Monasterio Series #2: After All

Kabanata 36

Kabanata 36

Paulit-ulit kong hinilot and aking sentido habang inaalala ang naging paguusap namin ni Adrianna kanina sa cellphone.

How come she's only in Taguig and working as a housemaid? Kailan pa siya natuto ng gawaing bahay? As far as I'm concerned, she doesn't know anything about household choires! Ni hindi nga 'yon gaanong maalam sa pagwawalis ng sahig. Ang maglinis pa kaya ng buong bahay? At kaninong bahay siya nagtatrabaho?

"Oh, God!" I muttered softly as I keep on walking back and forth, releasing a heavy sigh for I am trying to think what has gotten into my sister's mind.

"Cheska..."

"What?" I responded to Christian's call without even giving him a glance.

"I'm actually starting to feel dizzy. Can you sit here so we could talk properly?"

Nilingon ko siya. He's leaning against his swivel chair while hands clasped together. Taas kilay siyang nakatitig sa akin, tila ba namamangha pa sa inaasal ko ngayon. Pagkagaling namin sa family house namin kanina, dito kami sa opisina niya dumiretso dahil alam kong mababagot lang ako kung uuwi ako sa mismong bahay namin.

Isang beses pa akong nagpakawala ng buntong hininga bago naglakad patungo sa silya sa harapan niya. As soon as I'm done settling myself in, I crossed my legs and glanced at him.

"Hindi ko na alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip ng kapatid ko, Christian. Who in the right mind would do that? She should be in Batanes with Calix and not here in Taguig and work as a maid!" I burst out.

Christian scratched his temple like what I'm talking about were all nonsense. Sumimangot ako at agad niyang inayos ang ekpresyon ng mukha niya. From being goofy, his face suddenly went serious.

"Cheska, Adrianna is a smart woman. For sure she has reasons why she chose to hide in that place and disguise as a maid. Don't you trust your sister?" he asked calmly.

"I do trust her. Pero paano kung hindi sinasadyang makita siya nila Daddy? Kapag nakita siya, pilit siyang iuuwi sa bahay. At kapag nangyari iyon, wala siyang magiging choice kung hindi ang magpakasal kay Daniel! I know how much she hates to be involved in that pragmatic marriage!"

Inis kong sinuklay ang buhok ko gamit ang aking mga daliri. For countless times, I let out a frustrated sigh and anchored my eyes on the white blank wall.

"I'm getting confused now..." he uttered.

Nilingon ko siya, bahagyang kunot ang noo. "About what?"

"Nag-aalala ka ba na baka makita ng mga magulang mo si Rian at matuloy na ang kasal nila ni Daniel? O, ayaw mong magkita sila dahil... ayaw mong matuloy ang kasal nila? Alin doon, Francheska?"

Umawang ang labi ko sa mga salitang lumabas sa labi niya. My back straightened a bit as my heart pummeled wildly inside of my chest.

"What are you talking about, Christian? This is not about Daniel and I anymore. Tanggap ko nang ikakasal siya sa kapatid ko at wala na akong magagawa pa roon!" histerya ko.

Hindi agad siya sumagot. Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin, seryoso pa rin ang ekspresyon ng mukha at tila hindi naniniwala sa sinabi ko.

I couldn't blame him if those are the thoughts that's running through his head. He's fully aware of how fucked up I am when it comes to Daniel and our past but this time, I will really deny his accusations.

Totoong hindi na ito tungkol sa amin ni Daniel. Simula nung tanghaling magpunta sila sa bahay namin at sabihin niya mismo sa akin na hindi na tungkol sa amin ang lahat ng ito, doon pa lang ay tinanggap ko nang wala na akong magagawa sa bagay na magaganap sa hinaharap kung saan kunektado sila ng kapatid ko.