Unwritten (Summer Of Taking Chances Sequel)

Avoidance

11

DOMINIQUE

Napabuntong- hininga na lamang si Dominique nang i-text sya ni Mary na umalis na si Pris. Hindi sya lumabas ng kwarto nang dumating ito para kausapin sya. She'd been avoiding Pris for three weeks. Ayaw nya itong makausap dahil hanggang ngayon nalilito pa rin sya sa nalaman. Hindi nya alam kung paano ito haharapin. Hindi nya malaman kung anong dapat gawin.

The first thing she did when she got home from Tagaytay was confront her family. To her disbelief, her own father confirmed that Pris was telling the truth. She locked herself in her room after that and never talked about it.

"Sinabi ko sa kanyang masama ang pakiramdam mo," bungad ni Mary sa kanya nang makita syang pumasok sa kitchen. Kasalukuyan itong kumakain ng breakfast. Dito pinatulog ni Dominque ang pinsan kagabi dahil wala syang kasama.

Nag-out of the country ang parents nya for a business trip at sa sariling condo nito tumutuloy ang kuya nya. Napapansin ni Dominique na agitated ang mga ito lately. Sigurado syang it's business related pero hindi sa kanya nagsasabi ang mga ito. Marahil ayaw sya ng mga itong mag-alala pa. She wanted them to tell her what's happening but she's already agitated with her own predicament. She hoped it wasn't serious.

Umupo si Dominique paharap sa pinsan. "Coffee?" Tanong ni Mary.

Tumango si Dominique. Ipinagsalin syanito ng black coffee sa cup saka inabot sa kanya. "Thanks."

Tahimik sila nitong kumain. Kanina pa sya tinatapunan nang nananatiyang tingin ni Mary. Tila may gusto itong sabihin.

"Do you think it was serious?" Dominique asked quietly. Mary looked at her with questioning eyes. "My..." Dominique closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "My...relationship with Pris, I mean. Was it serious?" She managed to say.

May looked at her sympathetically. Alam nitong nalilito sya sa nalaman. At naa-appreciate nyang hindi sya nito kinukulit tungkol dito. "Yes."

"Paano mo nasabi yun?" Dominique asked. "Hindi ba sya rebound ko lang? Do you think I did it because Marcus hurt me so much?"

"You were so in love with her. I saw the way you look at Pris," Mary explained. "Ikaw mismo ang nagsabi sa akin noon, na hindi mo sya rebound. Nakita ko kung gaano ka kasaya sa kanya. Kung gaano mo sya kamahal. Pinigilan mo ang sarili mong mahalin sya but your love for her was too strong that you even came out to your parents. Handa kang ipaglaban sya."

Napailing si Dominique at gustong iwaksi ang mga narinig. She was hoping her cousin would tell her it was just a fling. That she was just experimenting. Marahang hinawakan ni Mary ang mga kamay nya.

"Alam kong hindi yan ang gusto mong marinig pero yan ang totoo, cousin. Tinamaan ka talaga sa babaing yun," madiing sabi ni Mary nang makita nito ang pagtanggi sa mukha ni Dominique. Binitawan na nito ang kamay nya at sumubo ng crispy bacon. "Totoong minahal mo sya. Kung hindi ka pa rin naniniwala, bakit hindi mo basahin ang diary mo? Para makuha mo mismo sa sarili mo ang confirmation."

"I still don't know the combination." She tried every possible relevant number combination she could think of last night to open her safety deposit box.

"Try mo kaya birthday ni Pris or anniversary date nyo," suhestiyon ni Mary. Natigilan si Dominique at hindi makatingin sa pinsan. Her cousin looked at her knowingly. "Unless, naisip mo na yun kaso natatakot ka lang sa katotohanan." Hindi sumagot si Dominique. "Hindi kita minamadali. Naiintindihan ko na hindi mo sya maalala. Na hindi mo inaasahan ito, but you have to face it eventually. Kailangan mong harapin si Pris."