That One Mistake

Chapter 26: Truth be Told

"DO YOU LIKE ME?"

Sabay naming tanong sa isa't-isa.

"Yes, oo gusto kita, Winey."

"What a joke." Sagot ko sa sinabi nya. If he thinks he could fool me, then he's wrong. "Wag mo kong paglaruan. I have no time for this. Iuwi mo na ako."

"Not until you tell me the truth about what is going on." He took my seatbelt off and turned my body to face him. "Tell me everything."

Habang tinitingnan sya, isa lang ang nasisiguro ko. He knew already.

"Bakit ka pa nagtatanong eh mukhang alam mo naman." Sagot ko sa kanya.

"I want to hear it from you."

"Jeez mapapagastos pa ako ng boses--" muli akong natahimik nang maalala si dad. Jeserr already made sure Igon and his own family are safe, but what about daddy? If ever I tell him about everything, I wanted to make sure no one from my loved ones will get hurt. "I'll tell you if you make sure daddy is safe."

"He is safe. His secretary is a skilled man. He has been protecting your dad."

"Sigurado ka?"

"Yeah. Now, spill."

Humugot ako ng lakas ng loob at nagsimulang magkwento tungkol sa lahat-lahat.

"It started when Rectine came to me that day. She's pregnant with another man's baby. Gusto nyang pansamantalang lumayo. She asked me to get near you dahil ayaw nyang mapunta ka sa iba. I declined, but she got me cornered when she mentioned that she knew about what happened between us."

Jeserr didn't say anything nor reacted in any way. All he did was to listen.

"Then I found out about the real deal. Evory took me somewhere and explained what is rellly going on. Tinakot nya ako. He said he would harm my dad if I tell you the truth. Sya rin ang may pakana ng nangyari sa kay Igon. The threats that were coming to me-- lahat ng iyon mula kay Evory. He knew .." nagdadalawang-isip ako kung itutuloy ko pa pero bahala na, "he knew I lready liked you kaya sya nagpapadala ng pananakot. I don't want to lie about things like these. Alam mong ayoko ring nagsisinungaling pero dahil malalapit sa puso ko ang nadadamay, wala akong ibang choice kundi ang sundin si Evory. Mas malakas sya kesa sa akin."

"But I am more powerful than that man, Winey."

"Alam ko. Alam kong mas makapangyarihan ka pero we hate each other, Jeserr. Remember that night I asked you if you could protect my dad? Naalala mo ba ang sagot mo sakin?"

He looked like he couldn't remember it kaya ako na ang sumagot.

"You said you already have so much problems, ama ko, bakit ikaw ang magpoprotekta? If only you said you would, siguro di na tayo umabot sa ganito."

"That was just me being an ass to you. I know I said that, but I did it. That night, I called someone from States and had your dad protected."

"Really?"

Tumango ito. Napangiti ako pero agad ring nawala.

"Hindi mo sinabi. Iba ang pinakita mo kaya hindi mo ko masisisi kung bakit nilihim ko ang lahat."

"Don't worry. That fucking guy will pay."

"Evory won't let me get away from this, Jeserr. I don't mind if he attacks me. Ang inaalala ko ay sina dad at Igon."

"No one's gonna touch your family. They are all protected. With you," hinawakan nya ang kamay ko. "I just told you I like you, didn't I?"

My heart skipped a beat.