Married to be Fooled

Pang-Limangpu't Tatlo

IT'S ALMOST past twelve midnight but i'm still wide awake, gawking dumbly at my rooms dark blue walls. this stupid Soul decided to call suddenly, at midnight. the air breeze is really cold now. It's been weeks and December already invaded the year, presence of Christmas lingering all around the place.

" isn't it ironic? " i shifted my gaze from my rooms wall onto the screen, to Soul. ironic?

" what's ironic? " i asked, brows furrowed. what is this kaluluwa talking about?

" your situation. remember? you were the one who kept on reminding me not to fall in love with lime, because she's chazekio'd wife, but here you are, babbling about how you're fucked up looking for lime all over Solomon Heights. isn't it ironic? " Soul stated while grinning widely. I would like to know how can i punch his face through this laptop's screen

" fuck you " i hissed but he just laughed heartily. i really wanna strangle him if i can

" but kidding aside, have you found Lime? it's been a week since she went missing, or hiding perhaps. don't you think she's avoiding all of you because of what happened? " seryosong tanong nya kaya nahulog ako sa malalim na isipin. tama naman s'ya. sa lahat ng nangyari sa pagitan ni Lime at Chazekio, hindi malabong iwasan nya kami o umalis s'ya ng Solomon Heights.

" Flaus, Lime's physically and mostly, emotionally weak as she got no emotional support. maybe her friends got her back but you can't really depend on that. none of us knows what's really happening to her because she won't bother anyone just to reach for help she needs. maybe you should give her the space she needs, after all you're part of that stupid bet. accept it or not, you're part of Lime's misery so give her the space she wants. plus the fact that she's still Chazekio's wife " tinitigan ko ng maigi ang screen ng laptop ko, hindi ko na alam. I just want to know how's she doing, if she's fine, or if she's still doing that to herself again

" they're not legally married, their marriage isn't registered so Lime's still a Suarez, not a Nishikido "

" and so? that gives you the right to meddle with them? to affiliate your feelings with Lime? given the fact that their marriage is not registered, you're still not allowed to let your feelings get into you. they're maybe not registered, but still they vowed inside a church, infront of their parents and mostly infront of God. you're the one who told me, don't let your feelings get into you because in the eyes of people, they're still married. Do you think this will only affect Chazekio? of course not! Lime will be the one who'll suffer, they'll judge her despite knowing anything so you better make your decisions wisely " he preached and i just heaved another sigh. fuck

---

" 3...2...1! Happy birthday tita! " masayang sigaw ni Maddie at Vanna kasunod ng pagputok nung dalawang confetti na hawak nila. ngumiti ako saka naupo, hinawi ko yung mga confetti at dahon

" Happy birthday, Mama " nakangiting bati ko, umupo sa tabi ko yung dalawa saka muling bumati. 24th December, birthday ni mama.

" Lime, Vanna at Maddie kumain na kayo dito " tawag ni papa kaya lumingon ako, ngumiti ako ulit saka pinagpag yung dress ko. sabay sabay kaming lumapit sa lamesang nilatag namin kanina saka naupo. first birthday celebration para sa birthday ni mama at masaya akong kasama ko si papa na icelebrate 'to.

Since last week ay naging busy si papa, hindi dahil sa paperworks nya pero dahil sa pagba-bonding namin. Bago mag-December ay kinausap ako ni Papa, humingi s'ya ng pasensya dahil masyado s'yang nagpaka-busy sa trabaho nung namatay si mama at maraming bagay s'yang hindi nagawa para sakin. wala namang problema dun, ngayon mas naiintindihan ko na si Papa. mas naiintindihan ko na kung anong naramdaman nya nung biglang nawala sakanya si Mama dahil sakin kaya wala akong karapatang magtanim ng galit laban sakanya. ang isa't-isa na lang ang meron kami kaya kami na lang ang magtutulungan. kaya naman simula nung pumasok ang December ay bumawi si papa at nagbonding kami, kasama namin si Maddie at Vanna na bumisita sa iba't-ibang lugar na malapit sa Solomon Heights, nagbeach din kami last week at ngayon nga ay nandito kami sa Harmony Hill's, burol kung saan nakalibing si Mama at nagse-celebrate ng Christmas eve at birthday ni Mama.