Drowning Emotions (Isla Series #5)

07

"Crush? What are you, an elementary student?"

I pushed Marco away from me and continued sipping on my latte, trying to understand the unusual beat of my heart. Natawa lang siya sa sinabi ko at nagkibit ng balikat.

"Let's go back?" he invited.

Tumalon ako pababa ng counter at naunang naglakad, dala-dala ang baso. Nagpatuloy siya sa pag-aaral habang ako naman, nag-search ng mga law books na kakailanganin kong bilhin for my third year.

"Yeah?" Marco looked at me in question when I removed his earphone.

"Your music's too loud. I can hear it already," I informed him, hoping he'll turn it down.

Natawa lang siya at kinuha sa kamay ko ang earphone bago sinuot ulit. Hindi man lang niya hininaan ang volume noon, unbothered. I shook my head and let him be. Siya naman mabibingi, eh! Willing naman akong sumigaw para marinig niya ako.

When I was done searching for books, I proceeded with watching a mystery series on Netflix. It's almost midnight but I wasn't sleepy because I usually sleep when the sun is almost rising.

It was hard for me to renew my sleeping schedule because it has been this way since high school due to my calltime tapos class schedule. Lumala pa noong nag law school na ako.

"Yeah?" Marco looked at me when I removed his earphone again.

"Ikaw iyong may ari ng bar," I concluded, ngayon palang na-realize iyong pinag-usapan namin kanina habang ginagawan niya ako ng latte sa apartment nila.

Marco looked at his wrist watch, checking for the time. "It took you almost three hours to process that, Ica." He laughed a bit.

Ngumuso ako at tinabunan ang bibig ko sa hiya. I was slow for a moment!

"The bar's my dad's peace offering for cheating on my mom and leaving us alone. Such bullshit, right?" He rolled his eyes, getting his specs from my eyes and wearing it on his.

"Seryoso?" Niloko si Tita Amara tapos binigyan pa ng peace offering?! Ang walang hiya naman noon!

"Parang tanga, 'no? Akala siguro sasaya kami dahil doon. Iniwan niya kami dahil hindi niya raw mahal si Mama. Limang anak tapos iyon ang rason niya. Sus, loko," he said with spite.

Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng sasabihin dahil nagulat ako sa fact na nagsha-share siya ng buhay niya sa 'kin out of the blue. Gusto ko naman iyon dahil kaibigan ko na siya and I want to know my friends' stories to be cautious about certain topics.

Kasi for me, kahit na magkaibigan kayo, may limit pa rin sa mga salita. Hindi lahat dapat ginagawang joke.

"Hindi raw mahal pero nalaman na lang namin na may iba pala siyang pamilya. May tatlo pang anak." He sniggered bitterly. "Sipag ng puta."

Napaawang ang labi ko, wala na namang masabi. I was a product of my mom's infidelity and betrayal towards her husband. I feel like I don't have any right to say something about this situation.

"Kaya ako talaga kapag magkakaasawa man, sisiguraduhin kong pantay ang pagmamahal namin dalawa."

I smiled at him. "Akala ko dahil doon 'di ka na naniniwala sa love," I told him with full honesty.

"Gago lang ako pero hindi naman ako manloloko tulad ng tatay ko. I still want to get married one day. Kung palalarin man. Ah, ewan! Wala pa sa isip ko iyan ngayon. Matagal pa." Natatawang umiling siya bago sinandal ang ulo sa sofa.

Tinapik ko ang balikat niya. "Ako naman, gusto ko mas lamang ang pagmamahal ng asawa ko," I shared. Kumuha ako ng pillow at nahiga sa carpet, nakatitig sa ilaw na nakakabit sa ceiling ko.