Chasing Reality #B4

35 Not Again

Aris' POV

I stirred from my sleep because I heard someone sniff. Though really faint from my half-awake senses.

I opened my eyes, and I am sure of it. I am not alone in my room. And that baby cologne smell if so familiar.

Lumingon ako mula sa pagkakadapa. May babaeng nakatayo sa paanan ng kama ko pero nakatalikod.

"What the--"

Kaya napalingon si,

"Madel?!"

Kumalat agad ang gulat at pag-aalangan sa mukha nya.

Suspicion immediately came to my mind.

"Paano mo nalaman dito? Have you been stalking me again?"

"H-hinatid ako ni Ate Andie at Sir Reid dito. Uhm, umalis na sila."

Napahiya ako sa sarili ko. But then, it hit me.

Why did the Schulz couple bring her here?

Suddenly, a hope peeked from the horizon.

Dinaan ko sa pagsusungit ang pagkapahiya ko.

"Bakit ka nandito? Di ba ayaw mo sa 'kin? Ilang araw mo na 'kong hindi kinakausap?" sabi ko na umayos ng upo sa gilid ng kama.

She nervously played with her fingers. Is she going to tell it now?

Itinukod ko ang siko sa tuhod ko at sinapo ang noo ko. Sa ganoong paraan, maitatago koang pagngiti ko.

"'Uhm...hinahanap ka ni Emma. K-kaya kita sinusundo.U-umuwi na ka, 'Ris."

I got pissed. Nawala ang sayang umusbong sa dibdib ko. I thought she came here because she misses me.

Hindi pala.

Nagpuntasya para kay Emma. Gaya nang kaya pala sya pumayag na magsama kami sa iisang bubong ... para kay Emma.

Talagang napipilitan na lang si Madel.

Isang saloobin nya na biglaan nyang nasabi noong gabi ng kaarawan ni Schulz.

I was actually hurt when she blurted it out at my face that she looks at herself like my exclusive whore.

She isn't. I never thought of that about her. And I never considered her car and expensive tuition as my payment just to bed her.

I never had another woman simula nung guluhin ako ni Andz about their existence. I even forgot about that out of town date with... hell, I can't even remember that woman's name who called to remind me of our date.

It's because flashes of forgotten memories of that night with Madel came back to me little by little in my dreams. I just couldn't identify who it was.

And I've made myself exclusive to her, too. Hindi na sumagi sa isip ko ang ibang babae simula nang mabawi namin silang mag-ina. Kahit may mga lumalapit, either I push those women away or I keep them at bay.

Kaya nainsulto ako sa sinabi nya. Why would I pay woman just to screw her when I can actually get one without shelling out a penny, right?

Yet, hindi ko magawang magalit nung gabing yun matapos nyang isigaw yun sa akin.

I was more hurt seeing the pain in her crying eyes while telling me what she felt. And guilt ate me up for making her feel that way.

Isa pa, wala naman akong sinabing ayoko o tinatakwil ko ang anak namin. She just misinterpreted my words because... because I was so damn jealous of that psycho.