Speaking Heartbeats

Heartbeat 30

A/N: Hello everyone! This will be the last chapter for Speaking Heartbeats. Thank you for being with me throughout the writing process of my very first novella. I can't still believe that I was able to complete a story. Salamat sa pagsubaybay sa kuwento nina Andrei at Alexis. Stay tuned for the Epilogue. Sending love and kisses to all of you!

Heartbeat 30

"No!" tuluyan nang tumaas ang tono ng aking boses. "I always cared for you, Ate!"

Bumalik ang lahat-lahat dahil sa aking pagsabog. Gusto kong isumbat lahat ng ginawa niya sa akin....lahat ng kinikimkim na galit at naipong pagtatampo.

"Bata pa lang ako, tinitingala na kita. I always valued the moments we spent together growing up. Kahit noong umiwas ka at lumayo ang loob sa akin, you do not know how much I wanted to be close to you once again."

Hindi siya umiwas ng tingin kaya't mas lalo akong ginanahang magpatuloy.

"Mahal na mahal kita kasi ikaw yung kapatid ko, pero mabibigla na lang akong isang araw, you'd tell me how much you loathed me to the core. Ano bang ginawa ko't nagkaganito tayo?"

Tears sprung free along with the corners of my eyes. Marahas ang pagtaas-baba ng aking dibdib kasabay ng aking marahas na paghugot ng hininga.

"Bakit ba gustong-gusto mo akong nasasaktan? Ginamit mo pa ang mga kaibigan ko at ang lalaking mahal ko para lang pasakitan ako. Does it give you ultimate satisfaction when you see my cry?"

I had been meaning to ask her all these questions. Sa ilang taong tiniis ko lahat ng kabaliwan niya, kasagutan ang gusto kong hingin...para naman kahit papaano, maitindihan ko siya. Pero hindi niya ibinigay, kaya't tinanggap ko na lamang na talagang abot langit ang galit niya sa akin...hanggang sa nasanay na rin ako.

"I always wanted to understand you, Ate Lorelie...but now, you're too much that I cannot handle you anymore. Kung anumang problema mo, huwag mo na kaming idamay ni Andrei!"

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Andrei sa aking kamay, kaya't bagaman nadadala na ako ng emosyon, alam kong kakayanin ko ito.

"Iyan ka na naman! Nagmamagaling!" galit na sigaw ng baliw kong kapatid. "I will always hate you, Alexis. Alam mo ba kung bakit?"

She chuckled sarcastically. "Because you always have your way with everything, little sister. You were always favored by Mama and Papa, loved by the man you love the most, and blessed with true friends. Ikaw na lagi ang matalino at magaling sa bagay-bagay."

Namumula ang mga mata ni Ate sa nagbabadyang pagtulo ng mga luha. Despite her teary eyes, her facial expression remained hard and infuriated.

"Bakit ako wala? That's so unfair.." nanghina ang kaniyang boses at nabasag.

Tuluyan nang nahulog ang mga luha sa aking mga mata habang nakatitig sa kapatid. It felt so painful to see my sister like that...lost with her insecurities and jealousy.

She's envious of me, but there is nothing for her to be jealous of me.

"You know, Ate.." mahinanong pahayag ko sa kaniya. "You are seeing the beauty of life in the wrong direction. Bakit ka ba kasi naka-focus sa buhay ko?"

Natahimik ito. Iniwas niya ang namumulang mga mata at napayuko.

"Focus on yourself, on your life, and you'll see that you are also blessed."

Inangat niya ang kaniyang titig at nagkatinginan kami. I gave her a gentle smile and continued.

"Nandito kami nina Mama at Papa. You may say they don't love you, but I know they do. Even when you did terrible things to me, I still wanted the best for you, Ate."