Flora in the Dark

Chapter 5

"What are you doing here Joshua?" tanong ko ng makalabas siya sa wardrobe. Dumeretso siya sa sofa at umupo sa tabi ni Martha.

"P-pre.." hindi siya makapagsalita. Bumaling naman ako kay Martha.

"Z-zyair I'm s-sorry" nakatungong aniya

"S-so, you two are... t-together?" kinakabahan man ay nagawa ko paring tanungin.

"Marcellus don't t-tell to the assemblé I'm b-begging you" si Martha.

Napapikit nalang ako. I don't know what to do! Bawal 'to sa assemblé! Lalo na kapag nalaman nila Mom at Dad! Napaupo ako sa adjacent na upuan sa sofa.

"'What are we going to do now? What now Martha Zada?" hindi ko mapigilan na itanong sakanya.

"i k-know this is not allowed but please Marcellus? Don't tell anyone. Gusto ko lang din naman sumaya, all my life I didn't get to have any of our parent's attention. Please Zyair, please" umiiyak na siya. Lalapit na sana ako pero agad na pinatahan siya ni Josh. So this is the reason why this dumbass is avoiding me huh?

"Josh follow me" tawag ko sakanya papuntang balcony.

"Zyair no.." angal ni Martha.

"Babe" sita ni Josh sa kambal ko. Then I gestured him to follow me.

Sumandal ako sa railings dahil medyo natagalan si Joshua na lumabas dahil narinig ko pa siyang bumuntong hininga. We stayed silent for a few minutes, kinakapa kung sino ba dapat ang unang magsalita.

"Zyair p-pare" sa wakas nagsalita na rin siya.

"Josh.""

"Zyair pare, I d-didn't mean to tol. You see nakilala ko siya when I was partying, we were 17 years old that time. Tinulungan niya kasi kami nila Nate na gumawa ng fake ID para makapasok sa club. Hindi alam nila Nate. Don't worry" he explained carefully, worrying that he might say any taboo words that might offend me.

"Josh it's not like that. I don't really care kung malaman nila Nate. pero hindi mo alam ang pinasok mo. Kapag nalaman to ng parents namin, kahit 1 month palang kayo, they will force you two to get married." pag-explain ko sakanya.

"M-married?" his eyes grew wider.

"You heard what I said Josh. You two will spend the rest of your lives being tied to each other. Masyado pang bata ang kambal ko Joshua." I told him honestly.

"Why would we get married? I m-mean, yes I have plans to marry her pero we're still freaking 18 Zyair. Enlighten me." naguguluhang tanong niya.

"Saka na Josh. Kapag handa ka nang makilala kung sino ba talaga siya. Ang mahalaga, huwag mo siyang ilelegal, sa magulang mo, sa mga kaibigan mo, lalo na sa mga hindi mo kakilala. Huwag na huwag niyong ipagkakalat 'tong relasyon niyo." I said sternly.

"Does that mean.. papayag ka na we're together?" dahan dahang sabi niya, parang nangangapa.

"I didn't say that, prove yourself to her. Love her unconditionally, like what she said, she never got any attention from our parents. At sa oras na malaman ko na nasaktan mo siya, huwag ka nang magpapakita sa'kin. Ever." banta ko sakanya. Zada is my princess. Of course yung older sister ko din but matanda na iyon, kaya na niya yung sarili niya. Zada is weak, not physically but mentally. Sa aming tatlo she has the softest heart so she doesn't have to beg to me to not tell anyone. She is like my baby after all.

"I won't pare. I swear." sabay lahad niya ng pinky finger niya.

"Gago ang corny mo ugok!" napangiwi ako, nakakakilabot pala kapag naiinlove ang isang tao! Kadiri!