Obsessive Love Disorder 1

Chapter 2

Habang kumakain ako ng popcorn, nakatutok lang ako sa TV. Si Tim naman nasa tabi ko, halatang hindi mapakali.

"Hindi pa rin nagre-reply si Illy sa mga text ko," alala niya.

"Baka busy," sagot ko, hindi inaalis ang mata sa TV.

Tumingin siya sa'kin, halatang kinakabahan.
"Paanong busy? Kanina pa siya hindi nagre-reply."

Napahinga na lang ako nang malalim. Ano na naman 'to? Love life ng mag-jowa ang aayusin ko? Haggard.

"Clai! Sandali!" biglang sigaw mula sa labas.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Tim.

"That voice belongs to Illy, doesn't it?" sabi niya. Aatma na sana siyang tumayo nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.

"Princess Aviana Salazar Ramos! Where are you?!" boses na puno ng inis. Ay wow. Buong pangalan ko pa talaga?

Marami kasi kaming tao ngayon sa bahay — nandito ang mga pinsan ko, puro babae pa — kaya hindi niya alam kung nasaan ako.

"Clai, stop please," pagod na wika ni Illy habang hinahabol ang batang halos sumisigaw.

"Uhmm... I'm here?" sabi ko, taas-kamay pa.

Huminto si Clai nang makita ako. Para siyang naka-pause. I smiled a little—even though I had no idea why he looked like he wanted to bite me.

"Ikaw ba ang dahilan kung bakit nagkatuluyan si ate at Nathan?" seryoso niyang tanong.

"Hey Clai, call him kuya, mas matanda pa siya sa'yo," singit ni Illy.

Pero binaliwala lang niya iyon, nakatutok pa rin ang tingin sa'kin.

"Umm... yeah. That's me," I replied as I walked toward him.

And then his tears fell. Just like that. Without any warning at all.

I panicked. "Hey... Clai?"

"Do you know... she's the only person who's ever been there for me. She's the only one who's ever loved me. And now... someone else has taken her away. I'm going to be all alone again," he cried, his shoulders trembling.

"I-I'm sorry... I didn't know..." But he had already run away.

"Clai! Saglit!" tawag ni Illy, pero hindi siya pinakinggan.

Aatras na sana si Illy para sundan si Clai, pero hinawakan siya ni Nathan.

"Kailangan niya munang mapag-isa," malungkot na sabi niya.

"Guys, pasensya na. Kung alam ko lang sana—" putol ko, pero nagsalita si Illy.

"Hindi mo 'to kasalanan, Avia. Kami dapat magpasalamat, kasi ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit kami nagkatuluyan," she said softly.

Ngumiti ako. "Don't worry... hahanapin ko siya."

"Ha? Sigurado ka?" alalang tanong ni Nathan.

Tumango ako. Wala nang atrasan.

⸻

After half an hour of walking—success. I finally found where Clai was hiding. Naka-upo siya sa gilid ng playground, yakap ang tuhod niya, parang batang nagtatampo sa mundo.

Lumapit ako. Napatingin siya sa'kin, pulang-pula ang

"Diba sabi mo... wala kang ate?" tanong ko, nakangiti.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin, parang confused.

"You know what... kahit may boyfriend na 'yung ate mo, No one could ever replace you. He loves you, Clai. And if you want..."
Nilapit ko ang kamay ko. "...I can be your ate too."

Nanlaki ang mata niya, parang hindi makapaniwala.
Tapos — unti-unti siyang ngumiti.

Inabot niya ang kamay ko. Tumayo siya, pero hindi niya binitawan ang kamay ko.

"Promise me... hindi mo 'ko iiwan ha."

Napangiti ako — kahit may maliit na kilabot na gumapang sa batok ko.

"I promise."

At bigla niya akong niyakap. Tight. Parang matagal niya na akong kilala.

⸻

Since that day, Clai has become even closer to me than his older sister. I don't know why... but I have this strange feeling that I'm putting myself in danger. Or maybe it's just my imagination. I hope so. I was exhausted from taking notes. Class was so boring. I just wanted to go home, take a shower, and lie down on my soft bed.

The bell rang.

"Okay class, dismiss," sabi ni Sir, at agad nag-unahan ang mga kaklase ko sa labas.

Nilagay ko ang notebook at ballpen sa bag, tapos lumapit ako kay Gomez.

"Huy Gomez, pahiram ng notebook mo? Hindi ko natapos i-copy 'yung nasa board, in-erase agad ni sir."

"Oh sure, eto." Nginitian niya ako. Friendly as always.

"Thanks," sabi ko, pinasok sa bag, then lumabas na ako.

Pagdating ko sa gate, nadatnan ko sina Nathan, Illy, at Clai.

Ay oo nga pala — si Claiborne Accius Villamor De la Cruz, 13 years old, gwapo, maputi, black eyes, black hair, matangos ilong, payat pero nakakabighaning bata.

The moment he saw me, he immediately wrapped his arms around my waist. As we walked, ramdam kong may kakaibang tingin si Illy sa'min. Parang... nag-aalala. O baka naninibago.

Pagdating namin sa bahay ko, biglang humarap si Clai sa ate niya.

"Ate... pwede bang dito muna ako matulog? Sa bahay ni ate Avia?"

Nagulat ako. As in sobra.

"Huh? Ah... Well, ask Avia first," sabi ni Illy.

Automatic siyang tumingin sa'kin. Puppy eyes.
Weapon of destruction.

"Payag ka po ba?" he asked, halos bulong.

Tumingin muna ako kay Illy, then kay Clai.

"S-sure. No problem. May guest room naman."

"But Clai, you didn't bring any of your things. This seems so sudden—" sabi ni Illy.

At doon ko nakita 'yon.
Yung biglang paglamig ng mata ni Clai. Parang... saglit siyang hindi si Clai. Pero baka pagod lang ako. Sana.

"May extra shirts naman dito," sabi ko, forcing a smile. "Pwede mong gamitin 'yung iba kong damit."

"Really, Ate?! Thank you!"

Another hug. He was adorable—but there was a strange feeling stirring in my chest.

"Alright, Illy. We're heading inside," I said.

Illy nodded, but there was something in her eyes she couldn't bring herself to say. I was about to step through the door when I heard her speak.

"Cess... be careful."

I turned to look at her.

"Umm... o-okay."

But I don't know why... A sudden chill ran down my spine. And I couldn't tell if it was because of what she said or because of the child gripping my hand so tightly.