It Started Without Love

Chapter 36

"Bakit kayo nandito? I thought it's a one week vacation?" Takang tanong ko ng makita sina Ash, Yohan, Tiffany, Neil, Vince at Brent sa kitchen. It's almost 11 in the evening at kakauwi ko pa lang galing hospital.

"Boring." Saad ni Yohan.

Kumuha ako ng tubig sa ref at sumandal sa counter.

"Alam kong may nangyari. Ano?" Seryoso kong saad sa kanila. Para silang namatayan sa mga expression nila.

"Si Brent! Sinuntok si Liam." Pagsusumbong ni Ash sa akin. Para silang mga bata na yumuko.

"Bakit?" Wala talagang nag-angat ng tingin kahit na tinanong ko sila.

"I just want to." Ay iba talaga 'to eh.

"Nanuntok ka dahil gusto mo lang?" Inis na saad ko sa kanya. I don't know but whenever I'm around these guys, para akong ina nilang lahat.

"I'm just pissed at Maureen but I can't punch her so I punch Liam instead." Nagpipigil ng tawa ang mga babae habang nagtakip ng bibig si Neil. Ngumuso lang din si Vince at si Brent ay nakayuko lang talaga.

"The hell! Nainis ka sa girlfriend niya tapos siya inupakan mo? So kung naiinis ka kay Ash, uupakan mo sarili mo?" Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala sa logic nitong isang 'to eh.

"I guess so?" Binato ko na talaga siya ng kutsara na naabot ko.

Natawa na rin ng tuluyan mga kasama namin.

"Brent, I know why you did that." I seriously said.

"He deserve it, anyways." Saad naman ni Vince.

"No. He doesn't deserve that. Guys, we're separated, almost 5 years. Hindi man kami annulled, it's already well-known that we are not together anymore. And you all know that. He is allowed to do what he wanted to do. He wants to have a girlfriend, okay lang. Let him be. Wala tayong say sa kanya. Same as he is to me. I can date if I want to but that's not on my top priority." Napailing ako sa kanilang mga mukha.

"Alam kong pinaglalapit niyo kaming dalawa. I know that you all want us to be together again. Alam ko kung anong gusto niyo ng pinilit niyo akong sumama but we're not just gonna work anymore. We didn't work before, hindi na rin ngayon. Let's just accept that fact okay? No pursuing of your dreams anymore guys." I smiled at them.

"Liam and Maureen are not together but him being a responsible and fucking obedient attorney again, is eating him up. He is just asked by the congressman to protect Maureen for the meantime hanggang sa madala na ito ng congressman sa states. Maureen is linked into some drug scandals. She also needs treatment, at dahil tinamaan siya kay Liam, kay Liam lang siya naniniwala." Inis na saad ni Brent.

"That doesn't make any change. Don't worry, since I'm already here and my leave will be extended at nakaalis na rin ang mga taga NYU Hospital, aasikasuhin ko na ang annulment namin." Napaangat silang lahat ng tingin sa akin. Parang di sila makapaniwala na sinabi ko iyon.

"Reese, are you sure about this?" Saad ni Yohan.

"I already did. I found out that my attorney already retired and she didn't pass the case to her lawyers. I also contacted her but she's already out of reach. Maybe I can find another lawyer. That'll be easy then at mamomonitor ko na ito ng maayos since I'm already here." Napailing na talaga sila sa sinabi ko. Akala ko ba galit ang mga 'to kay Liam. Hindi ko rin maintindihan mga isip nito eh.

"I'll just go upstairs. Ash ikaw na bahala. I'm really tired and for your information, I had an almost 24 hours straight duty so spare me for more talk." I yawned in front of them, unable to stop it anymore.

Naiwan silang lahat doon at nakatulog na agad ako matapos magbihis.

Nagising ako kinabukasan ng malapit ng magtanghali. Hindi ako ginising nina Mommy o nila Ash dahil alam nilang puyat at pagod ako. I almost jumped when I bumped into Liam when I entered the kitchen. Why is he here?

"Good morning." He smiled at me and I immediately stepped backward.

"Morning. Nasaan ang iba?" I consciously scanned the whole place and I found no one. Nakapangtulog pa naman pa ako. Damn it. I saw him eyed my whole body and then smirked. I realize what he's smirking for when I look at my shirt. I mean, his shirt! I'm wearing one of his shirts I have in my closet! God, bakit ko nga ba ito sinuot. Matagal na kasi ito dito sa akin, simula pa noon.

There's a big and bold LAW IS MY MEDICINE printed in front of the shirt.

"Eat your breakfast first. Nasa pool sila." He walked passed me and I sighed heavily after that.

Matapos kong kumain ay aakyat pa sana ako ngunit nagulat ako ng biglang sumulpot mula sa living room si Kisha.

"Mama Reese!" Kasunod nito si Akilah na hawak ng isang yaya.

"Kisha! Hi baby." I carried her in my arms. Ang laki niya na. Nag-angat naman ng kamay niya din si Akilah. I laughed and carried her too.

"Bigat na ng mga baby ko ah." I kissed them both.

Naglakad na agad ako papunta sa pool karga silang dalawa. Di naman sila malilikot eh. I stopped when I saw Liam's family together with mine. What the hell is happening?

"And now the rivalry begins!" Natatawang saad ni Kuya Franco.

"Baby, baba ka na. Bibigatan si Mama Reese niyan." Saway ni Ate Lindsy sa anak niya.

"I'm not heavy mommy." Saad nito at iningusan pa ang ina. I saw mommy smiled at me when she saw me looking at them. Tito Anton and dad are busy talking and they seems so happy. Wala ang parents ni Ash dahil inaasikaso ni Tita ang gala night na inorganize niya.

"I invited them here anak para naman magkabonding tayo. After your graduation, hindi na tayo nagkatipon-tipon pa." Saad ni mommy ng lumapit ako sa kanila. Kisha and Akilah are now playing.

"You should have informed me mom. Tanghali na tuloy ako nagising." Saad ko at naupo sa tabi niya.

"Liam went to your room a while ago. Tulog na tulog ka pa kaya't di ka na niya ginising dahil alam naman namin na puyat at pagod ka." Nanglaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni mommy.

"What? Liam went to my room?" Gulat kong tanong.

"What's wrong? You're married anyways." Nanunuksong saad ni mommy. I know that style of her.

Oh my God, they're up to being cupid again. Akala ko ba galit ang mga ito kay Liam? When did the table turns?