M A D E L I N E
WARNING: Mature scenes ahead. Reader discretion is advised. This chapter contains strong language, violence, abuse, self-harm, or highly explicit and excessive sexual activity that may be potentially offensive or disturbing to some readers. You have been warned!
Hanggang sa makabalik kami sa rest house ay hindi ko na muling kinibo si Darwin at kinausap. Nagtungo ang lahat sa dining area para kumain ng tanghalian, pero pinili kong mapag-isa kaya't dumiretso ako sa kwarto nang hindi nagpapaalam kahit kanino. Babalik pa raw kami sa mga isla pagkatapos kumain, ngunit masyado na akong wala sa mood para sumama pa.
Pagkapasok sa kwarto ay kinandado ko ang pinto para masigurong walang ibang makakapasok liban na lang kanila Nami at Myst na kapwa may mga susi.
"A volunteer in the Foundation."
Ang sakit naman no'n.
Matapos niya sabihing mahal niya ako ay gano'n niya ako ihaharap sa tatay niya?
I didn't expect that from Darwin.
Matatanggap ko pa kung ibang tao ang gumawa no'n sa akin. Pero... siya?
He said he wanted to show me off.
He said he was proud of me.
He brought me here to introduce me to his family — especially his dad.
Why did he have to deny me?
I heard someone knock on the door, and even when he didn't call for me, I already knew it was him.
I pretended to sleep and just ignored him, but a minute passed and I heard Myst's voice from the doorway. "Pasok ka, Kuya?" she asked. "Tara!"
I heard the door open, followed by the sound of their footsteps walking in, so I immediately hid myself under my blanket.
Myst jumped on her bed which is right next to mine, while Darwin's footsteps continued on echoing until I heard him stop just beside my bed.
He knelt on the floor and lifted my blanket up — just a bit — to peek at me from underneath the sheets. "Hey," he whispered, smiling sadly and meeting my tear-filled eyes.
I turned my back on him and kept my entire body under the blanket.
"Do you want me to bring you food?" he asked softly. "There's lobster."
Lunch kahapon nang mag-serve rin sila ng lobster, at alam niya kung gaano ko 'yon nagustuhan. Kumukulo na ang sikmura ko pero masyado akong ma-pride para bumigay na lang.
"Mads—"
"Please get out," I whispered.
Nang marinig ang isinagot ko ay narinig ko ang madaling paglabas ni Myst sa kwarto para iwan kami ni Darwin. Narinig ko rin ang mahinang pag-click ng door knob, senyales na ikinandado niya 'yon upang walang ibang makapasok.
Tumayo si Darwin at saka umupo sa kama ko, bago ipinatong ang isang kamay sa braso ko. "Mads, talk to me..." bulong niya, pero pinandigan ko lang ang hindi pagpansin sa kaniya, at hindi na nagsalita.
Ilang minuto rin siyang nanahimik gaya ko; siguro ay nag-iisip ng kasinungalingan para ipaliwanag ang ginawa niya sa akin.
"I lost one of our biggest clients," he whispered.
Oh, my gosh.
Is he blaming me?
Pinilit ko ba siyang ligawan ako?
Inutusan ko ba siyang ihatid at sunduin ako araw-araw?
Nag-demand ba ako na ubusin niya ang lahat ng oras niya sa akin?
