As the Chains Fall

Chapter 34

They have never fought this bad before. Kilala ko sila, lalo na mula sa mga kwento pa ni Eros sa akin dati. Ang mga magpipinsan na ito ay hindi nag-aaway. Magtalo man, hindi malala dahil palaging may isang magbibigay at mabilis ang pagpapatawad. I remember being in awe of that fact. They cannot stand being mad at one another.

So, why now?

"Can you tell them that I'm sorry? Hindi ko gusto na gawing big deal 'to... pero nangyari na. Hindi ko sinasadya na maging puno't dulo ng away ng mga pinsan mo." sabi ko kay Ethan na kinakausap ang lahat ng pinsan niya sa kabila ng hindi pagkakaintindihan.

I heard him sigh from the other line, "Hindi naman sila nag-aaway."

"Ilang araw na silang hindi nag-uusap. Ayaw ko rin na galit sila sa akin. Everyone has been kind to me, and this is how I repay them?" I voiced my worries. My legs are shaking and I've been biting my lips nonstop from the anxiety.

"You did nothing wrong, can't you see? They aren't even mad at you. The others who took your side simply didn't like how Eros has been treating you lately. The rest of them who are still talking to Eros didn't take anyone's side. Walang galit sa'yo."

God! Cousins who took my side versus those who didn't take anyone's side. I wanted to ask how Eros was because personally, I do not want to talk to him, really. I just want to know. Is he angry at me? Well, hasn't he always been?

Nehemiah, Hezekiah, Keanna, and Clementine took my side because apparently, they hated how Eros bullied me. Akala nila, simpleng ayaw niya lang sa akin, na ayaw niyang maging parte ako ng pamilya nila kaya niya ginagawa iyon. They can be right... but I don't know. Eros was never that shallow. Never.

Hindi nila alam ang nangyari sa amin dati kaya hindi iyon naging palaisipan o naging kasali sa mga pagpipilian na dahilan kung bakit maaaring galit sa akin si Eros. If they knew, would they still have taken my side?

"Sienna." I almost jumped from where I was standing on the balcony when I heard a woman's voice behind me. Mas nagulat pa ako noong nakita ko na si Ate Ezra iyon. "I want to talk to you."

Mabilisan akong nagpaalam kay Ethan Raziel at kahit parang may sinabi siyang pahabol, ibinaba ko na 'yong tawag at itinago akong cellphone ko gamit ang nanginginig na mga kamay. Kinakabahan ako sa seryosong mga mata ni Ate Ezra.

Wala akong masabi... o wala akong lakas ng loob para magsabi ng kahit ano. Her presence is so demanding. Ang buong atensyon ng isip at katawan ko ay nakatuon sa babaeng nasa harapan ko, dahil sa takot na magkamali.

She joined me on the balcony. While I am so stiff and nervous, she comfortably leaned against the glass railings, looking out at the buildings of the vast city. Pinanood ko siya hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang magsalita.

"My cousins are the most important people to me. They are my happiness, as much as I try to be theirs as well. We never fight because we hate being mad at each other. We cannot stand it. Instead, we take care of one another without expecting anything in return."

I listened while nodding my head to show that I acknowledged what she was saying. Alam ko na ang lahat ng sinasabi niya ngayon, alam ko rin na may patutunguhan na punto ito sa huli... at natatakot ako roon.

"We were so fine. We never take sides. We never fight against one another. We never choose someone who isn't family. It was always, always... family over everything. Not until you came and ruined that, Sienna."

I knew it.

I knew I was going to get hurt.

Gusto kong umalis sa harap niya dahil pakiramdam ko ay may iba pa siyang sasabihin na ikakasakit ko. Hindi ko magawang magalit sa kaniya dahil tama siya! Wala naman siyang sinasabi na hindi totoo!