Starting Over The End

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Mommy!" Tumakbo ako papunta kay Mommy at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. Ang tagal naming hindi nagkita eh.

"Baby, how are you? You've been prettier!"

Kasama ko si Mommy sa kwarto, madami daw ako dapat ikwento sa kanya. First on the list is Lablab.

"I like Cloud because he makes you happy and livelier." Mommy said.

"He makes me wanna live life," I said in a very kinikilig tone.

Mommy just hugged me. Lumakas bigla ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"Mommy...w--what h--happened?"

Natatakot ako sa isasagot ni Mommy. But I wanna know! Bahala na. I wanna prepare.

"Baby..."

"Hon!"

Naputol ang sasabihin ni Mommy nung dumating si Daddy. Inagaw na ni Daddy si Mommy sa akin. Wala naman akong nagawa.

I just texted lablab, sinabi ko sa kanyang nandito na si Mommy.

From: Lablab

Really? Cool! Kadarating lang din ni Mama! She wants to meet you ASAP!

Nanlaki yung mata ko sa sinabi ni lablab. What? Me? I'll meet his mother? It's not that ayaw ko or nahihiya ako.

To: Kuya

Kuya, Mommy's home na. Uwi ka na dali.

I didn't know that Kuya is already home, if he didn't went to my room. His face looks so stressed.

"You have problem?" I asked.

"...Belle, I'm cutting ties with Zultans," Kuya said.

"Because of me and lablab?" Umiling si Kuya. "Liar! You don't have to do it! Kuya naman!" Tumayo ako sa harap ni Kuya and waited for an answer. Wala naman akong narinig. "Kuya, I know how important the group is to you...para mo na silang kapatid...and...and si Daddy! He loves the group so much."

Tumayo si Kuya at niyakap ako. Tears fell from my eyes.

"Belle, can't you just be happy for me?" He asked in a cracked voice.

"NO! NEVER! How can I? You're a masochist!"

"I know," he said.

Cutting ties means forgetting everything about the group. You'll be treated like you don't exist from everyone in the group. Burado lahat ng privileges. I know Kuya loves the group so much.

"Does this means...I'm dying?" I managed to ask.

Kumalas sa pagkakayakap ni Kuya sa akin, "Don't you ever say that again!"

"So its true?"

"Belle, don't say that okay? Wala pa naman sinabi si Mommy. Don't think of dying!"

"But you're acting like I will," I said almost whispering. "Bakit kasi ginawa mo yun? Mahal na mahal mo ang Zultans. I know you love each other as brothers."

"Belle more than anything...mas mahal ko ang tunay kong kapatid."

"Bakit?"

"They want you to be married to Enzo. Pinepressure nila kami ni Daddy, lalo na si Daddy. Gusto nilang palabasin namin na you and Enzo are already set to be married dati pa," tumawa si Kuya. "Daddy withdrew from the group too. Sabay kami. Right now, we are just common private individuals."

I ran to Daddy. Hinanap ko siya sa kwarto nila, sa study room niya, sa sala, sa kitchen, sa living room sa taas. Nakita ko sila Mommy and Daddy sa may garden.