil mukhang 'man of few words' ang lalaking ito.

"Okay. So, that's how you guys do it. Ilang taon na kapatid mo?" now that she realised he talks, baka hindi naman makakasama kung kausapin niya ito. She needs to know kung anong klaseng mga tao ang kinakaibigan ng kanyang mga kuya.

"She's only 10 years old though. They're currently in Australia."

"Ah. That explains your accent. Napansin ko lang." she replied. Lumalamig na rin ang gabi kahit summer naman. Tinignan niya ang lalaking katabi niya. Ngayon niya lang napansin na ang tangkad pala nito. Sa tingin niya'y hanggang dibdib lang nito ang tangkad niya.

"Yeah. I'm still learning tagalog. As you see, I'm not that good yet." He replied at inunahan si Zayelee na bumaba ng hagdan. He offered her his hand para alalayang bumaba si Zayelee.

"Oh uhm, thanks but I can handle it." Hindi pa rin maitatago ni Zayelee ang pagiging mailap sa mga ganitong bagay. Things like this reminds her of Kean and she doesn't think she's quite ready to do things like this kahit na wala siyang nararamdaman sa lalaking ito. Kahit siguro'y si Riordan ang aalok sa kanya ay tatanggihan niya ito.

Nilagpasan ni Zayelee ang binata na mukhang na-estatwa sa kinatatayuan. Zayelee feels a little bit guilty sa ginawa niya. Nasa dalampasigan na sila ngayon at nagkalat ang mga tao at may kanya-kanyang mga ginagawang activity ang mga ito.

"I should head to our cottage. Didiretso lang naman ako. Thanks for walking with me. You didn't have to." She simply said. Pansin niyang hindi siya tinitignan ng binata. Baka na-offend ito sa ginawa niya!

"I didn't do it for you." He replied and left without even looking at her.

Zayelee was surprised with his sudden change of attitude. If he really was offended, then maybe he just needs to respect her decision. Parang ang laking bagay naman niyon!

Nakarating na si Zayelee sa kanilang cottage at ibinagsak ang katawan sa kama. She's had a long day at ang gusto niya na lang gawin ngayon ay ang matulog.

Nagising si Zayelee sa tunog ng isang kalaskas. Hindi niya namalayang nakatulog na pala siya pagkarating niya. She stood up to check who it was, only to realise that it was Saige. Ano'ng oras na ba at mukhang ngayon lang ito nakarating?

"Hey, did I disturb you?" tanong ni Saige sa kaibigan na kanina lang ay natutulog sa kanyang kama ng hindi nakakumot. She must be feeling tired. She just got out of the bathroom and brushed her teeth, ready to sleep.

"Ah, no. Gusto ko sanang lumabas at magpahangin. Sino naghatid sayo? Ano'ng oras na kayong lahat natapos?"

"Blaise did. Kakatapos lang namin actually. I wanna sleep now Lé. Don't go too far ha, baka mapano ka dyan sa labas." She started taking her shoes off and headed to bed.

"Opo 'Nay." She replied and went outside.

Buti nalang at naisipan ng dalaga na lumabas ngayon. Mangilan-ngilan na rin kasi ang mga tao sa paligid at maging ang mga kaninang malalakas na tugtugan ay humina na.

"I see you're out." Someone said behind her. Zayelee turned around to check who it was.

"Oh hi, Ryder." She greeted him with a smile. "Aren't you suppose to be inside? Saige told me y'all just finished your drinking sesh."

"Should I be the one asking you that?" he asked her and stood next to her in the railing looking out to the sea.

"I just need some fresh air."

"Did you ever think that we'll see each other again?" tanong ng binata.

"I didn't! Akala ko talaga hindi na kaya ko sinabi 'yung problema ko sayo."

"What a great coincidence. If you don't mind me asking, kamusta ka na?" seryoso niyang tanong sa dalaga. Maging si Ryder ay nabigla sa mga pangyayari ngayon. Out of all people, hindi niya inakala na ang taong binigyan niya ng advice sa isang park ay makikita niya ulit.

"I'm fine. I'm coping." She dismissively replied.

"I don't mean to pry but since we're friends now, I just wanted to ask, have you ever talked to him since that day we met?" he asked with caution. Ayaw naman niyang biglain ang dalaga. He'd like to build a good relationship with her as friends dahil kapatid rin ito ng kanyang best friends.

"To be honest, I haven't. He never did anything in order for us to talk. Ano ba naman 'yung pumunta siya sa bahay para kausapin ako ng personal? Yes, he called me a lot of times but anong magagawa niyan?" naiinis si Zayelee na isipin ang katotohanang mag-iisang linggo na at hindi pa rin ito gumagawa ng paraan para makapag-usap silang dalawa, in person. Napakalakas ng loob nito noon na pumunta sa bahay nila pero bakit ngayon, hindi na? Did he even realise that she is hurting?

"That bastard. Ang tanging masasabi ko lang ay 'wag mo siyang tawagan. Don't reach out to him or anything. Let's see if he'll ever come running to you. Pag sa loob ng dalawang linggo at hindi pa rin siya pumunta sa bahay niyo para kausapin ka then he doesn't deserve you. Because if a guy is truly into you, he'd go out of his way just to be with you and he'll never do anything to break you heart." Pwede na ba niyang i-hire itong maging love adviser niya? He seems to know the things about love. It's like he knows what to say everytime! Nag-aral ba ito ng psychology?

"That's the thing about him, ngayon ko lang napagtanto na ako palagi ang gumagawa ng paraan para magkita kami. I just... liked his company that I wanted to see him everytime." Zayelee could feel the lump in her throat and even her eyes are starting to water now. Why did it have to be this complicated?

"Forget about him Zayelee. Show him that you can live without him. There's a lot of guys out there. I'm sure you'll find yours at the right time." Lumapit ng kaunti si Ryder sa tabi niya at hinagod ang likuran ng dalaga. He's not the clingy type of a friend so hopefully, this'll do.

"I will Ry. Thanks again for the advice. Pwede na siguro kitang maging counsellor." Pabiro niyang sabi. She can feel the pain subsiding a little knowing that she is blessed with people who are willing to help her. Pangako niya sa sarili niyang bago matapos ang tatlong araw na bakasyon nila rito sa isla ay sasabihin niya na sa mga kuya niya ang nangyari. It's time for them to know about him.

"Maybe I can be. Libre na since you accepted my friendship." Tumawa silang dalawa saka nagpaalam sa isa't-isa para magpahinga. Thanks for her brothers for taking her here. She truly needed this vacation.