I knew you were trouble

Chapter Nine

The Club

Orion's

"Why would I tell you?"

Pauwi na kami ni Andy noon. We were in the car, she was eating Victoria's waffles and I was asking her about OCD people because I need to know more. To understand her more. I kissed her. I don't know why but I did and her reaction as priceless. Nanlalaki iyong mga mata niya habang pulampula ang pisngi niya. Hindi niya alam kung saan niya ibibiling ang ulo niya so, I had to cup her face. She stifled a little moan – a scared one. Bigla niyang pinalis ang mga kamay ko. Napalitan ng takot ang nasa mga mata niya and I wanted to comfort her but Andromeda started yelling at me, she wanted to go home kasi nag-text na daw si Pops. I was apologetic but Victoria clearly wanted me to go, and so I did.

"Because... I needed to understand her more. I don't want to offened her or anything."

"You cupped her face with your bare hands. She's probably offended now."

"Jeez! Nagtatanong ako ng maayos!"

"Sinasagot kita nang maayos!" Sigaw niya. Binatukan niya ako. "Violet has mild OCD. Maybe that's why Red understand her more than you do. Diba sabi mo sa akin pinabili mo siya ng condo dati? Imagine what wen through her thoughts right at that moment." Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela. "And then the pantry incident, oh yeah and she saw you doing that slut. I wondered what's going on in her---"

"Shut up!" I hissed at her.

"You were asking. I was only answering. Why are you even asking, Orion? To know her better? You kissed her. Spare her, Orion. She's already having a hard time. OCD is hard. It's like this, your own brain is lying to you. Alam mong ni-lock mo iyong pinto pero your brain keeps on telling you that you didn't so you check it again and again. It seems simple but it's way too complicated especially if she's experiencimg intrusive thoughts. Minsan sa sobrang upset nila they develop this psychological itch."

Napatingin ako kay Andy. I suddenly remembered that one time I took Victoria to the hospital because I thought she was having an allergic reaction.

"What? What? What?!" She asked me. Bigla akong nagpreno. Nasa tapat na kami ng bahay. Walang seatbelt si Andy kaya tumama iyong mukha niya sa dashboard. Bumaba na ako ng kotse. Sumunod siya.

Hindi ko alam kung anong maramramdaman ko. I shouldn't be upset.

"Orion, she's not crazy, she's highly functional. She just thinks and acts in a different way."

"I know." Papasok kami ng bahay noon. Bubuksan ko pa lang iyong pinto nang bumukas iyon.

"Sinong na-miss ninyo?!" Masayang – masayang sigaw ni Cassiopea. Hindi naman kami makahuma ni Andromeda dahil nag-iba ang hitsura ng kapatid namin. She got darker skin now, puro siya freckles at kulot na kulot ang buhok.

"Ano? Anim na buwan kang wala, anin na buwan ka ring walang ligo?" Nang-iinis na tanong ni Andy. Cassie made a face.

"Wala si Yvo, umalis daw sabi ni Mommy, kaya h'wag ninyo akong simulan. Iyong tainga ko for today ay naka-reserve lang sa sermon ni Pareng Yvo Jorge." Wika pa niya sabay talikod sa amin.

I got in too. But I wasn't really thinking about Cassie and her return. I was thinking of Victoria and how bad I treated her before. Hindi ako dapat ganoon sa kanya, I even bullied her and asked her to clean my house -na kahit hindi naman nakaka-bother sa kanya ay nakakahiya pa rin.

I am such an asshole.

Habang paakyat ako sa silid ko ay nag-vibrate ang phone ko. Si Red iyon at pinaalala ang flight namin sa susunod na araw. Bukas ay pupunta kami ng CLPH para doon na kami lilipad papuntang Singapore. Hindi pa rin kasi naiaalis sa runway ng NAIA iyong eroplanong sumadasad, so, we asked Kairos to give us the signal to fly in CLPH tp Singapore.