Love, Lies, and Regrets (HOP Series #7)

Chapter 4.

Date Published: June 25, 2020

CHAPTER 4.

CHAIN'S POV

Break time na at nandito ako sa rooftop at nakatambay. Naka-upo ako sa upuan na nandoon habang nakain mag-isa.

Wala kasi si Pain at nasa student council office dahil may tinatapos na kung ano. Sabi niya hindi naman daw niya ako kailangan kaya nandito ako ngayon.

Sila Ash at Shiro naman ay meeting sa basketball team nila. Napapikit ako ng mga mata at dinamdam ang hangin.

When I'm doing this before, I was with mom and Rider. I miss everything about them, to be honest.

I just don't have the guts to go to their company and beg mom to go home and stay with me there.

Since I was a kid, I'm more fond of mom than dad. Si dad kasi nakakatakot at parang mahirap lapitan but mom isn't.

Laging nakangiti si mom at malumanay siyang tumingin sa'kin while dad masyado siyang masungit at mukhang laging galit sa mundo.

It's hard to approach him most especially that he has that stern look at his face. Kinakausap naman niya ko no'ng umuuwi pa sila ni mom but at the end, tumatakbo lang ako papunta kay mom.

Napamulat ako ng mga mata nang narinig kong may yabag ng paa na mula sa likod ko. Agad akong lumingon sa direksyon na 'yon at nakita ko si Margarette.

"Yes? What do you want?" I asked her coldly. This is like a mask of mine to hide the real me away from everyone.

I'm hiding the broken me para hindi ako kaawaan ng lahat except Pain, Ash, and Shiro dahil sila lang naman ang nakaka-alam ng lahat.

"P-pwedeng tumabi sa'yo?" Nakita kong nahihiya siya. I sighed. Hindi ko siya pinansin at pinagpatuloy lang kainin 'yong tinapay na ginawa ng katulong namin kanina.

I miss my mom. I miss her foods and dishes. Nami-miss ko 'yung mga sandwiches na ginagawa niya para sa'kin sa tuwing pumapasok ako.

"You want?" Napatingin ako kay Margarette nang inabutan niya ko ng burger. Tinignan ko lang 'yon.

"Ayaw mo ba? Okay. Next time gawan na lang kita ng sandwich." Nakangiting saad niya at kinain na niya 'yong inaalok niyang burger sa'kin.

Napa-iling na lang ako at hindi na siya pinansin ulit. Kinuha ko 'yong phone ko mula sa bulsa nang naramdaman kong nag-vibrate 'yon.

Agad akong napabuntong hininga nang nabasa ko 'yong text ni mom sa'kin. Napahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa phone ko.

From: Mom
I'm so sorry, Zero. Hindi ako makaka-uwi mamaya dahil sa busy kami ng daddy mo sa trabaho.

Gusto ko sanang mag-reply at magalit pero hinayaan ko na lang. Maybe, they're just really doing this for us.

Baka ginagawa lang nila 'to kasi mahal nila kami ni Pain dahil anak nila kami pero ang hirap pa rin.

Ang hirap hindi ma-disappoint at hindi masaktan sa tuwing ganito sila mas lalo na si mom.

I want my mom's attention only to me and no one or nothing else. Gusto kong akin lang ang atensyon niya dahil doon ako nagiging komportable.

"Zero, pwedeng makipag-friends sa'yo? Matagal ko na kasing gusto na maging friend ka eh." Saad ni Margarette.

"If you're willing to be shouted at then be my guest. Naninigaw ako sa tuwing wala ako sa mood." I answered her.

"Seriously?" Napalunok siya. "Seriously. I'm not joking." Sagot ko. "Why do you think, I don't have friends except my borther, Ash, and Shiro?" I asked.

"Because you're not friendly? And there are rumors that you having sex with random girls." Sagot niya.

"And also, masyado kang tahimik at sulat lang ng sulat." Dugtong niya pa sa'kin at napahinga ako ng malalim.

"If you already know that, then bakit? Bakit gusto mo pa ring makipag-kaibigan sa'kin?" Tanong ko.

"Kasi I can feel that pwede naman. I mean, I still believe that there's something in you na mabait ka naman. Sadiyang nami-misinterpret ka lang." Sagot niya.

"If you really want to see the real me then be my guest. Just don't annoy me or else makakatikim ka sa'kin." Paalala ko at inubos ko na 'yong tinapay.

~~~~

Nasa klase ako ngayon at hindi nakikinig sa professor. Alam ko na rin naman 'yong tinuturo niya sa harap eh.

"Okay. Let's group ourselves into three. I'll be the one who's going to assign you." Sabi ni ma'am at hawak na niya ang class record niya.

Nagsimula na siyang mag-assign at pinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagsu-sulat ko sa pwest ko.

~~~~

"Mike Pain Arcana, Shiro Yamamoto and Ash Mendrez will be in the same group." Rinig kong anunsyo ni ma'am.

"Last, Zero Chain Arcana, Margarette and Mandy Arasancha." Agad akong napatigil sa pagsusulat dahil do'n.

Seriously? Seryoso talaga siya dito? Seryoso talaga 'tong professor namin ngayon sa ginawa niyang grupo?

"Meet up with your groupmates now to plan for your project." Utos ni ma'am at kumilos na ang lahat.

Lumapit 'yung magkapatid sa'kin at huminga ulit ako ng malalim. Sinara ko na 'yong notebook ko bago pa nila mabasa ang mga nakasulat doon.

"So, what are we going to do, Mr. Vice President?" Mandy asked me seductively. What's this girl wants now?

"If you have a conflict, don't include me there, Arasancha." I said coldly. Kumuha ako ng papel at nilagay ang mga pangalan nila.

"So, the project is all about interviewing someone to know the success behind their business." I stated.

"Deadline will be on the last day of school." Saad naman ni Margarette. "Mandy, make two question that will be asked for the person that we need to interview."

"Margarette, you too. Two questions and I need that ASAP." Utos ko sa dalawa at tumahimik na.

Ako na lang ang gagawa nito mag-isa dahil kung isasali ko pa sila, wala kaming mapapala dahil sa mag-aaway lang silang dalawa.

"'Yon lang gagawin namin?" Tumango ako sa sinabi ni Mandy. Even though I'm in love with her, I can't show her that.

"Okay. Mamaya ko na gagawin 'yon." - Mandy.

"As long as hindi mo kakalimutan, okay lang." Sagot ko. "Bigay ko na lang sa'yo mamaya." Tumango ako kay Margarette.

I think I have a reason now to go to mom for this. I can use this as a reason to visit her and to see her again.

I guess, that's a good idea for me. I can see her there in that stupid company and I can talk to her again.

After they give me those questions, I'll do that. That will be my reason to visit then I'll naturally be cold at her again.

For her to feel guilty then she has no choice but to go home and stay there with me for good.

•••• END OF CHAPTER 4. ••••