One Roof

Chapter 11

CARL'S POV

I felt the urge to eat so I decided to go out of my room. But before I can even go to the kitchen I heard a sound of a phone ringing.

Si Jolina, may kausap sa phone.

Sean?!

"Mukhang may boyfriend ang isang 'to!" I whisper snorting.

I hid and pried a little, na-curious lang ako sa babaeng 'to.

"What?! Pinsan?" Bulong ko nang marinig kong ipinakilala niya ako as that.

I know she was referring to me. Ako lang naman ang tinutukoy niyang kasama sa bagong bahay na nilipatn niya. Meron pa bang iba?

Gusto ko tuloy lumabas bigla sa pinagtataguan ko nang makita ko kung pa'no siya magugulat kapag nakita niya ko, ang 'pinsan' niyang sinasabi na asawa niya sa tunay na buhay ay nasa harap niya habang kausap niya sa cellphone ang lalaki na sweet na sweet siya.

Ang sarap lang biglang mang-inis sa narinig ko. Pero natawa rin ako na she has to say it to the guy she's talking to.

But I also realized maybe that man must be special to her para hindi niya sabihing ikinasal na siya sa akin.

Just like me to Aubrey. Until now, hindi ko masabing may asawa na 'ko.

Ayokong masaktan ang taong mahal na mahal ko. I can't imagine how she'd react after hearing it.

Tatanggapin niya pa ba ko when I say just hold on this is just temporary and that we'll be separating soon? Pa'no kung sa galit niya iwan niya ko nang tuluyan? I don't think I can stand the thought of losing her.

Somehow, naiintindihan ko rin ang tutang 'to on why she has to refer me as 'pinsan.'

We're both victim here. It's sad lang na we both allow people to victimized us just like this.

The only "good thing" there is, is that they are the people whom we loved our moms and our lolos who planned all these things just because they wanted a good future for both of us. O baka hindi rin good thing.

I watched her put an act by trying to suppress her tears and force herself to be lively and happy, maybe to cover up for something like being able not to make that guy Sean worried.

Silly! I sighed and shook my head.

Well, that is what really love can do.

Nakakaawa na naman ang itsura ng  isang 'to.

Nang ikinakasal kami maraming beses ko siya nakitang umiyak. Nang matapos ang kasal nakayakap na lang siya sa nanay niya habang umiiyak na para bang bata na first time papasok ng school at ayaw paalisin ang mommy. Haaist!

Nang magpaalam na siya sa kausap the more that she wept and cried a river. Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng kaunting kirot sa sobrang awa ko sa tuta.

I waited for her to stop crying. I leaned on the wall crossing my arms to my chest.

I breathed deeply many times as I waited for her to sober up.

"Ang tagal namang umiyak ng asong 'to! Nakakainip!" I complained.

Maya maya pa nakarinig na 'ko ng mahinang kaluskos sa kusina kaya dahan dahan akong naglakad.

Magulat nga ang tuta. Naisip ko.

"HEEEY!" Sigaw ko.

Na-disorient ang puppy ko! Napahagalpak ako ng tawa sa nakita kong reaction niya.

Galit na galit naman nitong pinaghahampas ako sa balikat.

Nag-iba ang mood nito nang marinig nang banggitin ko ang pangalan na Sean. Higit sa lahat ng malaman niyang narinig ko ang conversation nila.

Hindi ko naman yun pinansin.

"Hindi ko siya boyfriend." She huffed.

"Nahiya ka pa! Ayos lang naman." I told her.

"Let me tell you something. May girlfriend din ako and I love her."

I saw her face softened then look down playing with her feet by rubbing its tippy toe on the floor.

"So much!" I added to emphasize my feelings for Aubrey.

"Kaya nga sabi ko last time, don't expect anything from me. Because I can't give you anything."

She suddenly deepened her look and growl at me.

"Hoy unggoy! If you're referring to me as the one na mag-aasume about our relationship could flourish into something romantic, well, excuse me! Coz I'm telling you now, I won't! Ni hindi nga kita kilala! Hello!" She said defensively.

"Dyan ka na nga, CHEH!" She was leaving when I spoke another thing.

"Kaya nga, if you're also in a relationship, just like me."

"Alam mo, it's just fine. At least with that, we might be able to understand each other. Who knows baka magkasundo pa tayo."

"Hindi ko nga siya boyfriend."

"Manliligaw?" I said in a loud voice.

But annoyingly she rolled her eyes at me then turned her back.

I shook my head.

"Tsk! Tsk! She must have liked the guy  to weep like that." I sighed.

Naisip ko parehas lang kami ng sitwasyon. We can't just be with the person we love anytime we want to because we're committed to each other.

Kahit di naman talaga namin gusto ang isa't isa.

I sighed in dismay.

Mas mahirap lang siguro ang sa kanya I guess, dahil babae siya. Kaya siguro gano'n na lang siguro kung pumalahaw ng iyak ang tuta.

"Haay! Sana lang matapos na ito dahil at the end of the day, kami lang talaga ang kawawa." I breathed heavily.

The next day, she left the house even before I wake up.

According to their convo last night they'll be seeing each other after her meeting or appoinment whatever. Kaya I did not wonder anymore why the crying puppy is missing early this morning.

I smirked and shook my head. "Poor girl!"