Chess Pieces Aftermath: Lucius D'Angelo

Chapter 12

"Eh, loko naman pala 'yang Ishtar 'yan, eh!"

That was Ada's first reaction after I was done telling her the story. She looked mad. Magkasalubong ang mga kilay n'ya. Her nostrils flared. I even noticed her gritting her teeth. Nahampas pa nga ang coffee table sa harap namin nang sabihin iyon.

I just stared at her, surprised by her reaction. I was... amused. She was so into it. Hindi ko akalaing ganito ang magiging reaksyon n'ya sa ikinuwento ko sa kanya. It was so amusing to see her react this way to the story of a stranger, of someone she barely even knows.

I was even surprised at how easily I told her about Angela. Isang bagay na hirap na hirap akong ikwento sa mga kaibigan ko. It took me more than a decade to finally tell them about Angela. Hirap na hirap pa nga akong ikwento iyon.

But with Ada, it was different. It was easy for me to tell the story. It just flowed out in me almost naturally. Na para bang ilang taon akong hindi nahirapan sa pagkukwento noon.

Ada let me finish the story first before giving her reaction. Hindi nga nagsasalita habang nagkukwento ako. But I could see clearly her reaction in some parts that were too much for her. Pinipigilan lang magsalita. Pero kitang-kita ko naman ang nararamdaman n'ya as she was so easy to read. She really waited for me to finish the story before saying anything.

That's why right now, she looked mad.

"Nakakainis, ha?" sabi pa n'yang mas lalong napasimangot. "Lapit pa talaga s'ya nang lapit sa 'yo. Hindi ba s'ya nakokonsensya sa ginawa n'ya?"

I just watched her as she ranted. It made me feel good somehow. It felt as if she was letting it all out, for me. Just watching her felt as if I was the one who was also ranting too. Nababawasan ang bigat ng loob ko dahil sa ginagawa n'ya.

Is this the reason why people like opening up to strangers? Besides the fact that you could let out some burden in your chest? Ang bilis kong naramdaman ang bahagyang paggaan ng pakiramdam ko. Kahit na alam kong mas lamang pa rin ang bigat sa dibdib ko, still, this was an achievement.

I took a deep breath, feeling relieved that there was more space now in my chest for me to breathe.

"Grabe, kung ako 'yon, mahihiya na akong ipakita 'yung pagmumukha ko sa 'yo," she said. "Hindi mo na nga s'ya pinakulong, eh."

"Apparently, she doesn't feel the same."

"Iyon nga, eh. Tapos pinipilit n'ya pa 'yung gusto n'yang mangyari kahit ayaw mo na naman." She sighed. "May mga taong gano'n, 'no? Sobrang insensitive. Ang kakapal ng mukha."

I chuckled. Ang diin kasi ng pagkakasabi n'ya. Parang may pinanghuhugutan.

"Totoo nga!" giit n'ya. Akala yata ay hindi ako naniwala dahil sa mahinang pagtawa ko. "Maraming gan'yan. Parang wala silang pakialam sa nararamdaman ng ibang tao. Ang gusto lang, mangyari 'yung gusto nila. Hindi nila iniisip kung gaano ba nasasaktan 'yung tao dahil sa ginawa nila. Kung gaano kalaki ang naging epekto ng ginawa nila. Parang mga 'di nag-iisip."

I pursed my lips, trying to keep myself from smiling. But I knew I couldn't stop it so I just tried to hide my smile from sipping the tea again. Itinago ko sa kanya ang ngiti ko.

It was amusing how she was reacting so much to my story. Parang bawing-bawi ang ilang taon kong kinipkip ang sakit sa dibdib ko dahil sa nakikitang kong mga reaksyon mula kay Ada.

"Are you bad-mouthing Ishtar behind her back?" I casually asked. Pinipigilan pa rin ang ngiti.

Ada looked like she only realized what she'd done. She looked guilty for a second. Napangiwi pa nga.

"Ah... Inagawan ba kita? Ikaw ang dapat gumawa no'n, 'no? Ikaw naman 'yung nasaktan n'ya."

"What?" I asked, confused.