Caressing My Perplexed Stella [HS #3]

CHAPTER 18

"How much do you trust that journalist?" Aster asked, kumunot ang noo ko at nanatiling nakatingin sa kanya. "Sapat na ba ang sinabi niya? Paano kapag patibong lang iyon? Na hindi naman pala lumapit sa kanya." I nodded as I looked at Dad, I get his point.

"Kami na lang ang mag-uusap usap tungkol diyan. There are things you wouldn't understand no matter how much we explain it to you. In any form, the only solution on this is to tell the public about Dale before they do. Hindi nila magagamit sa akin iyon kung ako mismo ang magsasabi..."

Minasahe ko ang sentido at humikab, this talk is making me lose my sanity. Gusto ko na lang mabaliw. With all of these problems, at this young age, sana pala ay nagpaiwan na lang ako sa France last December. Baka sakaling natakasan ko pa, but I know that it is impossible.

"Tungkol bukas," Pauna ni Mommy, halatang iniiba na ang usapan. I should thank her, I don't want to continue anymore. "I think for some reasons, if he greeted us, let's be nice. Lalo na ikaw, Aster."

"Alam na ng pamilya ni George ang relasyon niyo?" For the first time since we settled in the living room, Mama spoke. I rest my back at the sofa and laugh a little.

"I don't even know, I haven't meet them. On the other hand, George is clueless that you all know."

"Do you think your boyfriend knows this? He is young, he can be a push-over." Singit ni Papa.

"No one knows, Papa. Maybe he is clueless or maybe he isn't. Maybe he's using me, or maybe he is used by someone else. No one exactly knows, no one will ever know unless he denied or be honest with me."

Sa puntong iyon, sigurado na ako na kahit ayaw kong pagdudahan ang mayroon kami ni George, alam kong may pagdududa sa aking puso. My love for him is now covered with reasonable doubt, and how I view what we have is not the same as before. It gives me a chilling thought, why did he court me in the first place? Is he really a push-over?

We dine together in the dining area, after eating, we call it a night. I went straight to my room after saying goodnight to Mama and Papa. Habang naglalagay ako ng moisturizer sa mukha ay narinig ko ang pagtunog ng aking cellphone mula sa bag.

Tumayo ako at kinuha iyon, the caller is George. Sinagot ko iyon at itinapat sa tainga ang phone.

"Hello?"

[Dale...] I cleared my throat, umupo ako sa kama at nanatiling tahimik. [Have you eaten?] His voice sounds so tired, but still, fighting.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago sumagot.

"Katatapos lang. Ikaw?"

[Pauwi na ako...]

"What? It's been almost two hours since I left, George. Nasaan ka?" Nakarinig ako ng ilang busina sa background. "Where are you?" I asked again after the long silence between us.

[Naglalakad pa lang, wala akong makitang taxi o tricycle. But I can manage, papunta na raw ang sundo ko.] Napapikit ako at yumuko na lang, parang pinupukpok ang ulo ko dahil sa mga nangyayari.

"You should've contact them earlier, what is happening to you?" Hindi ko maitago ang pagkadismaya at awa sa aking boses, tila ba binibiyak din ang puso ko.

[I'm sorry, you're right. Patulog ka na ba? You should sleep early, okay?]

"Are you alright?" I asked. I already know the answer, the fact that I know that he isn't fine is breaking me.

[Yes, I'm fine... You should sleep now. I love you?] May pagtatanong ang tono niya, kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi at suminghap.

"Hmm, I'll see you tomorrow."