The Other Side of Dominance (BxB) ✔

Chapter 44 [Alone]

Stressed pa rin ako mula sa naging interaksyon namin ni Tito Henry hanggang sa makauwi ako ng bahay. Hindi ko inaakalang ganito pa rin pala kasakit kahit ilang taon na ang nakalipas. I thought time would heal everything but it's not, it's the acceptance that would heal you. And from the time that has passed, maybe I'm still not accepting what happened to me and to Mom. I don't deserve that pain and how it changed me.

"Hey, you okay?" narinig ko ang boses ni Kuya Joko mula sa living room at pag-angat ko ng ulo ay natanaw ko siya roon. I didn't notice I was just standing there and spacing out.

"Y-Yeah." tugon ko at nilakad ang distansya naming dalawa. He was sitting on the three-seater sofa so I sat beside him. There is a can of beer on top of the coffee table that he's probably drinking.

"You don't look fine. Tell me what's going on." he whispered and then grabbed the can of beer. Tinungga niya iyon nang isang beses. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumakbo sa utak ko at inagaw ko sa kanya iyon at ininom ang natitirang alak doon.

"Hey. That's mine!" he hissed in a rough voice.

Wala siyang nagawa nang ibaba ko ang lata ng beer sa coffee table na wala nang laman. I wiped my mouth with my forearms and leaned my back on the sofa.

"Care to tell me what's going on?" aniya habang pinagmamasdan ako nang mariin.

That moment I wanted to cry, but my tears had dried up and I couldn't cry anymore. I pursed my lips and laid my head on his shoulders, no words wanted to come out of my mouth. Hinawi niya ang aking buhok at marahan itong sinuklay.

"You were alone there when Mom died. I know how difficult and traumatic it had been for you, Harper. Are you sure you're gonna be fine?" maliit at halos pabulong na ang boses ni Kuya Joko. I never saw this side of him before but after everything that had happened, he's become the sweetest among my brothers.

"I just..." I started to talk, I never had the courage to share it to anyone but I felt comfortable with him. "I keep reliving what happened that day... to Mom... and her final words..."

Nag-iinit ang gilid ng aking mga mata, ang akala kong luhang naubos na ay muling nagsimulang sumibol. I don't know how it was still clear to me, every detail, and every word Mom had said to me that day. I wanted to do what she asked me but I couldn't. I just couldn't.

"You've been carrying that with you until now?" nag-aalalang tanong ni kuya, hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat upang hanapin ang aking mga mata. When he found it, he wiped the tears away.

"Do I have any choice then?" sinubukan kong ngumiti ngunit hirap akong gawin iyon.

"Come here.." his hands moved urging me to come closer. Nang umusog ako palapit sa kanya ay binalot niya ako ng isang mainit na yakap.

In his arms, I felt warm and safe. I didn't hear any consoling words because his embrace was enough to make me feel better.

The next day I decided to go out. Baby Olli is being taken care of one of the housemaids so I'm free to go wherever I want. Besides, I haven't been able to pamper myself for the past years. And I feel like I've been locked down for so long now I want regain my freedom.

"Where are you off to?" sinalubong ako ni Kuya Atom pagkababa ko ng sala. Mag-isa siya roon habang nag-u-unload ng mga boxes.

"I'm going out." I said as if it wasn't obvious.

Pinanood ko ang kanyang ginagawa. Inabot niya ang isang cutter at binuksan ang isang kahon. "Alone?" sunod niyang tanong, hindi nakatingin sa akin.

"Yeah, alone as usual. Si Marites ang tumitingin kay Olli ngayon pero babalik din naman ako kapag maaga akong natapos." hindi ko na inisa-isa pa ang mga bagay na plano kong gawin ngayong araw dahil hahaba lang ang usapan namin.