Darted Hearts

49

Sinabi ko ang lahat ng nalaman ko kina Demi.

Si Haste ang nagmamaneho samantalang ako ang katabi niya. Sina Demi at Vast ay parehong nasa likuran.

Tulala lang akong nakatitig sa bintana ng sasakyan.

Binabalikan ko lahat ng mga sinabi niya. Lalong-lalo na sa isang taong may pakana nito.

Before I was able to go out, Delancy uttered something.

Kung hindi dahil sa kanya ay hindi ako maliliwanagan sa mga nangyari noon.

Up until now, I don't know how to return all the favors he's been doing for me.

A day after the conference ay bumalik din kami agad ng Mexico. Wala rin naman akong ganang gumala pa.

"Guess what?" Masiglang bungad ni Audrey sa amin.

"We don't care about whatever you're talking about." Supladong wika ni Haste.

Pasimple rin 'tong isang 'to. Halata namang may pagtingin na siya kay Audrey.

"Well I'm sorry but I'm clearly not talking to you, old hag." Banat ni Audrey na ikinatawa ni Vast.

Sinipa agad ni Haste si Vast nang marinig niya ang tawa nito.

"Seriously? You're on her side?" Nakabusangot na tanong ni Haste sa kanya.

Humalakhak si Vast.

"I'm always on the side of whoever that beautiful girl is, man." Sira talaga.

Madramang tumikhim si Demi.

"It obviously doesn't include you, Dems." Hagalpak ko.

They never fail to take my sadness away even for a little while.

Nagpaalam muna ako sa kanila dahil may kukunin ako sa kwarto nang narinig ko ang pagtatalo nina Papa at Mamay.

I tiptoed. The door is in ajar kaya rinig na rinig ko ang mga sinasabi nila.

The last time they were like this, I was involved. Ngunit tungkol saan?

Matagal na iyong bumabagabag sa akin ngunit hindi ko nalang masyadong binigyang pansin.

Ayaw kong masira ang pagtingin ko kay Papa.

I always think that what I am thinking is wrong.

Hindi dapat iyon ang nangyari, dahil hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ko kung sakaling sa bibig na nila mismo magmula ang mga salitang ayaw kong marinig.

I remember Mamay saying that the UEP will be my way to meet Frau. But why?

She was right, after that event, doon palang sumulpot si Frau.

Does that mean...

"Tell her the truth already!" I was taken a back when Mamy suddenly shouted at Papa.

They never fight like this before.

"For what? For her to hate me?" Papa sneered.

Anong ibig sabihin nila?

"Your daughter deserves to know why the hell all of this is happening to her! That it was you who--"

"Who what, Mamay?" I interrupted her.

Nakita kong nanlaki ang mata ni Papa.

"R-Riya." Akmang hahawakan ako ni Papa ngunit winaksi ko ang kamay niya.

"Answer me first. What did you do, Papa?" I asked almost never seeing him clearly because of the tears that's been already flowing in my fucking eyes.

Mamay was already crying. I looked at Papa and he paled. What are you so guilty of?

"I'm s-sorry. I'm so s-sorry, Sweet-"

"Sorry about what? What are you sorry abou--"

"About Frau." Natahimik ako nang nagsalita si Mamay.

Natuon ang atensyon ko sa kanya.

My heart ached the moment she mentioned his name.

"H-he was the reason why Frau was not able to reach you for years. His influence can make it all p-possible for Frau not to have any clue from you. I'm sorry, Riya. I should've told you." Nakatungong wika ni Mamay.

Napaatras ako.

"So you knew? You know it all along but you didn't tell me! You've seen how destroyed I was, May. You've seen how much I suffered!"

"Don't blame your Mother, Riya. It was my fault. It was my idea. I can't let that boy enter your life again when he already ruined it." Matigas na wika ni Papa.

Wala ng mas ikakasakit pa kung mismo ang pamilya mo na ang nagsinungaling sayo.

Mas lalong sumakit ang puso ko.

"You're right, Papa. He's the only person who ruined my life but you know what? He's also the only one who can fix it and you..."

Mas lalo akong humagulgol.

"You made me lost the chance I need, Papa. You made me lost the chance I only want." I said crying and went out.

Kinuha ko ang susi sa aking sasakyan at agad tumungo sa garage.

Paalis na ako nang narinig ko ang tawag ni Haste ngunit hindi ko iyon pinansin.

Nang nakalabas ako ng gate ay walang pag aalinlangan kong pinaharurot ang sasakyan.

I've been into many bars here in Mexico at sa pagkakataong ito ay sinigurado kong hindi pa namin napuntahan ang bar na pinili ko.

I'm quite sure na hahanapin nila ako, knowing Haste, hindi niya ito papalagpasin. He's quite an older brother to me.

Agad akong nagtungo sa counter at nag order.

The scream of the music is stinging in my ears.

"One hard drink, please." Wika ko sa bartender na mukhang nagulat pa sa presensya ko.

Binigyan niya ako ng maiinom at agad ko iyong nilagok.

Ano pa bang mga sekreto ang kailangan kong pang malaman? Sino pa ba ang mga taong kailangan pang magsinungaling? Because these whole situation is already fucking me up!

Hindi ba naisip ni Papa kung ano ang mararamdaman ko sa oras na malaman ko lahat ang mga pinaggagawa niya?

I guess your influence can affect people's lives to that extent. Hinayaan niyang mag-iwan ito ng malaking pinsala sa akin... sa amin.

After learning about those things, I felt ashamed for every bad thing that I said about Frau. Sa lahat ng pagbibintang ko sa kanya at sa mga masasakit na salitang binitawan ko.

How will I be able to fix this? Is it even still fixable?

I am flooded with thoughts habang nakatitig lang ako sa dance floor.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pag-inom hanggang sa may narinig akong tumikhim.

Tiningnan ko kung sino iyon at nakita ang bartender na nakatitig sa akin gamit ang mga kuryusong mga mata.

I was about to ask him of why the hell is he staring at me nang inunahan niya akong magsalita.

"By any chance... are you the Riya-Riya Riyalonda who won that UEP?" Tanong niya.

Tumango ako at sinubukang ngumiti kahit pilit.

He looks like he's in his mid 20s. He's hunk and quite good looking. What the hell, Arry?

"You're the Scarlet he's talking about?" Manghang tanong niya.

Bigla akong nalito at kinabahan sa sinabi niya.

Paano niya nalaman ang Scarlet na tawag niya sakin?

"What do you mean? And who are you referring to?" Kunot-noo kong tanong.

"I was with him when he was trying to look for you. I saw that man suffered and regret every single day because of his woman." Wika niyang mas lalong nagpakaba sa akin.

"Who--"

"I'm Jarl, a friend of your Frau."