T-Shirt Girl (COMPLETED)

TSG 35 - The Broken Ones

"I know they've hurt you bad. Why hide the scars you have? Baby let me straighten out your broken bones. All your faults to me make you more beautiful." –The Broken Ones, Dia Frampton

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There was nothing more pitiful than a person who has no spark in his eyes. It's like life was taken out of him, his very essence was gone. It's like that for Jae. It's worse for him. Not only was he grieving for his lost baby, he was also grieving for her. Afraid that one day, he will lose her too.

Jae was always staring into space. She doesn't talk much. She doesn't eat. She was just there, lifeless. Tuwing gabi, nakabantay siya sa pagtulog nito. Hindi naman ito pumapalag kapag yumayakap siya rito. Ni hindi nga ito gumagalaw. Kung hindi lang dahil sa mahina nitong paghinga, aakalain nyang wala na itong buhay.

It had been like that for a few days. She was eerily quiet, until one day...

Nasa kusina sya noon, nagluluto ng pananghalian nila. Naglalaba si Manang Soling ng mga damit sa likod-bahay. Si Jae naman ay nasa sala, nanunuod. Everything was the way they were before until he heard a scream.

Agad siyang tumakbo papunta sa sala. He saw Jae wrestling with the TV. Hawak-hawak nito ang remote at paulit-ulit na inihahampas sa LED screen. Commercial ng Pampers ang nakapalabas. There was a baby on the screen and Jae was trying to get him out.

He had to yank her away from the TV. Pero nahila nito iyon bago pa man niya ito mailayo. The TV fell from the wall. Nasira ito agad pagkabagsak.

Jae then turned to him and hit him in the face with the remote control.

"Jae! Ako 'to!"

Inagaw niya ang remote at saka iyon itinapon sa malayo.

"Ano'ng nangyayari?!" tanong ni manang na tarantang tumakbo papunta sa kanila.

"Wala, manang," sagot niya sa matanda. Hinula niya ang dalawang kamay ni Jae at inilagay sa likuran nito. "Kaya ko na 'to."

"Sigurado ka?"

"Opo."

Nag-aalangan itong bumalik sa likod-bahay. Siya naman ay napasigaw nang kagatin siya ni Jae sa leeg.

"Jae!"

Niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit, her hands still trapped behind her back.

"Tama na, please..."

"Y-Yung baby ko..." naiiyak nitong sabi. Her shoulders were shaking as she cries. Pero tumigil na ito sa pagwawala. Now, she's crying again.

"Sshh... our baby's in heaven now."

Humagulhol ito sa balikat niya. "I want my baby back!"

He cupped her face. "We can always make another one, Jae. Kung gusto mo, isang dosena pa."

Tumigil ito sa pag-iyak dahil sa sinabi nya.

"Then let's make them."

Nginitian niya ito saka hinalikan sa noo. "Saka na kapag magaling ka na."

"Gusto ko ngayon na!"

Her hand went down his crotch. Agad naman niya iyong inalis.

"Jae, you need to heal first."

"I want to have a baby NOW!" she insisted.

She looked like she just completely lost her mind. Gone was the Jae he used to know. Wala na sa katinuan ang kaharap niya ngayon.

"We can't! Not when you're like this!"

"I want a baby! I want a baby! Fuck me! Fuck me now!"

His hand took a life of its own. Agad na lumapat ang palad niya sa pisngi nito. It's as if time had stopped when he slapped her in the face. Maang itong napatingin sa kanya.