Mid-Air Ball (The Athletes #1) PUBLISHED UNDER KPUB PH

Epilogue 3

Zoren Gray C. Montevinski

"Stay there for a while, Gray..." si Mommy habang nag-iimpake ako. "Your sister needs you, and you need... time for yourself, too."

Hindi ako umimik. I don't have the energy to talk. Ubos na ubos ako kanina. Ubos na ubos ako.

"Please, don't stress Alanis. If possible, do everything she wants," pagpapatuloy ni Mom.

Bumukas ang pinto at nakita ko ang pagsulong ng ulo ni Maddizon. I rolled my eyes at her. Nabalitaan ko ang mga messages na si-nend niya kay Kesian kanina lang.

"Tita, naka-book na si Kuya ng ticket. Sasama po siya," Maddizon announced to my Mom.

"That's good, then. Halika sa baba, may meryenda roon..."

Nagpatuloy ako sa pag-aayos. My phone notified and I saw my wallpaper. Dinampot ko ang cellphone ko at tinapon sa kama ko. Naglakad ako papunta sa kama ko at binagsak ang aking katawan doon. I closed my eyes and wished this is just a dream. A nightmare.

I know she's not cheating on me. I know she's just jealous. Iyon ang pilit kong pinapasok sa utak ko. But my heart felt her heart was already tired. Pagod saan? Sa akin ba? Pagod na s'yang kasama ako? Damn, saan siya pagod? Gagawa ako ng paraan.

Maybe she just needs time as I do.

"Where's Alanis?" I asked Ori when we arrived at their place.

Pumasok na ako sa mansion sa Los Angeles. Ori was following my way upstairs.

The door opened, and Alanis' eyes widened. Kagigising yata kaya naman gumaan ang aking pakiramdam. She jumped on me and hugged me tight. Narinig ko ang hagulgol niya sa aking leeg. And I felt the longing in the way she hugged me tightly.

"Kuya!" she said and hugged me tighter. "You're here..."

I was stunned. As a brother, I feel like thousands of knives were stabbed into my heart.

Nakahiga na siya sa kanyang kama. Her room was painted like a flag for car racing. Namumugto ang kanyang mga mata habang patuloy ang pagtulo ng luha. I was just watching her. I couldn't tell her to stop, because I know that crying will ease the pain at least.

"I miss Sean... I miss him so badly. Maybe if I wasn't stubborn, he's still here... Right?" she cried in front of me.

"Hindi mo kasalanan, Alanis. Stop blaming yourself and heal... It's been years..."

"How can I not blame myself? Ako naman talaga... ang dahilan kaya siya namatay!" she screamed her lungs out. Pain and rage were all I could see in her eyes.

I stayed there for some minutes. Palihim kong binalikan ang dahilan kung bakit siya naging ganito. She was not like this before. She's totally now the complete opposite of what she was. I know there's this thick mask that facading her. I couldn't blame her... The past was indeed cruel to her.

"Ilang buwan ka na rito, Kuya. If you think I need a goddamn babysitter, umuwi ka na!" She rolled her eyes while we were ice skating.

I didn't say any. Hindi niya pa alam ang nangyari... Kahit pwede naman na akong umuwi, parang ayaw ko muna. That place was a nightmare to me.

"Wait!" She managed to stop me. Nahinto kami sa gitna. "Don't you tell me... Gray! You two broke up?!"

I smirked without humor. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Kesian noon... Hindi naman kami. Ano nga raw ba kami? Friends? Flings? Fuck...

"Hindi naging kami," tanging sagot ko.

My fault, though. I wasn't ready to be in a relationship at a young age. Confused din ako sa actions niya. At kung kailan handa na akong ibigay sa kaniya lahat...