It was the saddest story I ever heard. Noong bata ako, si kuya ang pumupunta sa kwarto ko every night para basahan ako ng mga books about Cinderella, Snow White, and the like. Ngayon, siya na ang bida sa story, pero bakit ganun? Bakit ang lungkot ng sa kanya? Bakit ang sakit?
Dale ended up the story there, because he thought it was too much for me. He was scared that I couldn't handle it anymore. Besides, it was already late and I still had to go home. That night, I was crying non-stop.
Nahalata nga nila mommy na namamaga mata ko kaya hindi na nila ako pinagalitan kahit late ako umuwi. Nag sorry naman si Dale sa kanila at inassure niya parents ko na wala kaming ginawang ayaw nila. Kumain lang kami at nag kwentuhan.
The following day, inaya ko sila mommy, daddy, at ate na mag bakasyon, pero busy sila mommy at daddy. Naguilty ata sila kaya pinayagan nila kaming dalawa ni ate mag bakasyon. 2-3 days nga lang dahil may work pa si ate.
"Sagada?" Tanong ni Dale noong sinabi kong magbabakasyon kami ni ate for 3 days sa Sagada. Mukhang hindi pa siya nakakapunta doon. Ako din naman no! "Kayong dalawa lang?"
"No, kasama namin four workmates niya. Yung isa nga sa kanila, crush na crush ni ate, pero hindi naman siya pinapansin."
Tumawa siya tapos biglang naging serious mukha niya, "Ako, hindi mo sasama?" Tanong niya na parang ang daya daya ko. "I was kidding. I need to go to states. Mawawala ako, pero babalik din naman ako agad."
"What? Akala ko ba ayaw mo doon?"
He hugged me, "May kailangan lang akong gawin."
Papunta nga pala kami ngayon sa bahay nila. Gusto ng parents niyang mag dinner kasama ako. They also wanted to talk to me. 3 months ko na silang hindi nakakausap dahil nga sa nangyari sa hospital except for his mother. Lagi akong kinakamusta ni tita. Niregaluhan nga niya ako noong birthday ko ng necklace.
"You'll meet Rox, too."
"Alam ko," I said matter-of-factly.
"How did you know?" He asked.
"Kilala ko si Rox. She was my elementary classmate," I told him. "Inaway niya ako dati pero hindi ko alam kung bakit tapos pinatulan siya ni kuya, nagsumbong siya sa kuya niya kaya nagalit kuya bla bla bla. Si Rox yung batang narinig mong umiiyak dati. I was the reason why she cried."
"What?" He asked in disbelief.
I nodded, but I assured him I would be okay. I'm not even sure if she'd remember me. Sobrang bata pa kami nun at baka nga hindi rin niya alam ginawa ng kuya niya. Dale was thinking she'd remember me, though. Rox had become spoiled, but she also had become scared of her brother.
"She told me she loves her brother, but she's scared of him, as well," They had become really close after what happened 12 years ago. The incident really changed a lot of things, didn't it?
Pag dating namin sa bahay nila, his mom welcomed me with a hug and beso. Until now, she's sorry for what Raf did to my brother. Naaawa talaga ako sa kanya dahil hindi naman niya ginusto yung ginawa ni Raf, hindi naman niya ginusto magkaanak yung asawa niya sa ibang babae. Hindi rin niya masumbong si Raf dahil masisira pangalan ng asawa niya.
Sakto naman bumbaba si Rox. Pinakilala ako ni tita sa kanya. She shook hands with me, but that was it. She didn't even speak to me.
After eating dinner, tinanong ako ni Rox kung pwede niya ako kausapin. Kinabahan ako, pero sumama na rin ako sa kanya. Nag-usap kami sa kwarto niya. Tinanong ni Dale kung okay lang ba ako so I nodded at him. Bakit naman ako hindi magiging okay?
As we entered the room, "Slap me."
"Huh?" I asked to make sure I heard right. Bakit gusto niyang sampalin ko siya?
