The Virgin Lies (Published under LIB)

Chapter 21

🚫 WARNING : SPG ahead.

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"I'm sorry, Iara but Icio needed to know this." Malungkot lamang akong ngumiti sa kanya.

I understood that he did everything to help me fix this alone but the problem was bigger that we could handle.

Mahirap kontrolin ang sitwasyon at hindi ko kailanman masisisi si Kuya Randell sa kanyang ginawa. He told my Kuya what happened—from the fight 'til the nude photo that's why after two days of crying and locking myself inside my room, Kuya Randell drove me to our old house to meet my newly arrived brother. Ang hindi ko lang sigurado ay kung lahat ay nasabi niya kasama ang kay Dylan.

Ayoko pang lumabas no'n dahil sa kahihiyan pero nang sinabi niyang uuwi ngayon si kuya Icio ay sumunod ako.

Nang makapasok ako sa dating tirahan ay nakaramdam agad ako ng panibagong kalungkutan at pangungulila. I remembered Kuya Icio, my childhood memories and papa and his death.

Nilibot ko ng aking paningin sa paligid at habang inaalala ko ang aking nakaraan, ngayon ko lang napagtanto na mag-isa pala ako.

I would be forever grateful that Kuya Randell's family took me in and though I was living with them, with the maids and guards inside a big house, it still felt lonely and alone. Iba parin talaga kapag kapamilya mo ang kasama. Kailangan ko ng pamilya ngayon.

Kuya Randell already left a few minutes ago before the door opened. Naputol ang pag-alala ko sa nakaraan at tumingala. Hila hila ni Kuya Icio ang kanyang di gulong na maleta papasok bago siya napatingin sa'kin.

Our eyes met and before I could utter any word, my face veered to the right then everything seemed to stop for a second.

Dahil sa gulat ay hindi ko agad napagtanto ang nangyari pero nang naramdam ko ang sakit ay saka pumasok sa isip ko ang kanyang nagawa.

For the first time, my brother slapped me.

The sting and sound still lingered against my left cheek and ear. My eyes widen with shock and my hand slowly moved to touched it. Part of me was already expecting this. Nakuha ko naman. Lumandi ako, nakalimot, napahiya—naging isang kahihiyan kaya nararapat lamang ang sampal na 'yon sa'kin.

Napasinghot ako dahil sa nagbabadyang pag-iyak pero pinigil ko at napakagat ng labi kasi wala akong karapatang lumuha. I deserved this after all.

I accepted and was prepared for the slap but not the sight I saw when I slowly turned to look at kuya.

Kuya Icio was crying.

The brother I knew for being jolly, soft-spoken, caring and sweet was red and crying while looking at me straight to the eyes. All because of me.

Marahas niyang pinunasan ng likod ng palad ang kanyang mga mata.

Suminghot muna siya bago nagtanong. "Sino? Sino ung gagöng 'yon?"

His voice sounded calm. He was so red trying to conceal the anger under his deep frown and glare. Hindi na kinaya ng puso ko nang makita sa kanya ang sakit, matinding galit at pagsisisi.