Of all the things

Chapter Five

Is this really Theo? 

Hailey's

I hadn't seen Theo for a week now. Abala kasi siya sa acads niya. Finals season na, marami na siyang requirements na kailangan niyang ipasa, kahit nga ang mag-text sa akin ay hindi niya magawa. I sent him a message from time to time, he replies, pero wala kaming nabubuong conversation kasi nga nakakalimutan niyang mag-reply o kaya man, naisip niyang nakapag – sent na siya ng message pero in real life, hindi pa naman talaga. I miss him, especially at night when things around me seems so unsure.

Tama ako, pagkatapos malaman ng lahat ang tungkol sa relasyon namin ni Percy ay nagbago ang lahat. My father assigned a driver and two bodyguards to me. They are making sure na hindi makakalapit sa akin si Percy, and speaking of him, masyado siyang persistent. Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa kakasubok na kausapin ako. Actually, narinig ko mula kay Mazikeen na pinuntahan pa ni Percy so Telulah – iyong pinsan naming abogada para itanong ang tungkol sa legalities ng relasyon naming dalawa. Hindi niya maintindihan na hindi ko na talaga gustong ipagpatuloy pa ang kung anoman ang mayroon kami. I know that he feels something for me, if it's still love, good for him, if this is just about his ego, I don't know... I don't know what I'll do anymore.

Matigas ang ulo ni Percy. Ginagawa niya lang ang kung anong gusto niya at pinakikinggan niya lang kung anong gusto niyang marinig. He kept on telling me that we could survive this, na patatawarin kami ng mga magulang namin, na kaya naming ipaglaban ang pagmamahalan naming dalawa, and that's the problem. I have no idea if I am still in love with him. I knew that I loved him. I was so in love with him before, kaya nga nagawa kong suwayin ang mga magulang ko, kaya nagawa ko ang malaking kasalanang ito, kaya nga ibinigay ko sa kanya ang lahat sa akin, I know for a fact that at that moment, I was so in love with him.

But now, reality hits me – it slapped me hard. Nararamdaman ko ngayon lahat ng consequences ng mga decision ko dati. Ramdam ko ang pagbabago ng pagtrato sa akin ni Daddy, pati na rin ni Kuya Hunter. Heath seemed to be fine about it, ang motto raw niya, lahat ng tao nagkakamali. Hindi ko pa nakakausap si Ate Hyan and Hyron, well, even if he has something to say, I don't think he'd say it. I don't think he cares enough.

I sighed again. I was sitting inside the university café, minding my own business. Hawak ko ang phone ko, hinihintay ko nab aka mag-text sa akin si Theo, o kaya man, baka makita ko rito ang isa sa mga classmates ko, I just don't want to be alone right now. I sighed for the nth time, katagal ko nang naghihintay rito pero wala pa rin akong nakikita, kahit messages galing kay Theo ay wala.

I really miss him. Sana matapos na ang hell week. I wanna be with him. Theo is someone that I can be with, without pretending to be someone that I am not. He sees through me. He's my best friend and I would do everything and anything for him if he asks me too.

"Oh, nandito ka pala." I was a bit startled when I heard that familiar voice. I looked up and I saw my cousin – Tia Vejar, kapatid siya ni Percy. Inilapag niya ang bag at libro niya sa table at saka naupo sa silya roon. She was looking at me with her dark brown eyes, it's as if she was trying to pierce through my soul.

"What do you want?" I asked dryly.

"I fucking want to strangle you right now. How could you do that to my brother? Sinaktan ko siya. Bakit ayaw mong kausapin si Percy? Anong akala mo, high and mighty ka?"

"Tia, hindi ko kinakausap si Percy kasi mali ang mag-usap pa kami. Alam mo naman siguro kung anong nangyari." I told her.

"Of course I know." She said to me. "And you're a coward. Bakit hindi mo panindigan ang kapatid ko?"