Ephemeral (On Going)

Chapter 5 - Broken Promises

*MISSY'S POV*

"Ate, ano nang plano?" I asked. Hindi na kami umabot sa second step sa plano namin dahil hindi naman namin inaasahan na mapapaaway kami bigla.

"To be honest, wala akong gana mag-isip ngayon. I don't know what to do."

I sighed. I sat beside my sister and start scrolling through my phone.

"Ate, look. Post ni Winona. This was a week ago. I stalked her kaya ito, I found this," I said showing her the photo of her boyfriend kissing his best friend's cheek.

Kung mag best friend kayo, okay lang. Pero 'yung may girlfriend ka na pinag lihiman mo ng pagdating ng best friend mo, mali 'yun. I can see how fast my sister's face changes. Pagod na mukha niya kanina pero ngayon lungkot naman ang bumalot sa kanya. 

"Alam ko na gagawin ko," she said wiping the tear off her cheek. She went to the bathroom. She opened the door and said, "Take a bath. You're coming with me."

I ran towards my room and quickly took a shower. I changed into my t-shirt and pants and headed to our sala.

"Ready ka na?" my sister asked. I nodded and we began hitting the road. She knows exactly where to find Kervin. She read the comment section kung saan may short conversation ng friends ni Kervin talking about how excited they are for their upcoming get together today. With the given time and date, ate and I are able to go there as soon as we can.

We arrive at a Bed and Breakfast. We're staying inside the car waiting for anything to happen. Dito na namin malalaman kung nagchicheat nga ba si Kervin kay ate o hindi. Ate and I are both  nervous.

Kervin arrives a few minutes later. He had a giant bouqet in one arm and some food on the other. He gave Winona a kiss that crash ate's heart.

Kitang kita ko 'yung sakit na nararamdaman ni ate. Halatang nilalabanan niya 'yung luha niya dahil kailangan niyang maging malakas. Lumabas siya ng sasakyan at dali daling pumunta kung nasaan sila Kervin. She grabbed Winona's hair and pushed her to the floor.

"I trusted you. I never imagined us being in this situation. Ikaw, Winona the first time we met ang sabi mo masaya kang nakahanap na si Kervin ng partner niya. Ang sabi mo masaya ka na may magbabantay sa kanya habang wala ka. I admit it, I didn't like you at first pero ano bang nagawa ko sa'yo para lokohin niyo pa ako nang ganito?" my sister bawled.

"I'm sorry," Winona replied. 

"Sorry? Winona, sinira mo 'yung mga pangarap ko kasama si Kervin! Lahat ng plano ko sa buhay kasama siya. Ano na gagawin ko ngayon? Babalik nanaman ako sa umpisa, Winona. Babalik ako sa hirap na dinanas ko. Of all people kayo nakakaalam kung gaano kahirap sa'kin mawalan ng minamahal. Sana una palang sinabi mo na na gusto mo si Kervin para hindi na 'ko nakialam."

"Babe—." My sister cut Kervin off.

"At ikaw, Kervin. Sinabi ko sa'yo lahat ng weaknesses ko. Nangako kang sasamahan mo ako sa lahat. Nangako kang ako lang mamahalin mo pero ano ginawa mo? You chose to love a whore!" dagdag pa ni ate. At this point Kervin isjust staring at her. 

The Bed and Breakfast islocated in the middle of nowhere sa may bundok where the cold breeze hit us every time.

"Don't you dare call me a whore!" Winona yelled.

"I just fucking did, bitch!" my sister yelled back. Hihilahin na sana ni Winona 'yung buhok ni ate nang harangin ko 'yung kamay niya.

"I'm way younger than you pero swear to God, pang thirty years old na 'tong sampal ko," sabi ko sa kanya. I widened my eyes at her waiting for her to say something but she didn't say anything at all.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you kaya hindi ko sinabi agad," Kervin explained. Who would believe him? Seryoso, he could've just stayed quiet.

 Nakatingin lang si ate kay Kervin nang bigla niya itong sampalin nang malakas. She kicked his balls before grabbing my hand to lead me where her car is.

We drove off and nag stop over muna kami sa isang famous na McDonald's branch. We sat there while the cold breeze was still hitting our faces.

Ibang iba itong branch na 'to. It looks good lalo na't malamig. It's aesthetically pleasing. 

"Ate, may kailangan ka pa ba?" I asked.

"Coffee nalang, Missy."

My sister and I are just quiet. Nakatingin lang kami sa overlooking view. I know she needs this.

"You know what ate? I never really liked Kervin. Itsura palang parang hindi marunong magmahal."

Nagpa-order pa si ate ng pagkain. We arejust eating a lot at this point. 

"Kaya pala ayaw niyang pag-usapan ang future namin. Laging umiiwas. I was so excited to live with him pero niloloko niya lang pala ako," she paused for awhile. Inubos niya muna 'yung pagkain niya saka tumuloy sa pagkwento.

"Limang taon nalang sana ang natitira bago kami magpakasal pero wala eh. He cheated." Ramdam ko 'yung panghihinayang at pagkalugmok ng kapatid ko.

Kervin was a huge part of my ate's life. Before they met, she was always down. Work lang siya nang work tapos uuwi sa bahay para kumain at diretso na sa kwarto. Para siyang walang buhay. I'm scared na maging ganu'n uli siya. Hindi ko kayang makita siyang ganu'n uli. I know how difficult it is for her to go back up again. Iba siya malungkot. She loses all her energy and now I have one more problem. Paano kami uuwi? My sister is too tired to move. 

"Ate, gusto mo mag check-in muna tayo? Let's enjoy Tagaytay oh. Minsan lang 'to. Forget work muna, it's a sisters bonding," sabi ko nang may masayang tono para maganahan siyang gawin 'yun. She just gave me a wistful smile and nodded.

I drove her car. Buti nalang may malapit na hotel na pwede naming pag-stayan. I drove her car to the nearest hotel.

Ang bilis nangyari ng lahat, Missy," my sister said. She was just staring at the view from our room blankly. "Akala ko our plan would have take longer. Pero tingnan mo oh. First step palang tapos na. I wasn't prepared," she continued.

"Ayaw mo nu'n, ate? Hindi na tayo nahirapan. I think God didn't want us to exhaust ourselves kaya binigay niya na ang gusto nating ma-achieve. It's a blessing in disguise. You have more time to move on," I replied rubbing her back.

"I guess you're right. Punta tayo spa?" pagyaya niya. Gladly, she's starting to feeling okay. Lugmok pa rin oo, pero hindi naman kasing lala ng dati.

We went to the spa. Sobrang relaxing ng vibe. Siguro kaya rito namin nahuli si Kervin eh para magkaroon kami ng place to relax. Baka nga all this time God was planning this. Ayaw niya na rin siguro makita si ate na nahihirapan.