The Lips Of Red (A Girl Cursed Into A Gay)

21

Chapter 21 : Butas

I will never give up. They can call me a desperate frog and all those offensive terms but I don't care! I hold the truth! And I will stand up with that truth!

"How many times should I tell you not to call my son again! You evil spirit!" it was Cain's mom over the phone. But it is not enough for me to give up. I will never give up.

I press the call button again. This time, it is Genesis, his brother.

"Huwag mo nang guluhin ang buhay ni kuya! Kayong mga masasamang nilalang dapat matakot kayo sa Diyos!"

Ibinaba ko na ang phone ko na may luha sa aking mga mata. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko pa ba to, pero gusto ko paring magpatuloy.

"Sabing uuwi na tayong Manila, Jarred! Tulungan mo akong mag-impake dito! Sirang-sira na ang pangalan mo dito! Dapat kumilos ka na!" mom's been so stressed since that very day in school when the audio recording was heard. It was like a hell for her, well, for me too!

That Mary? I will never forgive her! What she did is just so beyond what is evil! What she did damaged my reputation and I guess it is so damaged enough to be sewn again into a clean and good one!

Now the Jarred that was just once begging for love and respect, is now drowning with ridicule and criticism! And no one dared to swim with me, but my mom.

"Ayokong umuwi sa Manila mommy! Alam mo naman kung ano tayo don diba? At tsaka ayaw kong umalis dito sa Samar ng hindi nalilinis ang sarili kong dumi! Diba—"

"Sige hindi sa Manila!" she said while packing my clothes, "Don tayo sa Siquijor!"

What? I can't believe her! I just don't want to run away from my problems! I wanna face them!

"Sabing ayoko mom! Gusto kong i-explain lahat ng ito ni Cain! Gusto kong maintindihan niya ang lahat ng to!" kinuha ko ang mga damit ko mula sa bagpack at ibinalik sa cabinet kaya mas lalong uminit ang ulo ni mommy, "Dahil alam kong hindi ko siya ginayuma mom!"

Ibinagsak ni mommy ang bagpack ng malakas sa kama na siyang ikinagulat ko. Itinuro niya ako, ang mga mata niya'y kumikislap ng galit.

"Hindi mo siya ginayuma? Paano ako maniniwala sayo huh?"

"Dahil hindi ko na uulitin kung sino ako sa nakaraan! Nagbago na ako—"

"Nagbago?" sarkastikong tumawa si mommy, "Nagbago mukamo? Anong tawag mo don sa pagpunta mo sa Biringan? Anong tawag mo dun sa pakikipag-usap mo sa dewendi? Pagbabago ba tawag don? Ilang ulit na kitang pinagsabihan pero matigas ang ulo mo!"

What? No! It's different! I'm sure that the queen had already explained it to her!

"Iba naman yun mom! Iba yun kasi—"

"Kilala kita Jarred!" malakas niyang sigaw sabay sara ng cabinet, "Simula nong nasa Maynila ka pa wala ka ng kwentang bata! Palagi mo nalang pinapahiya ang sarili mo! Ngayon tingnan mo ang sarili mo kung ano ka?"

What she said is like a dagger slicing my heart, causing another pool of tears running down my cheeks. Didn't know that the only person I thought would be with me during this time of my life is going to be the one who will rain me with insults.

"Sige!" I also raise my voice, "Huwag kang maniwala mom, hindi naman kita pinipilit eh. Truth prevails." hindi parin nagbago ang reaksiyon ng mukha niya, "Akala ko nga sa mga panahong ito ikaw lang ang maaasahan ko eh," pumiyok ang boses ko, "Na karamay kita, pero pota!"

"Ayusin mo iyang pananalita mo!" akala ko matutunaw ko siya pero hindi pala.

I glared at her. I know I became a monster to her right now, but I don't care! The hell I care!