The Devirginizer's Lady (COMPLETED) (TDL SERIES #1)

Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty Four

"Mr. Adanza's Son"

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. Kuya Jahleel was so stern habang nakaupo sa isang stool sa harap ng aking kama kung saan ako nakaupo.

"Kailan pa, Athalia?" Tanong niya, nakatagilid ang ulo, naka-ekis ang mga kamay at seryosong naghintay sa aking sagot.

Ako lang at si Kuya Jahleel ang nasa loob ng aking kwarto. Si Kuya Jahziel ay walang alam na nagluluto ng hapunan sa kusina. Walang sinabi si Kuya Jahleel kay Kuya Jahziel sa nasaksihan niya kanina pag dating ko sa gate ng bahay. Now he wants me to talk and explain what he saw between me and Eleven. 

"It.. It happened recently, kuya." sagot ko. This is not how I want to confess to my brother about Eleven's relationship with me. Eleven and I are already planning to tell them that he's courting me. Plano naming sabihin sa kanila kapag natapos na ang exams, which is only a few days from now. Naisip naming mas mabuti iyon lalo na dahil ayaw din naming magkaroon ng distraction si Kuya Jahziel mula sa kanyang studies. And I know more than anyone how stressed my brother can be when it's about boys in my life. Eleven and I didn't wanna wait that long or make excuses, but we just want to consider the people around us. 

"Recently?" Tumaas ang kilay ni Kuya Jahleel. "Kayo na ba?"

Napalunok ako. "Hindi pa, kuya."

Napaawang ang bibig ni Kuya. "Pa? Hindi pa?" tanong niya. "It happened recently, huh? And you guys are already going first base? Ni hindi pa nga pala kayo nagkaroon ng siguridad sa relasyon niyong yan o kung ano man ang tawag niyan? Athalia, this is Eleven you're fooling around with. Do you even know what you're doing?" Nagsikap siya na maging kalmado, halatang halata iyon sa akin.

"We're not fooling around, kuya. Nanliligaw pa si Eleven--"

"Nanliligaw? Are you kidding me? I get it, you know? I get Eleven. I'm friends with him. But that's my point, Hanani. I get guys like Eleven. I know what they do to you. Hinahalikan ka na nga niya ng ganon tapos nanliligaw lang pa pala siya?! You should've known better. Is that how a guy courts a girl properly? And you kissed him back. Binigay mo ang labi mo sa taong ilang beses ng nagkaroon ng babae sa kama, Ath! Do you want to be just like the other girls Eleven has played with? And I honestly can't believe Eleven would actually do this to us. I trusted that guy. He's Jahziel's best friend. We fvckin let him stay in this house for what? Like two years? Anong pinakain ng Adanza na yun at nagkaganyan ka na, Hanani? I know you're old enough to decide for yourself but I can't let you hurt yourself."

Napasinghot ako at hirap na hirap akong hindi umiyak. Kalmado lamang si kuya at naiintindihan ko siya kung san siya nanggaling. But this was what I was talking about. People misunderstanding! He's misudnerstanding Eleven and his intentions! Masakit. Masakit dahil walang ginagawang masama si Eleven. 

"Kuya, mali ka. Mahal ako ni Eleven. I told you already, we're not fooling around. Tell me, kuya. If it were someone else, would you react like this? Naiintindihan ko. Eleven has this image. You're just concerned about me. But, Kuya, I saw through his image. I saw through all that surface he keeps showing to people. You think you know Eleven but you don't. He's more than what you think he is. He really is! Trust me, Kuya. Do you think I'd be that shallow to just fool around with a guy who I'd know wouldn't take me seriously? At naisip mo ba na hindi ko inisip si Kuya Jahziel at kung ano ang mararamdaman niya kapag malaman niya ang tungkol sa nararamdaman ko para kay Eleven? If this is hard for you to take in, it's hard for me too. I don't wanna hurt anyone, I don't wanna hurt Kuya Jahziel and ruin his friendship with Eleven, I don't wanna risk every good thing I have just to fool around with a guy. I'm only risking these things, you know why? Because I love Eleven, Kuya. Mahal ko siya!"