Barangay Series #2 : Evan Dos Santiago

Kabanata 51

"You know nothing, Libero . . ." I whispered.

Kunot na kunot ang noo ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Pagkagulo kung bakit niya inungkat ang mga tapos nang nangyari. Yes, it happened. I fell in love with the man who almost ruined myself. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano ito nangyari at hindi ko man lamang ito inasahan.

He watched me being harassed, he was mistaken. He's a jerk and heartless. After he knew everything, he punished my grandfather. He's sorry about what he had done and he did everything just to punish my grandfather in his own way. Sabihin ninyo nga, ganito na ba ako kababaw magpatawad? Hindi pa ba sapat lahat nang 'yon para patawarin siya?

Miski tuloy ngayon ay kinukwestiyon ko na ang sarili ko. Ganoon ba ako kabait para intindihin lahat nang nangyari at patawarin si Evan?

"I know nothing?" he chuckled, "I know how he broke you, Hara. Hindi siya magiging magandang impluwensiya sa anak mo. Magiging demonyo lang din ang anak mo-"

I cocked my head and chuckled. Ramdam ko ang umahon na galit sa dibdib ko nang marinig na idinamay niya na ang anak ko.

"My son is already a devil by itself, Libero." I replied, "and you can't deal with it because you're just nothing but a mortal. He can even kill you in just one snap. Watch your words."

Umawang ang labi niya. Hindi niya makapaniwalang itinuro ang anak ko sa loob at tumawa.

"You will let your son grew up with that vampire?" halakahak niya. "He's not good! Are you insane? Jesus, paano mo nagawang patawarin ang lalaki na 'yan?"

"Ikaw, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Bakit mo inuungkat lahat? Grabe, Libero, years have passed na! Selos pa rin pinaiiral mo! Evan and I are now parents, natapos na lahat at napag usapan na tapos ikaw, hindi ka pa rin nakakamove-on. Mas malala ka pa sa'kin!" gulong gulong sabi ko.

I felt Evan's presence on my back. He snaked his arm on my waist and pulled me a bit away from Libero. Libero's eye glared at Evan's arm. Mas lalong humigpit iyon at dinikit pa ang katawan ko sa kaniya.

"I may be bad," imik ni Evan. "I may be ruthless. But, love is really a poison. I fell in love with the woman I hate the most. With the woman who I want to ruin because of business matters. With the woman who I'm disgusted with because she is just easily thrown by her family, thinking that she's nothing important."

Libero's jaw clenched.

"I am ready to face the consequences and punishments you want to do to me if you're not still contented with what I've done . . ." bumigat ang paghinga ni Evan. "I am ready to prove that I regretted all I had done so stupidly before."

"We don't need to punish you, moron. It won't erase the memories of what you've done to her in our mind," mahinang tawa ni Libero.

Natahimik ang buong paligid dahil sa matagal na hindi pagsagot ni Evan. I felt his thumb caressed and encircling on my arm, calming me.

"I'll allegate what you've said. I'm bad," malamig na sabi ni Evan. "But you can't do anything to get my wife and child away from me. Alam nating lahat na narito, may gusto ka sa asawa ko. Truth hurts but I am the real father of her son. She chose me after all and I'll prove to her that she won't regret it. She won't regret choosing me over you. Over all the men who praised her."

Tiningala ko si Evan. Nakatingin ito kay Libero habang nagsasalita at kalmado lamang at itsura.

"She won't experience what she experienced from the past. She will be loved by me, forever."