Waiting To Hear You Say "I Love You"

Chapter 37 --- Torture

Chapter 37

Torture

"Why are you so late?" Felix stopped walking and turned his head. He saw Scarlet sitting on the couch in the living room. Nakahalukipkip ito at nakataas ang isang kilay na nakatingin sa kanya. Nilibot pa nya ang paningin, hinahanap ang ama at ang kapatid nya. Pero ina lang nito ang nandoon. "They left."

Napalingon sya pabalik sa ina nang magsalita itong muli. Napansin siguro nitong hinahanap nya ang ama at ang kakambal. "They took Samantha home."

He didn't know why his chest suddenly felt heavy hearing Samantha's name. It's probably the guilt. It's probably the thing he did to her. Pero alam naman nyang tinawagan nito ang kapatid nya. Kaya nga sya nakaalis dahil sinabihan nya itong tawagan si Amethyst. But that's also the thing. Hindi nya maalalang tinawagan nga nito ang kakambal.

Now, he's worried. It's kind of too late though.

"What happened, Felix? I heard Samantha's side of the story. Amethyst's too. And them combined, to tell you honestly, I'm really disappointed."

Napatungo sya. He feels the same way. He is so disappointed with himself. He never thought he could do such a thing to Samantha. And he thought he was already over Queenie. Turns out, he's not. Isang tawag lang nito sa kanya, patakbo na nya itong pinupuntahan, willing to leave someone behind for Queenie's sake. Hindi nya akalain na ito pa rin ang uunahin nya kaysa kay Samantha. He thought his feelings for Samantha was enough for him to stay and choose her.

And again, it was not.

Akala lang pala nya iyon.

Napatunghay sya nang hawakan sya ng ina sa pisngi. She started massaging it using her thumb. She was so gentle yet he's hurting with such gesture. "Do you still love Queenie?"

Napatitig sya sa ina. And as he realized the meaning of the pain he's feeling, a tear escaped from his eye.

"Yes," he managed to say. "I still do."

---

First love never dies. Felix just have to learn the hard way to know that this quotation is actually true.

After that day, Felix always give time to Queenie. Pagkaawas ay agad syang pumupunta sa condo nito. Good thing, the semester already ended for Queenie's university. Dahil kung nagkataon, mas pipiliin nitong lumiban sa klase. And he doesn't like that idea. Transferring is in the list of choices if ever that happened. The way he cares for Queenie is nice. It is actually out of his character. But still, kabutihan pa rin iyon.

But it still has its downs.

Amethyst is not talking to him. For days. Ever since that day he left Samantha to go to Queenie, Amethyst started ignoring him. Hindi sya sanay syempre. Madalas silang magkatampuhang kambal pero hindi nila hinahayaang lumipas ang isang araw na hindi nila iyon naaayos. Their parents knows what Amethyst is doing. Usually, ang mga ito na ang gumagawa ng paraan para magkaayos silang magkapatid. But this time seems to be different. Hindi ito nakialam sa kanilang magkapatid.

Breakfast and dinner is never quiet. Madaldal pa rin si Amethyst. But she acts as if he's not there eating with them. He tries to initiate a conversation with her, but she never acknowledge him. It's either she'll continue saying nonsense things or she'll walk out of the table. The worst thing she ever did was to roll her eyes on him and walk out.

There were even worse scenarios. Lalampasan lang sya nito sa tuwing magkakasalubong sila. Kahit sa campus nila ay ganoon ito sa kanya. Kung dati ay lagi silang sabay kumain, ngayon ay hindi na. Kapag tatabihan nya ito sa table ay umaalis ito. Si Archie naman ay sumusunod na lamang kay Amethyst. Hindi naman nya masisisi si Archie. Syempre nga naman, ang kakampihan nito ay ang kakambal nya. Sya rin naman kasi itong nasa mali.