Unreachable Zacharius

24

Chapter 24

I didn't know how to react. Ilang segundong nakatitig sa akin si Tita. She broke down into tears. Lumipat ang tingin ko kay Zach. He groaned and joined his mother. I looked at him through my blurry eyes, my heart pounding so hard. Malungkot at frustrated dahil pakiramdam ko kasalanan ko.

Tita sobbed histerically. I felt a hollow space on my chest. Kasalanan bang mapagod at sumuko? Kasalanan bang kumawala sa pag-ibig na hindi naman kayang suklian?

"Tita, i'm sorry..." sabi ko at dinaluhan na rin siya.

I want to comfort her. I want to tell her that it's okay. Alam kong mahirap rin ito para sa kaniya. Ngunit bago ko pa siya mahawakan ay marahas niyang hinawi ang kamay ni Zach.

"Kanina lang maayos kayo! I don't know what's happening with you two! Ayoko ng ganito!" she cried.

Mas lalong bumigat ang nararamdaman ko. Malapit na akong bumigay at gusto kong sabayan na rin ang kaniyang iyak. I am tired. Physically and emotionally.

"Tita, please," pumikit ako ng mariin.

I stared at her miserably. Bago pa ako makalapit ay kumawala na siya sa hawak ni Zach. Umatras siya at nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa aming dalawa. Huminto ang mga mata niya sa anak.

"I didn't hear any complaints from you when we announced the engagement. It was for the benefit of both our companies and to strengthen our family's relationship with the Austrias, but I never heard any complaints from you, Zach! You were always silent!" Tita yelled.

"That's because you never listen." Zach retorted coldly.

"Dahil inilalayo mo ang sarili mo sa amin ng papa mo! Since you came back from America, you distanced yourself from us! Kinalimutan mong may mga magulang kang nangungulila sa iyo dito! Since you came back, I felt like you were always away! Kung hindi pa dahil sa kompanya ay hindi mo kami babalikan rito, hindi ba?"

"That's already so fucking long overdue—"

"Your stay in America changed you so much. Your grandpa said you wanted to move out early so they bought you a condo and let you be on your own. They thought you independence at an early age," Tita shook her head and smiled bitterly. "but that independence brought your heart away from your family, Zach."

I didn't expect to hear that from her. Maang akong napatitig kay tita. Zach took a step closer towards her. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin. His jaw clenched repeatedly.

"Stop it. Stop bringing that one up." There was danger on his voice, but Tita doesn't seemed to not mind it. She wasn't fazed.

"Why not? Noong bumalik ka, imbes na mapunan ang pangungulila namin ng iyong papa, mas lalo pang tumindi! If you weren't to inherit the business, baka kinalimutan mo ng may magulang ka at nagpatuloy ka sa pagrerebelde mo sa America! At alam kong nagpapabalik-balik ka sa ibang bansa habang kasal ka kay Amber! Who were you visiting there, huh?" She reprimanded.

Suminghap ako. It felt like my heart got stabbed million times. Unti-unting rumagasa ang mga bagay na pilit kong inaalis sa aking isipan.

"This is not about that. This is about my getting annulled with Amber." He spat mercilessly.

Isang pinong kurot sa dibdib ang nagpabalik sa akin sa pagkakatulala. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin, kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi, at humugot ng malalim na hininga.

This is us getting annulled. How could he utter those words so easily?

"Oh, yes! You two would surely separate because you are complicated!" si Tita.