Kabanata 16: Saturn
Matapos ng nangyari ay umuwi na rin kami. Tahimik sa byahe, paminsan-minsan ay sumusulyap sa akin si Irene. Dumiretso siya sa kusina habang ako ay pumasok na sa kwarto ko. Madiin akong pumikit bago pabagsak na umupo sa kama. Kinalma ko ang sarili ko.
The moment my mind absorbed the idea that Irene was not there, where I last seen her, was making me quite chagrin. I should have not let her to be out of my sight. Lalo na ngayon na malabo pa rin ang motibo ng lalaking pumasok sa kwarto niya. We should be more careful.
“Damn…” I cursed under my breathe in frustration.
I heard a few knocks on the door. “Jude? Can I come in?” I heard Irene asked from outside.
Huminga ako nang malalim bago umayos ng pagkakaupo.
“Come in,” I said.
Bahagyang bumukas ang pinto bago pumasok si Irene. Kinagat niya ang babang labi niya bago lumapit sa akin at inabot ang dala niyang isang baso ng tubig. Kinuha ko ‘yon at kinapit sa dalawang palad ko.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered. Umiling siya bago umupo sa tabi ko. She let out a heavy sigh.“I realy hate it when you are mad…And I even more hate it when I am the reason.” Napatingin ako sa kamay niyang humawak sa braso ko. “I am really sorry, Jude…”
I nodded my head as I gulped the water until its last drop before putting it down to the side table. I let out a heavy sigh for the nth time before turning my attention to Irene. Hinawakan ko ang balikat niya at iniharap siya sa akin.
I looked straight at her weary eyes.
“Hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sa ‘yo,” bulong ko habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanyang mata. “You hear me? I swear if something bad happens to you, I can’t forgive myself. You are my responsible after all.”
She arched her brows.
“Is that it?” Konting ngumiti siya. “You are just worried because you are responsible, that you are the reason why I am still here, and all the blame would be yours when something horrendous happened to me?” I suddenly felt the bitterness on her shaky voice.
Inalis niya ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanyang balikat at tumayo sa harapan ko. Tumindig din ako sa harapan niya, nakatingin sa naguguluhan niyang mata. Tinangka kong hawakan ang braso niya pero umiwas siya. Tumamad ang tingin ko.
“Maybe… You are right?” I shrugged my shoulders. "If that would happen, their blames would be nothing to me anymore. Why?" I gulped as I stared at her cold eyes. "Maybe I've had blamed myself enough to be affected by theirs. After all... They don't know what you are to me."
Humakbang ako palapit sa kanya, sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi na siya umatras. Hinawakan ko ang nanginginig niyang kamay.
“W-What am I really to you, Jude?” halos naging pabulong ang tanong niya na iyon. “Ano nga ba ako sa ‘yo?”
I smiled as I grabbed her waist closer to me. She gasped.
“A family… You are my sister,” I whispered.
She curved a smile on her lips but her eyes tell a different story. Tears started to fall down from her fuzzy eyes, it screamed a different emotion. I suddenly felt languid. I knew there was something bothering her emotions. I couldn’t help but to bring back the doubt I’ve longed burned down.
She gave me a peck on my cheek before skeddadling my room.
Humiga ako sa kama at niyakap ang nahagip na unan. Pumikit ako at kinalma ang naghuhuramentado kong isipan. Sa pagod na dulot ng pag-iisip ay mabilis na nilamon ako ng kadiliman. Nagising ako na madilim na sa labas.
BINABASA MO ANG
Escaped
RomanceTIL Series #2 Judeus Clavez has been living his life as the only child until one day, he finds out about the past of his father that he has a half-sister. He feels betrayed, and that overpowers his eagerness to know her. Living in a different family...