Playing with Fire (Acosta Sisters Series #3)

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

"Rod!" Masayang bungad ko nang pagbuksan ko siya ng pinto ng condo ni Vara.

"Hi there, baby girl," he chuckled, pulling me into a tight, comforting hug.

Bumitaw ako, nakasimangot. Ngising ngisi naman siya't halos maningkit ang mga mata, mukhang nang-aasar. Sinamaan ko siya lalo ng tingin.

"What?" Maang-maangan niya.

"I told you not to call me that anymore." I scolded folding my arms.

His smirk widened. "Ah, is it because you have a new 'boytoy' now?"

"Boytoy?!" Angil ko.

He burst out laughing, clearly amused by teasing me. Hinampas ko naman ang braso niya upang sawayin at patigilin siya sa pang-aasar niya.

"Joke lang. Ito naman, hindi na mabiro." Aniya sabay ginulo ang buhok ko.

Umirap ako't hindi na lang nagreklamo. 'Tsaka dumiretso sa kwarto kung saan kasalukuyan pa ring natutulog si Vara habang nakasunod naman siya sa akin.

The reason why he's here was because I asked him to visit. Last night kasi, after sending him a text about what's going on with Vara, we ended up on a long phone call and talked about it.

He had already known most of it. Nagulat pa nga siyang alam ko na. So, I asked him other details. He was also felt sorry that he'd kept it from me.

I get it though. Vara already explained it to me that she didn't want to bother me because I was going through a really important phase of my life. And didn't want to overshadow the joy I was feeling. Kaya naman si Rod talaga ang una niyang sinabihan at tinakbuhan na bukod sa mas madaling lapitan at puntahan, wala rin siyang ibang mapagsabihan dahil kaming dalawa lang ang lubos niyang pinagkakatiwalaan.

Honestly, I'm at a loss about what to do for her. I don't want to intrude, but I'm genuinely worried—especially with her pregnancy. There's a part of me itching to do something, anything, to help her, but I'm not sure where to start.

Pero . . . if it were up to me, I'd want to confront Ryan and lay everything to him. He deserves to know the truth. But even as I consider it, I know I could never take that step without her permission. Vara's trust means everything to me, and I wouldn't betray that.

Pero umaasa pa rin ako na dadating ang panahon na kakausapin niya si Ryan tungkol sa kanilang dalawa at sa magiging anak nila. There's even a part of me believes Ryan care for her deeply. Maybe he's even willing to take responsibility if he knows the truth. Vara just chose to walk away from him.

But, at some point, I can see why she'd do something like that. She's such a selfless person. She'd rather take the hit for everyone else than see anyone get hurt. I mean, it sucks that she's the one taking all the blame, especially when she didn't do anything wrong. She was just in love! And it's not her fault she didn't know it was Ryan her cousin was talking about.

"How is she?" Rod asked softly as we looked at Vara, peacefully asleep on her bed, yet still with traces of sadness on her face.

I sat gently on the edge of the bed, shaking my head with a heavy heart.

"She's not okay. She did nothing but cry last night."

He sighed deeply, a worried frown appeared on his face. Napabuntong hininga rin ako.

"It's a good thing you visited her. She's been like this for two weeks. And I'm worried she's over-stressing herself."

That's exactly why I can't leave her yet. She's stress obviously and it might cause a problem to her and the baby kaya balak ko ring samahan siya sa doctor para magpa-check-up pagkagising niya. I want to make sure she's fine. Mabuti nga at napapayag ko siya kagabi. She's still hesitant pa rin kasi to go outside. Takot pa sigurong magkita sila ni Ryan. I just assured her he would be out of sight kahit hindi ko rin alam kung paano ko gagawin 'yon.