Naked Series 1
A healthy relationship doesn't just revolve around butterflies and kiligs, a healthy relationship is something that helps you both grow together. But not every relationship comes to a happy ending, some just end there, and some find t...
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"Put your finger down before I break that."
Lumingon ako sa likod nang marinig ko ang mataray na boses ni Tita Nica. She smiled at me before looking at the so-called chief again as if she were throwing daggers through her eyes.
"Vicente, anak, iuwi mo na si Amyrtelle. Let me handle this," she said calmly before gracefully sitting on the chair that I was sitting on earlier.
"Let's go." He held my right hand while his other hand is supporting my waist.
"Mr. Buko looking police, sit down. Ako ang kausapin mo." Rinig ko pang sabi ni Tita bago kami tuluyang lumabas.
Vince really knows how to handle a situation. I know that he heard everything that officer said and I can totally feel his anger, pero hindi niya sinabayan ang galit ko. He just stood beside me ready to butt in if ever na things would go out of hand.
He lets me fight my own fight while supporting me from the shadows. He knows how to neutralize things, I give him that.
Ngayon ko naramdaman ang pagod, pagod mula sa byahe naming hanggang sa mga pangyayaring ito. Feeling ko pati ang energy ko for tomorrow ay na consume ko na rin.
"How about Liarra?" alalang tanong ko nang maalala si Liarra.
He opened the car's door and helped me get in. "Mom had her escorted by her guards, don't worry about her," he assured me as he helped me climb to my seat.
I nodded and made myself comfortable in my seat. Vince is still standing by the door while intently staring down at me.
"You're shaking," puna niya sa mga kamay kong nasa ibabaw ng aking hita. I intertwined my fingers and tried to stop them from shaking.
I forced a smile and gently shook my head. "I'm fine."
Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na buntong hininga at bahagyang yumuko upong ikabit ang seatbelt ko. "Let's go home," he whispered then gently placed a quick kiss on my forehead.
I closed my eyes and tried calming myself. That is how Vince deals with me and my uptight personality. He gives me the space that I need but he still makes sure that I feel his presence at the same time. Hindi niya ako pinipilit na ilabas ang kung ano mang nararamdaman ko, he will just sit beside me and wait until I'm calm.
I hate showing people my vulnerable side. It's my way of protecting myself, defense mechanism, I guess? I want them to see me as someone that they can't just step on, someone who does not back down.
When we got home, Liarra was already asleep so we stayed at the sala.
"Are you sure that you don't want to tell your Mom about what happened?" tanong ni Tita Nica at magaang ibinaba ang tasang hawak niya.
Agad akong umiling. "Hindi na po."
"Sabagay, alam mo naman 'yong balae ko na 'yon." Bumuntong hininga niya.
My Mom worries over even the smallest things, baka kapag nalaman niya e sapilitan na niya akong itali sa bewang niya para mapirmi ako sa Bulacan.
"I'll just leave my bodyguards outside. And you, Vicente, samahan mo sila tonight. Just sleep here sa sofa, don't leave the two girls alone ha?" mahinahong bilin niya kay Vince bago tumayo.
Vince and I also stood up to usher her out.
She sighed before giving me a tight hug. "I'll get going na, anak. Don't think about it too much okay? Ako na'ng bahala," bulong niya habang marahang hinahaplos ang buhok ko.
She then hugged Vince. "Don't leave the two ha? Kokoltongan kita," aniya saka pabirong kinurot si Vince sa pisngi.
"Make sure to sleep well ha? Sige na, nang makapagpahinga na kayo."
"I'll drive you to your hotel room po," prisenta ni Vince saka inabot ang susi niya na nasa sofa.
"No need! Your Dad sent someone to fetch me. Uuwi rin ako sa'tin kaya 'wag ka nang mag-abala," mariing pag tutol niya at magaan pang ikinumpas ang kamay.
"Then let me usher you kahit hanggang sa parking lot," pamimilit ni Vince.
"Hindi na, ang kulit ng lahi mo, kanino ka bang anak?" natatawang tanong niya.
"Aalis na ako, totoo na 'to. 'Wag niyo na akong ihatid, kaya ko na. I love you two, matulog na ha?" pasigaw na aniya habang kumakaway na naglakad palabas.
Nang makalabas si Tita Nica ay pasalampak akong umupo sa sofa habang si Vince naman ay dumiretso sa kusina, iinom siguro.
When he went back, may hawak na siyang dalawang mug. Inilapag niya ang isang mug sa coffee table saka umupo sa tabi ko.
"Milk?" patanong na alok niya.
I accepted the mug and then mouthed him my thanks.
We stayed there like that. I'm drinking my milk while he's observing me.
"You could sleep in my room, tatabi na lang ako kay Liarra," basag ko sa katahimikang namamayani sa pagitan naming dalawa.
"I'll sleep here, magigising pa si Liarra kapag pumasok ka sa kwarto niya. Both of you need a good night's sleep," he insisted.
Tumango ako at hindi na sumagot pa, wala na akong lakas para makipagtalastasan sa kaniya. I tried reflecting on what happened earlier, kahit saang anggulo ko tingnan wala akong maling sinabi. It will never be the victim's fault. I'm deeply disappointed with the law and the one who's tasked to implement it. Just by thinking about those who can't speak up because of our trashy justice system makes my blood boil to the highest extent.
Maybe if I wasn't brave enough to speak out earlier, mababasura lang din 'yong case namin. Those sexual offenders should be held accountable for their actions, it is never about what we wear and what time we go home, it's about their sick mindset.
I was too lost with my own thoughts kaya napa-igtad ako nang kunin ni Vince ang mug na hawak ko. He knelt in front of me and then lifted his hand to wipe my cheeks using his thumb.
"Do you mind telling me why you're crying?" malambing na tanong niya habang marahan pa ring pinununasan ang luha kong hindi ko alam ay iniluha ko pala.
"This... This is just so frustrating," pasusumbong ko. "This is the curse that women will live with every day... forever to be exact," I said in between my heavy sobs.
Para akong batang nagsusumbong sa kaniya, but I couldn't care less because I need to get this out of my chest.
"We will have to deal with the double standards and all the victim-blaming stuff all our life. It's always, 'What were you wearing?' not 'Why did you catcall her?'. Women are always the ones being questioned as if it's our fault why we are sexualized," I added while still sobbing and trying to fight back my tears from falling. "They are invalidating what we are feeling, the fear, the anger, even the trauma that they inflicted on us, they view it as nonsense. The society always favors the offenders and blames the victims, the irony," I said, tasting the bitterness as it spread through my mouth.
He pulled me to a hug and gently brushed my hair in an attempt to calm me down. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I feel bad for those women who can't speak up about what happened to them. I can't imagine how scared they were," nanghihinang saad ko.
He didn't say anything except that one "I'm sorry". He just listened to my rants and my ugly crying while hugging me, and that's exactly what I need.
I cried my heart out that night, inilabas ko ang lahat ng frustration na naipon sa dibdib ko. As much as I hate it when someone sees this side of me, I must admit that it feels great to have someone to listen and hold me tight while I'm bursting out.
It's soothing, gentle, reassuring, and comfortable. It feels like... home.
