Her Greatest Fall

12th

Twelfth

"Manu, C.R muna ako."

"Samahan kita", umakbay siya sa akin.

"Huwag ka ngang manyak, Killian."

Tumawa nalang ako at dumiretso doon.

Nung pumasok na ako, I saw Almira fixing herself. She rolled her eyes at me. "You've got some guts wearing the same dress as me. Kung akala mong maaagaw mo si Vitaly sa akin, you're just wasting your time. If you do that, the world would still hate you anyways", she turned off the faucet. "Bye"

Two-faced. "What was that?!", the door slammed and I saw Lylo. Kumibit-balikat ako. "Reality."

"This is fucked up. You mean kuya got engaged to that witch? I'm gonna tell--"

"DON'T", nagbuntong hininga ako. "Don't tell anyone. Never. You'll ruin their reputation if you do that. You have to remember. He loves his job, Lylo. He chose work over me. I don't want him to lose what's precious to him."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I was too caught up in the moment, but... You still love him right? No. I know you do", ngumiti nalang ako.

"I love your brother too much, Lylo. It's either I'll stay near him or I'll die not seeing him happy---,"

"Pero Mari, I know my brother too damn well. Napipilitan lang siya. He's waiting for you. Just for once, think about yourself. Be selfish Marina", magsasalita sana siya kaso lang may nagsalitang iba.

"He still loves you. I'm sure of it."

"Ionne---"

"Huwag mo na akong labanan, Marina. You know that I love you both, right? That's why I checked it beforehand..."

Wait, naguluhan ako doon ha.. "Checked what? "

"It was a fake marriage. I gave them fake papers."

What the actual heck?! So, it was all fake?

"Let me explain. I'm doing this for the sake of you two. I know kuya won't like to get married unless it's you walking on the isle, you holding his hand and you kissing his fucking lips that's why... What happens to me pagkatapos maibulgar na nila ang lahat, wala na akong pakialam. Even if I'd be put in jail, I don't care."

"That's why we should keep this a secret then!"

"Excuse me, Lylo. Hindi ko nakuha ang point mo."

"Tell Vitto secretly that the fucking marriage is fake! Then get married secretly, without no one knowing except us!"

"Are you both crazy? "

"No, you are! Ikaw ang baliw. Sino ang okay lang na sa iba ikinasal ang mahal niya? Sino ang okay lang na hindi siya ang nasa tabi niya? "

"Ako! Ako! I'm doing this not for the sake of love but for my sake. Nasasaktan na ako. I don't want to hurt more... You know it, Ionne. Nararamdaman mo rin ito... So please, stop pushing me on someone I can't reach."

Napatahimik lang sila. "I'm sorr--", they just hugged me. "We won't force you, then. I know you hate forcing things", Ionne added.

"So... pakisabi nga sa akin kung bakit nandito ka sa Girls' C.R kuya.."

"Ha?"

"Tangina, lumabas ka na nga! People will be having the wrong idea!", while Lylo pushed him papunta sa labas, nagloloading pa yung sinabi sa akin ni Ionne.

I fixed my hair one last time and went out, and suddenly, someone grabbed my hand.
"V-val",he was leaning on the wall, pawis na pawis at gulat ang ekspresyon. "Tell me it's not real?", he said slowly. "Wait, Val. Let Ionne----"

"Tell me it's not fucking real, Marina! You're being a criminal! What have you been doing?!- -"

"Matagal na akong kriminal! Matagal na akong nakakulong sa mga pinanggagawa ng mga kamag-anak natin, Val, at ni isa sa mga kamag-anak natin? Except for mom and dad, they never asked me if I was okay.. "

"But faking a marriage, Marina--"

"Hindi ako ang gumawa niyan, Val. Hinanda ko ang puso ko hinarap ang lahat bago pa ako dumating dito para sa kasal ni Almira at Vitto. Pero sinabihan ako ni Ionne.. That the marriage was fake, hindu ko siya sinabihan na gawin iyon, I would never have thought of it. It was out of my zone-"

"Anong ginagawa niyo ditong dalawa?", Vitto!

Umakbay si Val sa akin. "Oh! I was forcing my cousin to sing another song. Napamahal siguro ang mga barkada ko sa boses niya hahaha. Halika na Mari," tumango nalang ako at napilitang sumama. Vitto felt suspicious sa actions ni Val pero ikinibit-balikat niya lang ito.

"What you're feeling now and what you're planning now, Marina. Keep it fucking shut. I'm not gonna let you ruin everything. Baka ako ang mananagot nito."

I expected him to say that. What am I evwn thinking? Kahit ano'ng gawin ko, makokontrol pa rin nila ako. To them, I'm just a walking robot anyways.