Hooked (ML, #2.5)

Chapter 34

1 more chap and Epilogue! Thank youuuu!

x

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Chapter 34

Your choice

The time I said those three words, guilt swam in Maribel's eyes immediately. I don't know if she get my point but she remained statue at her place. Saktong dumating si Theo at humingi ng pasensya sa akin ng ilang beses. Inaya na niya ang Mama upang makauwi sa bahay. My phone buzzed at the same, a text message from him saying sorry again this time. Everything's back to normal after that incident. Sari kept a burgeoning grin when she is eyeing all her gift. My heart is swelling with adoration, seeing her happy. Hindi rin mawala ang tingin ko kay Saige, na pinipilit ang ngiti sa bawat tingin ni Sari sa kanya. But she kept glancing on her phone, she's clutching it tightly.

Any moment if Saige heard his name, she'd probably burst in tears, remembering him. I draped my arm over her. Wanting her to feel, I am here with her.

"Excited na 'kong buksan ang gift mo, ate," ligaya ni Sariyah.

"Me, too," I uttered.

Tumabi siya sa akin sa sofa habang nakamata. Sa kabila ko naman ay si Saige. Across our seat are their mother, watching me. I feel a shiver ran through my shoulders and go down to my spine. I lifted my lips...and smiled. They are all Sebastian's immediate family. And you know what sucks right now? That I am missing him because they all remind me of him. Their eyes are all soul-bearing, but I can describe his like the most.

"Kamusta na kaya siya?" Her Mom asked, to me, I supposed.

I bit my lip for seconds. I breathed before speaking, "Ahh...katatapos lang po ng runway niya kaninang umaga. I'd watched it online po." This is the only thing I did know right now...an update.

"Hindi siya nakaka-video chat sa amin ngayon," nguso ni Sari. "Hindi pa niya 'ko nagi-greet." May halong tampo ang boses.

"Busy lang 'yun ng sobra, Sari..." Saige whispered. "Babawin 'yon."

Sariyah crossed her little arms. Tinago ko ang aking emosyon. Lumipad muli ang tingin ko sa Mama nila na nakatitig pa rin sa akin. "Nakausap mo na ba siya?"

Umiling ako. "Chat lang po, pero sandali lang." Kamustahan lang.

Their mother nodded. "Text lang din kami saglit lang. Abala siguro talaga 'yon ngayon. Hindi rin nga nababanggit kung kailan ulit balik niya. Kasi sabi niya baka lumipat naman ng ibang bansa." I don't know.

Really.

"Siguro po..." bulong ko.

Sumunod na nag-usap ang dalawang magkapatid patungkol sa magiging pasalubong ng kapatid sa kanila. Saige's eyes lit up when she told about the new arrival in Kendall and Kylie's shop. Si Sari ilang beses binanggit ang concert tungkol sa The 1975. Habang ang Mama nila'y tumatawa at napalabas ng 'di oras dahil may tumawag sa kanya, Ninang ni Sari ay dumating. Umalis din siya kasama ang Mama. Naiwan kami ni Saige sa loob ng sala. Sabay kaming napatingin sa isa't isa.

"How are you?" I asked, concern.

"Medyo...uhm..." Napaisip si Saige.

"Are you texting him?"

Saige shook her head.

"No..." She choked a little. "I'm just starting to delete our photos." Fuck. I curse silently inside my head for the pain I could feel, radiating from her. Mas pinisil ko ng mabuti ang balikat niya. "Hirap pala...konti." She laughed in a pain sob. I can't imagine, me, yes, fucking me, deleting our photos together, because it means, purging everything, every adventure, every happiness, every love you all fill to each other in just one heart break.