The Adopted Girlfriend

Chapter 17

VIELA.

"You can cry as long as you want, Viela." said Kaizer.

Nandito kami sa Heavens. Kami lang talaga dapat magkita ni Kaizer pero nandito din si Jacob kaya nag-usap nalang din kami.

Kinuwento ko kay Kaizer lahat. Lahat ng nalaman ko. Sinabi niya din sa akin lahat. Lahat ng sa kanila ni Celine. Lahat ng alam niya sa akin.

It felt good. It's like having two best friends na alam lahat ng secret mo. Alam mo din ang secret nila.

But it didn't felt right lalo na nung nalama ko'ng Celine was hurt. I was her best friend. Though she had me stabbed at my back, i understand na dahil lang 'yun sa mommy ko. Yeah, sinabi rin yun sakin ni Kaizer.

"So, kailan mo planong umalis?" Jacob asked.

Kailan ba?

I talked to tita Karisa earlier. I said I would accept the scholarship if it's still available. She immediately said yes. Masaya siyang tinanggap ko na yung scholarship, iniintay niya daw talaga 'yun.

"I don't know. Hindi pa maayos pamilya ko," i said.

"I'll help you find your real parents, Viela." Kaizer offered.

"Me, too." said Jacob.

"Kayo talaga, kaya ko naman."

Gusto ko talagang mahanap 'yung totoo kong pamilya. Kamusta na kaya sila? Hindi ko lang alam kung paano.

"You can go to Italy and accept the scholarship whenever you want," ang bait talaga ni Kaizer. Minsan, naiisip ko na mahal niya talaga ako. Kasi handa siyang gawin lahat para sa kin kahit wala kaming relation.

"I'll be there, too." sabi ni Jacob. I almost forgot. Dun nga pala siya nakatira talaga.

"Tss." i heard Kaizer.

"Okay. Give me three days."

VINCE.

I'm clueless.

Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng nangyayari. Hindi ko na nakikita si Frances sa bahay. I asked Jacob, sabi niya nag-uusap lang naman daw sila.

I tried to ask her kung anong problema. I tried. Pero hindi natuloy. Baka kasi umiyak siya sa harap ko. Baka masabi ko pa ang di dapat masabi.

"Shut up, Migs." he's so loud. Kaya nga nagprivate room kami para di mangay eh.

Nasan ako? As usual, sa bar. Masyado akong nai-stress sa trabaho.

"Ayaw mo kasi makinig, Vince. Ewan ko ba sa'yo." para talaga 'tong bakla. Kung ano-anong lumalabas sa bibig.

"Ang sinasabi ko lang naman, kung di mo sasabihin na mahal mo, eh bahala ka magtiis dyan."

I don't get it. Masyado siyang deep.

"Sabihin mo na kasi ang totoo. It's better to hurt people with the truth than to comfort them with lies. Cliche na kung cliche pero saktong sakto sa'yo, bro."

"Ano'ng gusto mo? Sabihin ko kay Viela ang totoo? Na mahal ko siya?"

"At na ampon lang siya," i was about to cover his mouth. Baka kasi may makarinig nang lumapit siya sa kakarating lang na si Lance at nakipag-fist bump.

"Sup, bro?" he asked me.

"Wala naman," I'm tired of explaining.

"Tara, labas tayo! Boring dito, walang chiks!" Paul shouted.

Lumabas sila. I didn't move. Then I realized I'm not thinking of my works. I'm already thinking of her.

"Tara bro," Migs patted my shoulder. I followed them. Papangit lang ako pag inistress ko pa ang sarili ko.

Though she's worth overthinking for..

Paglabas ko, naghiwa-hiwalay na sila. Bigla nalang sila nawala sa paningin ko. I tried to follow Migs pero dumerecho din siya sa dance floor.

Wala ako sa mood kaya naupo nalang ako sa counter.

"Isa pa," someone said.

I looked at her. She looked dumped. Broken. Alone. Lasing na lasing na siya. Halos makatulog na siya sa counter eh. Pero inaangat niya yung ulo niya everytime na iinom siya.

"Miss, you're already drunk." i said. I might look like I'm concerned. I just pity this woman.

"You don't care, idiot." Bad mouth.

"Okay," i shrugged and took a sip of my rhum. Tss.

"Ganyan naman kayong mga lalaki. Wala kayong pakialam sa nararamdaman ng ibang tao. Basta makuha lang 'yung gusto niyo!" She shouted at me while pointing. I kept calm.

"I'm going to call Kaizer. Umuwi ka na, Celine." She slapped me.

"Don't you dare mention that asshole's name! At k-kaya ko nang umuwi mag-isa, like hell?" sigaw niya habang pagewang-gewang na naglakad.

What's with Kaizer? Akala ko ba sila?

Celine's really a stupid. She's a public person yet di niya pinangangalagaan ang personality niya.

I took a sip again and followed her through the crowd. Nakakaawa kasi, di ata makakaya ng konsensya ko pag may nangyari sa kanya. Kaibigan padin naman sya ni Frances.

"Bro!" suddenly, I heard Jin. He's with a lady. Ano pa nga ba? This lady's almost throwing her clothes off for Jin! What's with ladies now a days?

"San na chiks mo?" Sumisigaw na siya.

"Wala!" i said. Then i continued getting off the crowd.

Hinanap ko siya hanggang makalabas pero wala na. Nakauwi na siguro 'yun.

I went back and drank all night long.

--

VIELA.

It's been one day before my flight. Do I have to tell them.about this? Eh, gusto ko nga silang takasan. Iwasan.

"Viela!" someone called my name.

"Oh, Lance! What happened?" i asked. Buhat niya si kuya with one hand.

"Buti naman gising ka pa, 'tong kuya mo kasi. Masyadong madaming iniisip. Sige, alis na 'ko. Kukunin ko pa kotse ni Paul eh," He let Vince  Kawawa naman si Lance. Taga-sagot sa barkada niyang lasing.

"Sure, sure. Ingat, ah!" He nodded and went out.

I looked at Vince. Tulog na tulog.

I knocked on Manang's room pero mahimbing na din silang natutulog. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit gising pa 'ko sa oras na 'to eh.

Left with no choice, I supported him up to his room.

I left him on his bed, really really tired. And drunk.

I was about to leave when he held my hand.

"Hi lil' sis," he smiled like an idiot. He's really drunk.

I chuckled.

"Sleep," i commanded him and motioned to release my hand.

"Ah, dito ka lang sa *hik* tabi ko. Please." he smiled again. Like duh, creepy!

How ironic how he asked me to stay if I was about to leave tomorrow.

"Aalis na 'ko." i said.

Nagpapadyak siya ng paa at ginulo ang buhok niya. Tss, like a kid.

"Migs naman eh," like, what the hell?! "Migs! Gago ka talaga! Hindi ko masabi sa kapatid ko!" he's dreaming.

Masabi ang alin?

"Sabihin mo na!" I said. Assuming that I'm Migs.

"I really love you, Frances. Di talaga kita kapatid. Kaya pwede tayo. Ganon ba, ha? F*ck di ko kaya," akala ko magigising siya pero tumagilid lang siya ng position.

He released my hand and envelope him with his comforter.

I'm closing his door when I realized I was crying.