Tenebrous Affection

Chapter Ten

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Tenebrous Affection
Chapter Ten (Revelation)

"Tito," kinawayan ni Ayumi ang lalaking kumupkop sa kanya mula nang mamatay ang mga taong mahal niya sa buhay- her parents and Avan, of course.

She knew he was hiding something from her. He was her mother's little brother. They were closed to each other kaya siya lang ang alam niyang madalas pagsabihan ng sikreto ng mama niya.

Lumapit ito at hinagkan ang dalaga sa pisngi, "Anastasia," he gave her a sweet smile. Aya held the hand of her uncle saka nagmano bago tumungo sa pina-reserve nilang table.

"How have you been lately?" Her Tito asked. Maaliwalas ang mukha niya, pero mapapanatilian kaya niya yan hanggang mamaya? She doubt it.

She drew a sly smile, "ayos naman po, Tito. Xyren's taking care of me." It's true, though nasaktan niya ito noong isang araw.

"Good, naku kung hindi, kukunin ko kayo sa kanya," He joked, then laughed.

Sa totoo lang, ayaw na niyang magpaligoy-ligoy pa. Nangangapa na siya tungkol sa naging buhay niya dati.

She opened her mouth and pushed herself to talk, "Tito, about my past..."

Her Uncle, Draven, desisted from smiling. Tama ang hinala niya na may itinatago ito.

Kinalma nito ang sarili upang hindi masigawan ang Tito niya. "You just can't keep it from me, Tito. So tell me, who is Xyren in my life? Bakit ganyan ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya tuwing kaharap ko siya?" Ayumi asked almost crying.

He heaved a sigh before he spoke. Tumingin ito nang diretso sa mga mata niya.

"You and Xyren knew each other since elementary. You were both in love to each other, but your dad, he doesn't like him... at first," he stated.

She listened and did not utter any word. Ayaw niyang putulin ang kung ano mang sinasabi ng tito niya. Mamaya na ang mga tanong.

"Tinanggap siya ng ama mo ng buong-buo. But Xyren, he broke his promised to your dad. Something happened between the two of you. Maayos siyang kinausap ng daddy mo, na luluwas ka muna ng bansa para doon ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral mo. Hindi siya nakinig," pagpapatuloy nito.

The dream that she had last time, it was true. Bukod pa do'n, Xyren was her first at hindi si Avan! Kinalma niya ang sarili at nakinig ulit.

"Your dad was fuming mad that time, ipinaghiwalay niya kayo. Syempre, hindi kayo pumayag. Ayaw niyong mahiwalay sa isa't-isa kaya naman binalak mong tumakas sa bahay niyo. Then that next thing I knew was that, you were in a motorcycle accident. Tatlong buwan kang tulog no'n, Anastasia." Tears escaped from her uncle's eyes. "Mas lalong nagalit ang ama mo kay Xyren, kaya inilayo ka ng ama mo sa kanya. After three months, you woke up without remembering anything. Avan came, then it all happened," pagtatapos nito.

Isa-isang naglabasan ang mga luha ni Aya. Maging ang kanyang Tito ay hindi maiwasang maging emosyonal. Marahil nakokonsensya ito sa pagtago ng katotohanan.

All this time, kilala na pala niya si Xyren. That's why he kept saying na iiwan naman siya nito. Kaya rin pala kakaiba ang pakikitungo niya sa kanya.

"That was five years ago, right?" Tanong niya sa kanyang Tito.

He averted his gaze somewhere, "yes."

Ang tagal na pala nila siyang niloloko. Was she mad? Yes, pero wala naman din siyang magagawa kasi patay na ang mga magulang niya. Hindi na niya sila masusumbatan. Besides, hindi na rin mapapalitan ang past.