Lacuna • Book 2 of Change [Ricci Rivero]

four.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" I asked Donny as he enters the room. I'm studying for a heavy exam tomorrow, kasabay pa ng dehydration ng utak ko dahil sa lahat ng surgeries na isinama ako ng resident ko to participate in. "I had dinner nga diba? You tend to be so forgetful nowadays, isn't that an early---"

"...early symptom of Alzheimer's? It doesn't run in the family. Stupidity and the lack of retentive memory does." I muttered and threw my pens on the floor. "I give up. Bukas na ulit. Teka, hindi ka naman sinundan ni Ricci dito diba? Di ako dapat matakot?" I surrendered and suspended my hands in the air as I stand up and lead myself to get the food na na kay Donny.

"You're over thinking again." he muttered plainly as he flicked my forehead. This is how he reprimands me every single time na nahuhuli niya akong nagoover stress about things that I could really just take lightly. "But I never thought of stepping out of medschool. Be proud."

"I should be?" he said sarcastically with a deep tone. "Di ako mananalo. I retreat. Okay? You win." I just rolled my eyes since alam kong hindi na ako mananalo sa argument kapag temper at ugali ko na ang pinagusapan namin. The least I expect tomorrow din ay hindi makasalubong sa napakalaking New York ang balahura kong ex. So help me God? Yes please. Baka mawala ako sa wisyo, hindi ko malaman ang gawin ko sa kanya. Baka masaktan ko siya. Since he shouldn't be here.

I've been living with Donny for the past 8 years. Sa sobrang close namin, if Elliana isn't his girlfriend, lagi kaming mapagkakamalan na in a relationship or even worse, engaged couple.

Ever since Elliana left Donny in our 4th year his in New York, Donny became cold hearted and has always given me this bitchy attitude na nakuha niya sakin. Para kaming aso't puso at magkapatid na hinding hindi magkasundo sa mga unang buwan na durog siya. Although magkasama kami palagi sa bahay, never dumaan sa mga isip namin to try and pick up where we left each other's heart before. Remember way back? Mga 9 years ago, when Donny came back in my life, akala namin we'll both start over diba? But Ricci and Elliana came so we decided and thought na we're really just meant to be friends na andyan lang para sa isa't isa.

And that's what we are today but I should say, Donny is my one that got away. Sad fact but okay lang naman na since we're better off this way.

Living in New York was never easy. Never smooth, I should say, kahit marami namang instances na worth celebrating. From the moment we stepped on America's soil, I told myself na I'll never look back sa past ko. Though dadalhin ko yung mga taong worthy na makita akong magsucceed in my career, ang paglingon sa nakaraan kong dumurog and at the same time, sumira sa akin ay never ko nang gagawin.

He doesn't deserve to be part of my future.

He who broke me; I should never let him in again since as we all know, cheaters will be cheaters. Liars will be liars no matter what they do. Whatever they use to mask their mistakes, yun na yun. Irrevocable na kahit pa magpatong patong ang excuses na ibato niya sa akin, hinding hindi na ako maniniwala. Though I told my dad before, mga 9 months after we got here, na okay na kami ni Ricci and we've settled things already, that was only to shush my dad up na about that topic at hindi na mapagusapan ulit.

We both said our I love you's before diba? The only difference was I was telling the truth while he was lying and decieving me. Nabalitaan ko kaagad na mga 5 months after I left for New York, nagbalikan sila nung babae na nakasama niya sa bar at frequently daw, they're seen sa bars or roaming around trying to hide kahit napakadaming matang nakatanaw sa kanilang dalawa. That was only a few months after he begged me to stay and marry him. I didn't know rin why I kept on recieving news about that ex from his own bestfriend, Brent. Imagine if I accepted and fell for that marriage proposal? At kung nagback out ako from leaving? Imagine the broad range of possibilities na gawin niya yun secretly from behind my back kung pinatawad ko siya at umalis parin ako. Imagine being miles away from your loved one at hindi mo alam kung anong mga ginagawa niya sa Pilipinas. Nagchecheat na pala, mahal kita parin ang bukambibig niyo sa isa't isa. Gaguhan na, bulag ka parin sa mga nangyayari.

Pure evil right? Well, he's Ricci Rivero. There's nothing he couldn't do. Capable of anything. Pati lahat ng kabalbalan na maiisip mo sa mundo na hindi mo maiisip na magagawa niya, he's capable.

"Where's tito?" Donny asked as he brings out the food na dinala niya for me. "Wala pa. Gabi na nga eh. I honestly thought kasabay mo siya." sabi ko and munched on the chinese food. Orange chicken and Yang chow rice? Solved for the night!

"Well, he's meeting with a good friend daw. Walang sinabi saki---" Donny halted and his jaw dropped. His eyes widened like he saw a ghost after door went open. "What is it?" I asked as I was busy chewing at hindi lumilingon. "Si Dad ba?" dugtong ko pa ang focused on my food and my notes na nirereview ko while eating. My dad spoke after a few seconds, "H-hi anak. Oo, andito na ako."

Tahimik lang ang lahat for a brief moment at nagpatuloy nalang ako na kumain at magreview. May sinesenyas senyas si Donny sa tatay ko na hindi ko maintindihan. Nang tumunghay ako ay bigla itong tumigil at nagkunwari na walang ginagawa. "Anong meron?" I asked as I turn my dad na bigla namang tumutok sa telepono niya. "W-wala. Kumakaway lang ako kay Tito. Ngayon lang kami nagkatagpo sa gabi eh, diba?"

"Right. Hi dad, had a rough night? Nameet mo na yung friend mo?" I asked him. My dad immediately made his way towards me and kissed my forehead. Bigla bigla nalang, a familiar smell lingered and it seemed to have come from my dad. "Nagpalit ka ng pabango dad? Bakit parang...?"

"Ah hindi! Hindi, sinamahan ko lang yung american client ko during lunch na maghanap ng pabango for his son." sabi niya and I agreed nalang. "Nakispray ka? Kailan mo pa naging ugali yun?" intriga ko sa kanilang dalawa. They fell silent at nagsenyasan silang pareho.

"Alex, shouldn't you be sleeping na? You have a heavy exam tomorrow diba?" Donny, out of nowhere, asked me again. "Ayaw niyo ba 'kong makita? Can't you wait until I finish my food?" I said sarcastically and even showed him my plate na almost done narin naman. "Naubos mo na nga halos eh. Go up na, go to sleep."

"Puta, ano? Bahay mo?" I snapped at him at kunwaring susuntukin and all he did was chuckle at what I did. "Okay, okay, little girl. Easy with the temper." he consoled me and even gave me 2 bars of chocolate and a bag full of highlighters para magkasundo na kami kaagad. "Prepared ka na anak, ah? Ayaw mo na masuntok talaga eh." sabi ni Dad and laughed everything off. Kaya masakit ang arm ni Donny since last week dahil iniwasan niya ako eh wala naman akong ginagawa sa kanya talaga, only to find out na natitrip lang pala talaga siya. Ayun, nasuntok ko. And when I mean punch, punch talaga. Sa braso lang tho, mahirap sayangin ang genes niya pag tinuluyan ko siya.

"Akyat na, Alex!" sigaw niya ulit ng pikon sa akin habang tinatawanan parin siya ng tatay ko. I ran behind him naman and gave him a big hug from behind, giving him showers of kisses na he has always hated kapag nanlalambing ako sa kanya. "Ugh!" he groaned and released himself from my grip. "Go na!" tulak niya sakin and then I voluntarily went upstairs na to my room after giving my dad a peck on his cheek.

Before I even went inside my own room, there was a massive bang from the guest room. Parang may nalaglag or something kaya I came to check and wala namang tao. Inikot ko ang room na connecting papunta sa room ko pati ang restroom pero wala namang tao. "Guniguni mo nanaman, Alexandra. You should sleep." sabi ko sa sarili ko and trailed off papasok sa kwarto ko at dumiretso na sa kama ko para mahiga at matulog na.

Long day tomorrow, 1 heavy major exam plus 3 surgeries. Good God, help me.

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hmmmm bakit ang suspicious ng tatay ni alex atsaka ni Donny? 🤔🤔 sino yung friend na yun kaya??