He's Not Mine To Keep [COMPLETED]

Chapter 18

ANG IKALABING-WALONG KABANATA:
Hunch

"Sigurado ka na ba diyan?"

Nasa kwarto ako ngayon, kasama si Avi. Kasalukuyan akong nag-aayos ng gamit ko.

"I am." I replied.

"But... you said you won't. I offered you the last time pero ayaw mo. Why now?"

"I'm tired." I simply answered.

"I understand. Pero bakit hindi ka umiiyak? I mean, don't get me wrong. You were so sensitive these past days and medyo off na hindi ka umiiyak ngayon. Not that I want you to but... you know..." Avi wasn't there earlier. So she didn't know.

The ice and the spoon did helped my swollen eyes plus a bit magic of make-up of course.

"Because I'm also tired of crying for this day. Mukhang naubos ang luha ko para sa araw na 'to." I chuckled a bit.

Actually, after the argument, I ran behind my doors and cried. Talagang iyak ng parang naagrabiyado. I cried for a good hour to make sure I won't growl in front of anyone again. If I had to be weak, this time, only I will get to see it.

"Then, saan na tayo pupunta?" She asked na nakapagpakunot ng noo ko.

"Tayo?"

"Gaga ka ba? Alangan namang magpa-iwan ako dito? Ikaw lang naman ang rason kung bakit ko pinipilit na magpaiwan dito sa Pilipinas tapos magpapaiwan ako? No way!"

"Y-You stayed here because of me?" Medyo hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Oo! Di ba sinabi ko naman na sayo noon?" Akala ko kasi nagbibiro lang siya noon.

"But why?"

Napabuntong hininga siya.

"I don't want to leave you."

"Bakit nga?"

"Wasn't it obvious?" Asar na tanong niya.

"Aish! Bahala kang mag-isip! Binabawi ko nang sensitive ka! Napaka-insensitive mo pala! I stayed with you for all these years pero hindi mo parin pala alam ang dahilan ko kung bakit! Nakakatampo ka!"

Natahimik ako. I bit my lip trying to suppress a smile.

"O tapos ngayon ngingiti ka? Nakakainis ka talaga!"

"It's because you love me."

"Bahala ka! Nakakainis ka talaga! Iiwanan nalang kita!" Natawa ako. Iiwan daw niya ako pero ni lumabas ngayon sa pinto ko hindi niya magawa.

"Oh akala ko ba iiwan mo na ako?" She just glared at me na ikinangisi ko lalo.

"Aish! Bwisit!" Naglakad siya papuntang pinto. She opened the door and was about to leave when she stopped a bit.

"I won't leave you. And you can't leave me here. I'll also pack my things. I'll go with you wherever you want to go."

"Talaga? Kahit sa impyerno?"

"As if you would go to hell. Pero kung oo man, binabawi ko na ang sinabi ko." She said at lumabas na siya. I

I then continued packing.

"ANAK, I'M so sorry. Naging masama akong ama sayo." Nasa sala kami ngayon. Ako, si Avi, at dad lang ang narito.

"Ni hindi ko manlang napansin na nahihirapan ka na pala. I'm sorry I pressured you."

I tried hard to smile. "I badly want to say it's okay. Pero hindi pa po iyon madali para saakin." I swallowed hard to ease my rising emotion again. "Lagi akong pinapagalitan ni mommy at minsan, kahit sumosobra na siya, you did not protect me. Alam mo na sumosobra na siya minsan. But you don't have the guts to fully go against her. I know you love her. Pero anak niyo rin naman po ako. I also need your love."