Played Without Rules

52. The Old Times

Dedicated to dianesanandres

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Liam Ford Fortalejo

Ano pa ba kasing katangahan ang susunod kong sasabihin? Yes, the idea might be brilliant if I was Darren. The case is, I'm not.

There is no way on earth that I could possibly do what is running inside my mind now.

Isa pa, si Lex ang kaharap ko. Hindi kung sino mang babae na madaling basahin.

I was planning to take back what I have said but she was already gone. Kukuha lang raw siya ng damit sa kwarto niya at babalik din agad.

Aist. Kalokohan ko. Eh ano naman gagawin ko kung gusto niya nga ako? Anong mapapala ko kapag nalaman ko ang dahilan?

Stupid Liam! Stupid. Malamang peace of mind diba?

Pero malabo talaga. Malabong magkagusto siya sa akin. There are a lot of questions inside my mind and it hurts my brain to think deeper.

Alam ko kasing may hindi tama. At ako namang tanga,ngayon lang napansin. Everyone is acting strange, that excluded my friends.

Basta,the calls, sudden change of plans, dad misses important days in the house, 'di ko makita si Kuya Van na umuuwi, laging wala si Jille at ginagabi kung umuwi si Lex, Mommy Xy is not around and Papa Skye is always missing in the act. He was not even there when Lex had trouble with that Paulo guy.

Kung tutuusin they treat her so delicate like she has a serious illness.

Illness? Could she be dying?

I erased those thoughts away. Masyado nang malalim ang iniisip ko. Hindi naman siguro. Baka ano...

"Are you okey?" napapitlag ako sa malamig na boses sa aking gilid. Xyriel was already standing beside me with her staid face looking straight at me.

"Y--yeah,why?" I managed to say. 'Di ko talaga napansin ang pagpasok niya kahit nakasarado naman ang pinto.

"You are looking up the ceiling for about 3 minutes I guess. You didn't even notice my presence. Something wrong?"

She didn't move but was waiting for my response.

Ngumite ako. "Wala naman,medyo masakit lang ang ulo ko. Maligo ka na."

Slowly she sat beside me and placed her clothes on her left side.

"Just wait Liam, you'll be free," she stated with her eyes captivating mine. They are browner this time as if she's not getting enough sleep.

Free? From what? Does she mean our marriage?

"What do you mean?" puno nang pagtatakang tanong ko.

Dalawa lang naman kasi ang maaring dahilan nang paghihiwalay namin. Una,through annulment. Pangalawa, kapag namatay ang isa sa amin.

At mas mabigat ang timbang ng pangalawa basi na rin sa mga sinasabi niya.

I could feel different emotions and was now more confused than ever.

"Never mind," she smiled sweetly. Minutes had passed and we only remained silent. Kaya't tumayo na ako at hinila siya.

"Maliligo ka pa diba? Bilisan mo, nangangamoy ka na," I stated trying to make my tone happy.

Agad naman niya akong binatukan saka kinurot sa tagiliran. Namiss ko 'to.

"Geez Liam! You smell a lot worse than me not taking a bath for weeks," her reply was filled with mockery.