Almost Enough (Could Trilogy #2)

Almost #18

Almost Enough #18

Sharyn’s POV

I haven’t seen Hunter for a month already, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t; he also didn’t want me to see him.

But he’s been consistent about sending me messages and assuring me that nothing has changed between us. Ayos na ako roon—knowing he won’t disappear is better than him suddenly leaving because he doesn’t want me involved in his family’s mess.

I understood, so I’ve been keeping my distance. I didn’t want to be a bother to him, and we both know I could get dragged into it, especially with how close we are and now everyone knows he’s courting me.

That was our mistake. We shouldn’t have announced it but it’s too late. We just have to plan what’s ahead of us.

Miss na miss ko na si Hunter pero kailangan kong isipin na hindi lang puro bugso ng damdamin ang dapat na pairalin. I think I would just wait for him to show up at my front door. For the meantime, I would just talk to him via video call.

Busy rin ako sa sunod-sunod na events namin pati na rin sa klase lalo na’t matatapos na ang third year. In the next few months, I’ll be preparing for bar review.

Speaking of, nakakapag-aral pa kaya si Hunter? I heard from River na hindi siya pumapasok sa mga klase niya, tapos kay River lang din naman ako nakikibalita kasi hindi rin masyadong sinasabi ni Hunter sa akin ang problema nila. I just know there’s danger, threat. I didn’t want to go into details dahil baka mauna pa akong mabaliw sa kaniya o sa pamilya niya.

I was usually very keen with details—ngayon lang hindi ko gustong maging chismosa dahil mas maigi na hindi ko nga alam.

“Kawawa ka naman. Miss mo na si Hunter?” asar sa akin ni River habang kumakain kami ng breakfast sa bahay. Makikain na nga siya ay mang-aasar pa. 

“Iluwa mo ang kinakain mo!” Pagalit na sabi ko, tapos siya ay tumawa lang.

“He’s okay,” aniya. Naging seryoso na rin ang kaniyang mukha habang ngumunguya ng strawberry shortcake. “Well, he has to be okay but you’ll see him soon. Hindi pa kasi siya pinapayagan ng pamilya niya na umalis sa kanila. It’s complicated, pero basta mahal ka noon.”

“I know,” sagot ko na lang. “He’s not going to die?”

Nabulunan si River. “Die? Masamang damo si Hunter. Sa’yo lang naman siya mabait.”

“I wasn’t sure if I should be happy with what you said.”

He shrugged. “Pwede naman…”

Napatunayan ko na wala na naman siyang kwentang kausap kaya hindi ko na kinausap hanggang sa matapos na kami sa pagkain. 

Hindi lang naman ako ang nakaka-miss kay Hunter kundi ang buong bahay namin. Yaya Belinda kept on asking me when she was going to see Hunter. Araw-araw nga siyang nagluluto ng afritada at bumibili ng pinya para kay Hunter. 

“River, ihatid mo ‘to kay Hunter,” pahabol ni Yaya nang palabas na kami. “Naku! Huwag mong kakainin ‘yan kundi ay magagalit ako at kailangan na ihatid mo sa kaniya.”

“Ya, may pagkain naman sa bahay nila. Ang yaman kaya ni Hunter saka mabait naman pamilya niya. Pinapakain siya kada minuto, sa akin lang kayo maawa kasi walang nagmamahal sa akin,” ani River, may pahawak pa sa dibdib kaya binatukan ko.

“Ay, wala akong pakialam. Ihatid mo na kundi ay hindi kita ipagba-bake ng strawberry shortcake o kaya ay ipapatapon kita sa palasyo,” masungit na sabi ni Yaya.

Napakamot na lang sa ulo si River tapos kinuha na rin.

“Ano ba ‘yan,” he said, still ranting while we were walking towards the main gate. “Nagiging utusan na lang talaga ako rito.”