My Heart's Vengeance

Chapter 2

Pinanood niya ang pagsikat ng araw mula sa terrace ng kanyang silid.

That was another sleepless night. Lagi itong nangyayari sa kanya nitong nakaraan.

She heard her phone ring.

“Hey.”

“You didn’t sleep again?” tanong ng nasa kabilang linya.

“Ba’t ka napatawag?” Narinig niya naman ang pagtawa nito sa kabilang linya.

“I missed you, Caitlyn.” Paglalambing nito. “Oh please, Zachary. Drop the sh*t and tell me what do you want.” Pagtataray niya. Humalakhak ito and cleared his throat. “That’s the sh*t, Caitlyn. I missed you… so much. Kung hindi pa siguro ako tumawag, you’ll never talk to me. I swear, lilipad ako agad ng Pilipinas pag nalaman kong you’re dating someone.” Pagbabanta nito.

“Can you stop being too clingy? Kadarating ko lang kahapon, paano mo naisip na nakikipag date ako? The eff, Zacharias. Stop acting so jealous.” Iritang sabi niya.

“Ouch! That was too offensive, Young Lady. When did I changed my name into ‘Zacharias’?” umakto pa itong nasasaktan to lessen her irritation. Napangiti siya sa humor nito. He could be as boring as a brick pero ito lang ang nakakaalam kung gaano siya natutuwa when he pull up some corny jokes. Ewan niya ba, kahit hindi naman nakakatawa eh natatawa siya rito. Maybe because she’s used to him.

“Oh siya.. siya.. Alam ko nama ang gusto mong marinig. I missed you too, Zach.”                She heard him sighed with relief.  “Oh paano, I just checked on you. Call you later at may meeting pa ako. I love you!” sabi nito. She ended the call, hindi niya kailangang sagutin ang ‘I love you’ nito. Sa totoo lang, hindi niya alam kung ano ba ang nararamdaman niya para dito. Not until she figure out what she was in the past. Until she finds out the questions in her mind. He’s her bestfriend like forever. At ayaw niyang masira ang relasyong iyon dahil sa pagmamahal na hindi niya alam kung meron man. She loves him more than a friend but not as a lover.

Naalala niya pa noon, ayaw sa kanya ni Zach. He was always irritated to her, he was 12 and she’s 10.

Nasa Kyushu sila noon nang nakilala niya ito. They were the only Filipino neighbors she had kaya naman ay lagi niya itong kinukulit. Hindi pa siya marunong ng nihonggo noon.

Pinagpapawisan at kinakabahan si Zachary pero ayaw nyang ipahalata ito sa kanyang Mama.

He tried to keep a brave face kahit alam nyang halos umatras ang sikmura nya sa gagawin. Nakaupo lang siya habang kausap ng kanyang Mama ang doctor na tutuli sa kanya.

 

‘Lalaki siya, at walang lalaking duwag’ naisip nya.

He would undergo circumcision at the age of twelve.

Dahil tampulan ng tukso sa eskwelahan ang mga batang lalaki na hindi pa nagpapatuli, minabuti nyang gawin ito.

 

He was nervous… Very very nervous.

But he had to be brave dahil ganoon daw ang mga lalaki, hindi natatakot at kahit ano raw ay kayang harapin. “Zaaaaach!” napaitlag siya sa sumigaw ng pangalan niya. Napakunot ang noo nya ng mamukhaan ang batang sumigaw. “What are you doing here?!” Naiinis siya. Of all places, dito pa nito napiling mang asar. Not literally, pero naaasar siya sa batang babae. She was so consistent making friends with him pero ayaw niyang mapalapit sa batang ito. She looks so sweet and angelic and nice but he’s a jerk. Hindi niya ikinakaila iyon, at ayaw niyang masaktan ito ng hindi niya sinasadya dahil sa kag*guhan niya.