I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Thirty-One: Mess

Chapter Thirty-One
Mess

Napapikit ako para tanggapin ang isa pang sampal mula kay Al. Halos humapdi ang kaliwang pisngi ko dahil sa ginawa niya kanina. Blangko ang utak ko na hindi na ako nagalaw at nakapag-isip na umiwas.

She just slapped me. The first thing she did when she saw me.

Bakit?

"Bitawan mo ako, Zywon."

Bumukas ang mata ko nang magsalita siya ulit. Napaatras ako nang halos puwersahang tinabig ni Al ang kamay ni Zywon na pumigil sa kamay niyang naka-ambang sampalin ako ulit.

"Anong problema mo, Alethia?" pananangga ni Won.

Al kept her eyes fixed on me, those glaring eyes like I did something wrong. Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin pero hinigit ako ni Chloe palayo.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Hindi ko siya magawang tingnan ng maayos. Kapag lumilingon ako, ako na rin mismo ang unang umiiwas ng tingin.

Humakbang si Chloe papalapit kay Al.

"Al, what is this about?"

Al laughed bitterly. "Bumabawi ako, Chloe." Al tried to reach for me once again but I had my two friends separating us from each other. Tiningnan niya ako. "Pasalubong ko 'yan sa'yo."

"Tungkol ba 'to kay Jayden, Al?" si Chloe na ang nagsabi.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat.

"Jayden?" naiusal ko dahilan para bigyan ako ng matalim na titig ni Al. Sarkastiko pa siyang ngumiti. "I.. don't get it."

Akala ko... okay sa kaniya. I thought she told me to choose what makes me happy! Pero bakit ganito? Bakit ganito niya ako sinalubong?

Al scoffed sarcastically. My throat dried up. Zywon didn't hear what she said earlier. He arrived late for the first slap but was early for the second. Now, I also don't want him to hear what Al has said. I don't want things to complicate this way.

I took a deep breath.

"Let us talk, Won," I managed to say. "Doon muna kayo sa loob ng bahay-"

"No, let them be here," matigas na sabi ni Alethia. "Bakit? Natatakot kang malaman nila?"

My jaw clenched nervously.

"Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo, Al," kalmado kong sabi. "Tara, mag-usap tayo ng maayos."

"Hindi alam? Hindi mo alam na nang-aahas ka?"

It inflicted pain somewhere in me. I didn't know it would hurt this way.

"Alethia."

"Oh, shut up, Chloe!" sigaw niya. Hinarap niya ako ng matalas ang tingin. "I can't believe you can do that to me."

"Al naman..."

Umiling siya.

"I can't believe you forgot that I like him. Years, Hailey. I like him for fucking years and all you had to do is to spend months with him so you can chain him for yourself? Ganyan ka ba ka-desperadang makamove-"

"Watch your mouth, Al! Please!"

Chloe tried to barged in. Al shook her head in dispute. Matalim ang tingin niya at nakikita ko kung paano ang sakit na dala no'n.

"Watch my mouth, Chloe," hamon niya at tumingin sa akin. Bumaba ang tingin ko. "Ilang taon, maaagaw sa loob ng ilang buwan! Tangina, Hailey! Ano 'to? Gaguhan?"

"Al, please. I thought we're fine."

Tumawa siya ng sarkastiko.

"How would that be fine, Hailey? I like Jayden! You know it! You're aware of it! And this, I will figure all this out!"