Sleeping Beauty

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24

Love of My Life

-Iya-

"You broke one of Abuela's favorite collections," Sky, my cousin, said.

"So what?" inirapan ko siya. Another asshole in my life. Kailan ba magiging payapa ang buhay ko? "It's just an old vase. Sino ba kasing nagsabi sa kanyang ilagay niya 'yan dito sa kwarto ko? And what are you doing here, Sky?"

"Visiting you, baka bored ka na dito at gusto mong may makausap?" ngumisi siya. "You might die here because of hunger you know? Ikaw pa naman na malakas kumain. I can't believe that you survived a day without eating anything, zhīfáng," (fat)

I glared at him and impulsively grabbed a pillow beside me and threw it straight to his face. Naka-ilag pa ang walanghiya at tumawa! Eh kung batuhin ko kaya siya ng vase to break his ugly face?

"Ahh! Ni tài jī dòngle! Chūqù!" (You're so annoying! Get out!) I said, irritatingly. His evil smile became more evident. Lalo ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin.

"Woah, didn't expect that from you, zhīfáng," humalukipkip siya at sumandal sa pader. "I thought you already forgot to speak mandarin. Isang taon ka ding nawala,"

"Tss, zoukāi, choulóu!" (Get lost, ugly!)

"Hmm," he stood up straight and walked towards me. "Bakit ba ayaw mong magpakasal na kay Keith? He's been your admirer since we were young... kahit noong mataba ka pa. I can't believe that he's still into you until now."

"It's none of your business, Sky! You'll never understand me because you're an idiot,"

Palibhasa kasi madali lang sa kanya ang lahat. Wala siyang pakialam kung kontrolado na ang buhay niya basta nakukuha at nagagawa niya ng gusto niya. He's not serious in any of his relationships, kaya kung sinuman ang fiancee niya, sobrang kawawa siya dito sa ugok kong pinsan. She'll suffer while he's just enjoying his life.

"Bakit? Huwag mong sabihin na may iba kang gusto? 'Yan ba 'yung hinanap mo noong lumayas ka? Who? Jerome Miguel Montello?"

Matalim akong napatingin sa kanya. Nandoon na naman ang demonyong ngiti niya. Of all people, bakit pa siya ang naging isa sa mga pinsan ko? Gusto ko ng pilipitin ang leeg niya!

"Umalis ka na nga lang dito, pwede?" inirapan ko siyang muli.

"So you do really like him?"

"No! Who told you about him? Don't tell me kasabwat ka din nila Mommy?"

"Siya," he shrugged his shoulders. My eyes widened because of what he said. Ano daw?

"Ha?" mabilis akong napatayo sa kama at tumakbo papunta sa kanya. Ipinulupot ko ang braso ko sa leeg niya ng mahigpit at hinila siya pababa. "Anong ibig mong sabihin doon ha, Sky?" asik ko.

"Aray! Masakit, Iya!" he sneered as he tried to remove my hands from his neck.

"Magsalita ka muna!" singhal ko at mas hinatak siya pababa.

"Papatayin mo ba ako-Ahh!" mas diniinan ko yung pagkakapulupot sa kanya. "Damn it! How can I tell you what happened if you're doing this to me!" singhal niya. Lumuwag na 'yung braso ko sa leeg niya and he took that opportunity to free himself.

"Aish!"

"Fine," huminga ako ng malalim. "What happened?"

"Bakit ka muna interesado?" he asked. Akmang susuntukin ko siya ng iharang niya ang kamay niya sa mukha niya. "Aish, ang lupit mo talaga. Tss, fine. I saw you before when I went to Wiesel University to visit my ex girlfriend. I was about to approach you but a guy stopped me."