Grant's Revenge

Chapter 51

Jen

Nang marinig ko yung ingay na nanggagaling sa baba ay nagmamadaling bumaba ako. Nasa stairway pa lang ako nang mapahinto ako.

Only to find that scene.

Grant lifting Hariette.

"Is she okay?"

"Move out of the way." Mahinang sabi ni Grant nang makita ako sa hagdan.

She might be carrying Hariette papunta sa kwarto nito. Wala sa sariling gumilid lang ako. Maybe Hariette was wounded, drugged, or something. And Grant isn't in the mood to talk.

Sinundan ko lang sila nang tingin hanggang makapasok sila sa kwarto ni Hariette.

Si Samantha naman ay para din wala sa sarili na nilampasan lang din ako. Even Alliston.

Do I now look like a ghost to them all?

"Hey! Everything went fine, Ate Jen. They might just be tired. Can you prepare me a meal?" Tanong sakin ni Candice. Ngumiti pa ito na parang bata.

Parang may bumara sa lalamunan ko dahil doon. Imbes na magsalita ay tumango na lang ako at pilit na ngumiti.

"Is that what being sad feels?" Curious na tanong ni Candice na naupo na sa upuan. Ako naman ay dumiretso sa countertop para icheck kung ano yung pwede kong ibigay sa kanya.

"Do you like Ramen?"

"That's noodles right?"

"Yeah. I am not sure if yo—"

"Can I have boiled potatoes or baked potatoes? I just killed someone so I have to treat myself."

Mabilis naman akong napalingon dito. Para lang kasi itong bata na ipinagmamalaki na nakakuha ito ng stars for being remarkable in class.

Nakangiting itinaas nito yung mga kamay nito na may bahid nang natuyong dugo. Mukhang proud na proud pa.

Just like Grant when she was ten. Her hands is covered with dried blood.

Naiiyak na kumuha naman ako ng tuyong towel at binasa iyon sa lukewarm water. Lumapit ako dito at pinunasan yung kamay nito.

"Why are you crying?"

Umiling lang ako dito. She must feel terrified hurting other people. Or she must feel like Grant, just nothing.

"Are you feeling the feeling I lack?" Kaswal na tanong nito. "Stop being nice. People will make advantage of you."

"Is Grant sleeping in your room these past few days?"

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Candice. Nagpretend ito na walang naririnig.

Hindi ko na napigilan yung sunod-sunod na pagtulo ng luha ko. For the past days that I am controlling my tears from falling, I had enough. I now get it.

Grant and I are over.

I could feel it. Kahit ideny ko pa ng paulit-ulit. She's falling out of love. She just don't care to me at all. She got fed up. And tired. Again.

"C'mon, you're a diamond. They can cut you. But they can't break you. Don't be such a baby." Inagaw sakin ni Candice yung towel. Pagkatapos ay tumayo ito at kinuhaan ako ng tubig. "Drink this. It has a magic potion that will take the pain away."

Napaangat naman yung mukha ko dito. She really looks like a teenager version of Grant. Her exact words, it reminds me of my lines pag binibigyan ko ng Milk-flavored lollipops si Grant noon.

"You tried to change, didn't you?" Umupo ulit sa upuan si Candice, paharap sakin. "You became more silent, tried to be softer," Napailing pa si Candice bago bahagyang natawa. "less exciting, simpler, boring.. less awake. Less human."