Faded (Published Under TDP Publishing House)

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Slap me!" diretsahang pasya ni Railey ng madatnan ko siya sa visitor's area ng kulungan.

I sat on the chair in front of her and placed my bag beside me. She was already wearing color orange shirt.

After knowing that she was already in the jail, that alerted me. Pero kinabukasan nalang ako pumunta ng presinto dahil hindi ako pinayagan nila at delikado na dahil gabi narin.

Hindi ko na pinasama sa 'kin sina Dad at Brent dahil alam kung napagod sila sa ginawa nila kahapon. But I was with my personal bodyguards naman para rin  mapanatag ang loob nilang tatlo.

"I don't do that," I said coldly. I admitted na masyado ngang masama ang nagawa niya sakin pero sapat na ang makulong siya ang bilang parusa.

Ngumuso ako. I wasn't that bad. I'm not kind of person.

"Ano masaya ka na ba ngayon? Nakita mo akong nandito at nilalamok. Sana naman ay pinapatay mo nalang ako sa Tatay mo o 'di naman sa mga police. Ang skin care ko, Bernadette masasayang lang. Ilang pera ang nagastos ko rito para kuminis pero ano na ngayon? Ang dami na ng kagat ng lamok." She said hysterically.

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Hinaplos niya ang kanyang braso at ngumuso ng makita ang mga kagat ng lamok na namumula dahil sa kati. She care for her skin that much.

"I wouldn't be surprise kung sa darating na araw magkaka-malaria ako!" She rolled her eyes. Ginamit niya ang kamay niya bilang pamaypay. "It's super hot here. I guess my skin would be tanned!"

Ang dami niyang reklamo. At sa akin pa talaga niya ito sinabi. Hindi naman kami ang may-ari ng station na ito. Kasalanan ko rin ba kung ang aircon ay sa mga office lang inilagay.

She looked back at me. Nagulat ako ng slight ng umiyak siya at tinitigan ako ng matalim. Wait, is she a psycho?

"I'm sorry, Bernadette!" She hold at my hands and tightened its grip. Kumunot ang noo ko. "Nagawa ko lang iyon dahil mahal na mahal ko si Eric. Hindi ko kayang makita siyang masaya sa babaeng hindi ako, I can't!"

I stayed being calm and silent watching her. She keeps on pleading.

"E-Eric is an ideal man kaya I really regret breaking up with him. I love him more than anything." Yumuko siya at doon na humagulhol ng malakas. Tumingin tuloy sa gawi namin ang ibang preso na kausap rin ang kanilang bisita. "I really thought na sa ginawa ko ay mapapasakin na siya. Na kung mawala ka, sa akin na ulit ang atensyon niya. Sa akin na ulit siya!"

Kinilabutan ako bigla sa sinabi niya. Nakaya niya iyon. Well if I'm on her chair tiyak na hindi ako papatulugun ng konsensya.

"You're obsessed!" I tsk.

"No, I'm just in love!" She raised her right eyebrow correcting me.

"And daming lalake sa mundo na mahahanap mo ng para sayo lang, yung hindi ka mahihirapan at hindi mahahantong sa ganito!" I shrug my shoulder.

"Yeah, almost of the people I know asking why would I push myself to Eric na may minamahal na. Bakit daw hindi ako humanap ng iba," She shook her head. "I tried. Pero hindi ko talaga kayang diktahan ang puso ko eh,"

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. Whatever dzuh. Kinuha niya ang kanyang kamay at itinago ito sa ilalim ng lamesa.

"B-but I was wrong, his love for you is big and unchangeable. Ang lakas ng tama 'non sa 'yo eh. Yung tipong kahit lamok pinagseselosan when it touches to your flawless skin. Kahit isang tawag lang kapag hindi mo sinagot matataranta na agad. Bibilhan ka ng ka-kailanganin mo para hindi ka na mapapagod mag-shopping,"

She shooked her head.

"Eric change a lot when she met you Bernadette. Ang dami niyang nagawa sayo ng hindi ko man lang naramdaman noong kami pa lamang. Yes he's sweet to me but not like how he treated you. He was more sweeter when he's with you. He was the best person when he's with you and became beast when someone harm you!" mapakla siyang tumawa. At inilibot ang tingin sa paligid. "Looks like I will be leaving in these stealed bars forever!"

She looked at me again straight to my eyes.

"Please love Eric. Wag mo siyang iiwan kahit anong mangyari. Please fight for him--"

"You're wrong, Railey. Eric and I already ended up our relationship three months ago." I uttered bitterly.

I turned my gaze on the other side ng magbabadyang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

It's been three months but I'm still stuck. I can't move on.

"I know, I can feel it, with each other you two are better. I will always be here cheering for your relationship not for separating but for long-lasting."

"You're wrong, Railey. Eric and I already ended up our relationship three months ago." I repeated. Mukha kasing hindi niya ako narinig.

"I'm sorry kung ako pa talaga ang dahilan ng paghihiwalay niyo." Naguguluhan ako. She isn't the reason. Sadyang nawala lang talaga ang pagmamahal sa 'kin ni Eric. And hindi ko man lang ito napansin. "Nagawa ko pang ipahamak ang buhay mo at ng magiging anak niyo--"

I blinked twice. Did she? Did I hear it clearly?

"Alam mo?" I asked in shocked.

"Na may anak ka?" She nodded. "I was there on the restaurant too when your with Eric's secretary,"

I remembered that night when I puked. She was pin pointing Bella. And I really thought that it was from there food. Hindi ko rin naman alam na buntis ako non.

"I followed you two, you came for OB-Gyne. Kaya ano pa ba ang iisipin ko. And it was very a perfect timing dahil sa OB ka namin nagpa-konsulta,"

Napaawang ang labi ko. Only Bella's family and mine ang nakaka-alam sa sitwasyon ko. And I really thought na sila lang talaga.

"D-did Eric knows this?" I stuttered. I can hear my heartbeat.

"Ahm. No" umiling siya. "Eric already avoided me that time. So I didn't bother to tell him nalang,"

I felt relieved. This is not the best time for Eric knows that I am bearing his child. Ayokong maging dahilan na babalik lamang siya dahil sa isang responsibilidad, ang magiging tatay, ng wala man lang pagmamahal.

"You can't hide that child forever, Bernadette. Ilang linggo nalang it will show. Letting everyone to know your situation. Mapapansin na nila ang umbok sa iyong tiyan."

I let a force smile. She was right. My tummy is slowly showing and went bigger. I carasses my tummy. The time they will know that I was bearing a child alam kong dudumugin ulit ako ng media.

"You know, maayos ka namang kasama eh ewan ko lang kung bakit ka ganyan!" I admitted.

Ngumiti siya ng pilit. Pansin ko ang pagtulo ng luha niya.

"You were the first person. Ikaw palang ang unang nakapagsabi sakin na maayos akong kasama." She wiped her tears. "Lahat nalang kasi ng sasabihin ng tao, panget akong kasama kahit naman maganda ako." She flipped her hair.

Napangiti ako. Gusto kong humahalakhak.

I looked at the clock on the wall then turned to her.

"Tapos na ang oras ng bisita mo. Kailangan mo ng pumasok." I articulated. I stood up and get my bag. Pinagpagan ko ang suot kong jeans. "Hayaan mo, pag may oras ipapa-aircon ko na ang kwarto mo!"

I joked. She gave me a smile. But before I could walk she hold my arms. I got confused.

"I hope you can forgive me. I really regret of what I did!"

"God's forgives kahit gaano pa kalaki ang kasalanan ng anak niya, ako pa kaya." Her face lightened. "But sorry I can't granted it for today, what you did to me is very traumatic and dangerous,"

Nginitian niya ako ng pilit.

"I understand. Sorry!" Kinuha na siya ng mga pulis at naglakad na pabalik sa loob.

Yumuko ako. I turned my back and started to walk but she uttered some words that can make my mind confused.

"If ever he will beg, please accept him back. He didn't mean it, he just did it in order to protect you. It is all my fault! Sorry!"