It's Cruel To Be Fooled

Kabanata 2

Pay

After the awful and horrendous scenario, the two of us are dealing with the consequence right now.

We've been sent to a small office, probably in their manager's to wait at pag-uusapan ang dapat naming gawin bilang kabayaran sa damages na nagawa naming dalawa.

They will also, accordingly, interrogate us for what happened and might as well ask me why did I do that. And I don't know what to say, actually. Like what? Sasabihin kong ang dahilan kung bakit 'to nangyari ay dahil sa partikular na libro lamang na may malalaswang ano na s'yang ikinagalit ko? Sasabihing sinabihan ako ng 'malibog' kaya ko siya naitulak ng ganon? No. I won't. Mamaya makarating pa 'to kay Mama at kung ano pa ang isipin noon sa dinahilan ko.

Pero pa'no kung iyon nga ang idadahilan ko?

I suddenly shook my head in disbelief, not wanting it to happen as well. I started to imagine Mama eyeing me tomorrow, maaalarma at mandidiri. Sasabihang pinalaki naman nila ako ng maayos pero bakit ako gumagawa ng mga bagay na hindi naman kaaya-aya at marapat sa mga menor na gaya ko?

I couldn't imagine myself arguing with her and rolling my eyes at my sister who's cringing at me. Ugh! So weird if it happens! Hindi sa nagmamalinis ako -malinis naman talaga ako ah?

I'm new you know? Okay, not that new but hmm... matagal-tagal na rin. Shit! What?! I almost choke at that thought.

This is Jam's fault! Kasalanan n'ya talaga ito!

I calmed myself a bit.

Okay. I know that I'm kinda overreacting already but I cannot help it though. Ang pangit kayang pakinggan na nasangkot ako sa ganito dahil sa bastos na libro! At ang weird naman yata kung ito ang dahilan kung bakit papangit ang pakikitungo nina Mama saakin. Baka mamaya hihigpitan na ako, pagagalitan pa.

I would feel very bad if that happens.

Kaya mamaya pagdating ng mga tauhan dito at pag tatanungin na ako, hindi ako aamin. I'm gonna spread lies or keep my mouth shut for the sake of my privacy and good state.

I sighed deeply, closed my eyes and softly bit my lower lip. Nag-isip pa ako saglit kung paano ko babayaran ang nasira namin dito. Tsk, isa pa pala ito sa problema ko ngayon. Malaki-laki siguro babayaran namin since maraming shelves ang natumba.

Sumulyap ako saglit sa glass na pintuan, mula roon ay kita ko ang maliit na parte ng store.

I saw some men picking up the books that were scattered on the floor. They are cleaning up the mess we've made. Ang ibang shelves ay nakatindig na ulit sa dating pwesto, siguro walang damage roon. Ang ibang shelves naman ay nasa malayong gilid na, siguro nasira ngang talaga.

I looked away and shifted heavily on my chair. Nang nakaayos ay napako naman ang tingin ko sa lalaking naka-upo ng tahimik sa harapan ko. He's staring right back at me. Nakalimutan kong nandito rin pala s'ya.

Hindi siya nag-iwas ng tingin, which is I do the same too. Nagpalitan kami ng titig. Ewan ko kung bakit ko ito ginagawa pero may kung ano sa mga mata niyang nagpapahiwatig.

But before I could conclude something, he started to speak.

"Uhmm," he paused. "You know what..." he looked away for a second pero nagbalik rin ang tingin.

Tinitigan ko lang siya habang nagsasalita. Sa ginagawa ko ngayon ay mas napansin ko ang kabuuan ng mukha niya. I literally examined all his features in his face. From his straight dark thick brows, to his pointed long nose down to his red soft lips. I also eyed his jawbone, it's clenching, I don't know why. Then the shape of his face and his chin, it's perfect I guess.