The Love That Destroyed Us

CHAPTER 12

Sa tabang buhay ko, hindi ako kailanman nagpapasok ng tao sa buhay ko.

Everytime someone would knock at the door, I will just let it closed, afraid to open and let them break in. Lumaki ako sa pamilyang walang ibang naramdaman kundi sakit, takot, at galit. Natatakot ako. Natatakot akong magaya sa nanay ko.

She looked like a mess..a fool. She let her husband hurt her repeatedly. I was disgusted.

I swore that I will never become like her. I will never love someone..because I knew I would become like her.

But with Yohan repeatedly knocking at my door, I didn't know what to do. Should I let him in or should I continue to closed the door like what I used to do?

I agreed to what Yohan asked me. Pumayag ako na patuloy kaming magkikita kahit matapos na ang bahay.

Hindi ko nga alam kung paano niya ako napapayag. Konting lambing lang ng boses niya ay bigla akon tumango.

I bit my lower lip as I stared at my laptop.

Wala namang masama..kung subukan ko, diba?

It's been one week since we agreed. Hindi na masyadong nagpapakita si Yohan dahil patapos na ang bahay. Actually, natapos na, they just needed a little touch, and it's completely finished.

Sinimulan ko na ring mag-impake ng mga gamit ko dahil paniguradong sa susunod na linggo ay lilipat na ako.

I am so excited! Gustong gusto ko nang makaalis sa bahay na iyon.

Kaya nang matapos na ang bahay ko, maaga akong nagising upang lumipat na. Yohan came with his car, offering his help.

Pinabayaan ko na lang siya. Hindi ko rin naman kayang ako lang. I hired some people to carry heavy things.

Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko sisimulang mag-ayos. Ang daming gamit! It would take too much time for me.

That's why I decided to take only the necessary things. Bibili nalang ako ng mga gamit kapag naayos na ang bahay.

Ibinenta ko na rin ang dating bahay, and thankfully, may bumili agad.

All of that happened in a month.

Today is my rest day. I took a one week leave.

I wore an oversized shirt, paired with a cotton short. I tied my hair in a bun and and sat on the sofa.

Binuksan ko ang t.v habang may hawak na pocorn. I was busy finding a good movie to watch when I heard a knock on my door.

It's already nine pm.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan at napanganga nalang ng bumungad sa akin ang mukha ni Yohan.

He was grinning while holding meats and vegetables. I remembered him scolding me for not eating properly kaya he told me he'll cook for me.

Hell, akala ko nagbibiro lang siya.

I cleared my throat and opened the door widely to let him in. Nangingiti siyang pumasok sa loob at dumeretso sa kusina. I followed him there.

He started washing the vegetables and I was just silently watching him. Umupo ako at pinanood siyang magluto.

"Rest day?" he asked after a long silence.

"I took a one week leave."

My stomach growled as I smelled the foods.

"Anong gagawin mo sa loob ng isang linggo?" tanong niya. He was already done cooking and he's now serving the foods.

"I don't know. Matutulog?"

Come to think of it, wala akong masyadong gagawin. I'll just stay at home watch movies, eat, and sleep. Hindi naman kasi ako mahilig na mamasyal.

He stayed silent after that. It's okay though. I like silence.

Naglagay siya ng pagkain sa plato ko at pagkatapos ay naglagay din siya sa plato niya.

"Thank you," I said.

He cocked his head to his side. May maliit na ngiti sa labi niya.

"Alam mo, Iris? Ang sarap mong alagaan," he said out of nowhere.

Nabulunan ako sa kinakain kaya agad niya akong binigyan ng tubig. I drank the water, trying to calm myself.

"Hindi ako bata," I rolled my eyes.

"Bata lang ba ang pwedeng alagaan?" he arched a brow.

I just shrugged and continued eating. In fairness, ang sarap ng luto niya.

He chuckled and he continued eating too. Hindi ko alam pero para bang tuwang tuwa siya habang pinapanood akong kumain.

When I was done, I presented to wash the dishes. Nasa gilidko siya, pinapanood akong naghuhugas ng pinggan. He looks like a kid.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya. "Pwede kang manood kung bored ka."

He shook his head. "It's okay. Mas gusto ko dito," aniya.

I shrugged my shoulders. Patapos na akong maghugas nang biglang umulan ng malakas. Kitang kita sa bintana ang lakas ng ulan.

I wiped my hands after I finished washing the dishes. Nakabuntot lang siya sa likod ko habang naglalakad ako papunta sa sofa.

Bakit ba sunod ng sunod 'to? Parang aso.

I sat on the sofa and picked the remote. Natigilan ako nang mapagtantong nakatayo pa rin siya sa gilid ko, bahagyang nakanguso. Tila may gusto siyang sabihin.

"Ano?" I arched a brow. "Won't you go home?"

Umiling siya. "Malakas ang ulan, Iris," he stated the obvious.

"May sasakyan ka 'di ba?" I asked. Nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa t.v.

"Madulas. Baka maaksidente ako..."

"Hintayin mo nalang tumila."

Bumusangot siya. He sat beside me. Nagpapaawa pa ang kaniyang mukha.

"Iris.." he poked my waist. Buti nalang wala akong kiliti.

"Ano?" I asked, my eyes still on the t.v.

"Dito nalang ako matulog.."

"Hindi," I immediately answered.

"Sa sofa lang naman ako," he continued poking my waist.

I was annoyed so I caught his hand and glared at him. Natigilan siya at napatingin sa kamay naming magkahawak.

"Sige na, Iris. Hindi ka ba naaawa sa'kin?" pang giguilt trip niya pa sa'kin.

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine," bintawan ko ang kamay niya at nagpatuloy sa panonood.

I was enjoying the show that I forgot his presence. Hindi ko nga namalayang sinusubuan niya ako ng popcorn habang nanonood ako.

"Mamamatay 'yung lalake sa huli," Yohan said.

I glared at him. "Spoiler."

He chuckled. Hindi ko siya pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang panonood kahit alam ko naman an ending.

"F‐ck," I cursed as I wiped my tears.

I just finished the movie and it was so tragic. I mean, ganoon talaga pero hindi ko maiwasang kwestyunin kung bakit ganoon.

I cleared my throat as I calmed myself.

Yohan was watching me silently. Nakakahiya. It was just a movie.

He chuckled as he wiped the remaining tears on my cheek.

"Iris, you softie..."