The Way I Do

Chapter 38

Elmo parked the car just by a cliff with a view.

Julie rested her head back on the car seat. Kanina pa kasi siya lumuluha.

Narinig niyang lumabas si Elmo sa kotse. And then he opened her car door and slowly let her out.

Naglakad sila sa may puno doon kung saan kita ang tanawin ng Tagaytay.

Magtatanghali na pero hindi ganun katirik ang araw.

Mabuti na lang talaga at mahangin sa paligid para maginhawa.

There was a tree overlooking everything.

Dahan dahan na hinila ni Elmo si Julie papunta doon. Tumayo sila sa ilalim ng puno habang nakatingin sa view sa harap nila.

Hindi na napigilan ni Julie. She sobbed again, covering her mouth with her hand.

Nakatingin pa din siya sa view sa harap.

Mabuti na lang at malamig ang hangin.

Naramdaman niyang tumatayo si Elmo sa likod niya at niyayakap siya.

She continued sobbing as she leaned against him. "Moo...Tita Ruffa knew. All my life she knew. I'm sure hindi lang siya ang may alam." Lumuha siya muli at agad na pinunasan ang lumalandas pababa.

"I'm not siding with her." Sagot ni Elmo habang hinahalikan ang tuktok ng ulo niya. "But maybe she has an explanation for all of this."

Napabuntong hininga si Julie. Gets naman niya ang sinasabi ni Elmo. She knew there was an explanation.

"Naiisip ko lang talaga na hindi man lang niya sinabi sa akin."

She felt Elmo pulling her slowly forward.

He gave her a gentle smile. "Moo, tayo lang ang nandito. Sigaw ka. Ilabas mo."

Napatingin si Julie. She did read somewhere that things like that helped.

"Ready?" Elmo asked.

He braced himself as well as he held Julie's hand.

They looked at each other before letting it all out.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

"May kambal pala ako my whole life putanginaaaaa!!!!" Julie yelled.

She was panting as she shouted with all her might.

Tapos ay napangiti na din siya.

She turned to Elmo and saw that he was looking back at her.

"Felt good right?" He murmured as he fixed some stray hairs away from her face.

Napangiti si Julie.

She nodded her head as she breathed in.

Naupo lang sila ni Elmo doon.

Hindi naman umiimik ang lalaki.

He was content with just holding her.

"What do you think happened no?" Sabi ni Julie habang nililingon si Elmo.

Nakasandal kasi ang lalaki sa may puno at siya naman ay nakasandal sa dibdib nito.

"Maybe your parents had a falling out?" Elmo suggested. "And they they decided to separate you two."

Napaisip si Julie. Sinubukan niya kasi alalahanin kung may memories ba siya.

She blinked.

Shit. Maalala pa ba niya kung may kambal nga siya o ano man? Hindi diba?

"Should we go back?" Elmo suggested. Tanghali na kasi talaga.