Girlfriends 7: Past, Present, and Forever

Chapter Five

"It wasn't Estrella's fault. She has nothing to do with this. I hope everyone would spare her from the hate. She didn't know of Travis' intentions and I believe it was his intention to get even with her so he used me. For the meantime, please let the media know where Travis could be found. Thank you and I'm very sorry for the trouble."

Ibinagsak ni Estrella ang tabloid sa kama at napakagat-labi habang tinitingnan iyon.

As expected, muling umingay ang issue na iyon nang ilabas ang statement ni Yunis. Only then that this time, no one is pointing fingers at her. Meron siguro pero hindi na rin sigurado.

Everything is back to normal. It should be. It's been almost a week since it happened and life goes on. But her world seemed stuck on it. Hindi pa bumangon ang sarili niyang nadapa roon. Her guilt was still overwhelming. Parang kapag wala siyang nagawa ay hindi niya maiaahon ang sarili. And to be back to normal was so distant.

Bumaba siya sa hapag at inabutan doon ang daddy niya na nagbabasa ng kung anong libro. Tuwing nakikita ito ni Estrella ay nalulukot ang puso niya. He was trying to look fine eversince Yunis left him a week ago. Kung ano ang dahilan na sinabi ni Yunis ay hindi niya alam. But her father didn't talk to her about it. At tila naging unspoken rule sa pagitan nilang dalawa na walang magbanggit niyon.

But she knew her father more than anyone else. She knew he was just faking it. Nakikita niya iyon sa mga mata nito, sa mga biglaang pagtahimik, sa bawat pagbuntong-hininga. And people who act fine when they aren't scared her. They feel like a ticking time bomb. Na kapag sumabog ay masyadong mapanganib dahil matagal naipon ang lahat.

"You're going out, Ester?" tanong ng daddy niya nang dumulog siya sa hapag. Her father smiled like it was just a normal day.

Tumango siya. "I have to sign contracts for some advertisements, dad. Why? Do you like to go somewhere?"

Dahil kung may gustong gawin ang daddy niya ay gagawin niya ang lahat para ma-reschedule muna sa ibang araw ang kanyang commitments.

"I just want to visit your cousin. Hindi na siya nagagawi rito."

Natigil ang paghihiwa niya sa tinapay. "In his resto? Dad..."

Her father looks puzzled. Nang mukhang maintindihan ng daddy niya ang ibig sabihin ay tumawa ito. It sounded stern, though. Parang pilit na pilit.

"She wasn't there, Ester. Siguro ay kalahati ng mundo ang tatawirin niya para lang hindi ko siya makita."

"How did you know? You tried to find her?"

Naging mailap ang mga mata ng daddy niya. She got it. Her father was still hoping for Yunis. Kung hindi, bakit mo naman hahanapin ang isang tao na iniwan ka na nga? If this is just some random instance, she would probably scold her father. Pero ngayon, pakiramdam ni Estrella ay wala siyang karapatan makialam sa kahit anong gawin ng daddy niya. It was her fault.

"Kung ganoon, bakit gusto mong magpunta kay Levi, dad? I often talk to him. Hindi bumabalik si Yunis doon."

"Wala naman akong magagawa kundi ito lang, anak."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. Alam ni Estrella na siya ang puno't-dulo niyon pero hindi ibig sabihin na matitiis niyang panoorin ang kanyang daddy na nagpapakadesperado ng ganoon.

She almost laughed at the thought. What was she saying? Siya man ay desperada nga noon na makahanap ng rason para maghiwalay ang dalawa. Ano ang karapatan niyang manumbat?

"Why are you still looking for her, dad? Hindi mo pa naman siya nakasama ng ganoon katagal. Can't you just let this go? What are the chances you'll find her when it was her intention to hide from you?"