LARO NG TADHANA ✔

CHAPTER XIV: FOUL PLAY ✔

Chapter 13 - Foul Play

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Natulala lang ako ng ilang saglit sa mga sinabi nito.

"I didn't like their dare because I have to risk my beloved sister and her best friend.." napahinto ito tsaka tumingin sakin ng deretso. Maging akoy hindi makapaniwalang ganun pla niya ako pinapahalagahan. His beloved sister. 

"The price was high. If you win, you're gonna have the chance to choose one car from the losers. But I did not join for that. I joined because Alfonso secretly blackmailed me. He's gonna hurt either you or Gab if I don't. And knowing his family background, it's not impossible to do so. It's either one of my sisters will get hurt or I'll do the dare and choose again between u and ur friend." Naikuyom ko ang mga palad ko nang dahil dito. That monster Alfonso! Buo na ang desisyon kong tanggalan siya ng kalayaan at mabulok sa kulungan.

"But why did the race happened anyway? I thought you said you don't want to choose between Syrah and me?" Nanginginig kong sabi dahil sa galit.

"Syrah volunteered." Natigilan ako. Bakit nagawa iyon ni Syrah? Alam naman siguro nitong delikado un.

"P-paano.. Why?" Hindi ko na alam ang iisipin ko. Pati ako ay nalilito.

"She was there and she heard everything. Alam niyang hindi ko kayang ilagay sa alanganin ang buhay mo kaya nagboluntaryo ito." Syrah, bakit mo iyon ginawa para sakin? Gaano ba ako kahalaga sayo at kaya mong itaya ang kaligtasan at buhay mo?

"B-bakit hindi mo siya pinigilan kuya?" Naiiyak kong sabi rito. Pilit kong pinigilang manginig ang boses ko.

"I did." Napaangat muli ang ulo ko sa kanya. "I told that she doesn't have to do it. I am willing to give up my car for that crappy race but she doesn't want me to lose my pride to everyone. I am not that dumb to notice how she likes me and how important you are to her as her friend." Wala na akong masabi sa mga narinig ko. 

Tuluyan nang lumuha ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinpigilan.

"That dumb innocent girl... bakit kailangan niya iyong gawin sa isang walang kwentang kaibigang tulad ko? Bakit?" Hindi ko inaasahan ang pagtabi sa akin ni Kuya Warren. He pulled me up and hug me like the Kuya he was when we were a child. How I miss this feeling. How I miss this side of him. Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapahagulgol nang dahil dito.

"She maybe saw the great qualities that I always see in you. Fierce, smart, confident and true to herself." He said without breaking the hug.

"That was all just a facade. I am always fragile and weak. Ni hindi ko nga nagawang buksan ang kaso para bigyan siya ng tamang hustisya. Kailangan pang ibang tao ang gumawa para lang marealize ko kung gaano ako katanga at duwag." I said between my sobs. 

"Kung hindi ba kami nagpunta doon ay posibling hindi nangyari ang lahat ng iyon?" He pulled me away slowly tsaka tumungin sa akin. For the first time after all those years ay ngaun ko lng muli nakitaan ng emosyon ang mga mata nito.

"No Snow. Stop blaming yourself. Kahit hindi pa kayo nagpunta doon ay hahanap ng hahanap ng paraan si Alfonso para saktan ang mga taong malalapit sa akin." He erased the tears on my cheeks.

"He's always jealous about everyones attention to me. That's why I show to everyone how cold I am for them not to come closer to me. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me. But its always been inevitable. Lumaban na sana ako at humanap ng kahinaan niya simula pa lang. Kailangan pa talagang mangyari ang lahat ng iyon para lang mapatahimik ang kagagohan ng lalaking iyon." Tumingin ito sa malayo as I saw the same frustrations in his eyes. Pumunta ito sa likod ng kanyang mesa at tumayo sa malawak na glass wall kung saan tanaw ang lawak ng syudad.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi sa akin ang lahat ng to kuya?" I said standing beside him as I look out the busy city as well.

"I was in a temporary amnesia when I woke up." Muling akong napatingin rito. His face is stoic but his is in pain. Hindi niya nagawang lumingon sakin. I felt a sharp pain in my chest because of what he said.

"I-Im s-sorry kuya. I-I didn't know." Muling tumulo ang panibagong luha sa aking mga mata.

"Stop blaming yourself Snow." He said as he face me. "I choose not to tell everyone. Si Mama lang ang nakakaalam ng kondisyon ko noon." Muli siyang tumingin sa bintana tila malalim ang iniisip.