Chasing Chances [TSC Book 2]°KathNiel° ✓COMPLETE

Chapter Nineteen: Unforgotten

It was so painful to watch tita Miracle and tito Sven after we sent Mirana to a mental facility. I can't imagine myself in their situation. If it broke my heart, what did it do theirs? Shattered. It definitely shattered their hearts.

"Thank you, son. If it weren't because of you, I just don't know where our princess is right now." Tita Mira told me before I left.

"Mirana is like a sister to me tita." I told her sincerely.

Paalis na sana ako no'n nang maalala ko ang babaeng nakita ko sa labas ng bahay nila. Bumalik ako para tanungin sila patungkol do'n.

"No. Nobody visits Mirana while she's in the house. Si Arlo lang ang araw-araw na pumupunta sa bahay." Pahayag ni tita na nagpalakas lalo ng kutob ko na nasa panganib ang buhay ng kaibigan ko.

Arlo! I have to see him. He lied about Mirana. He must have known something. For all I know, he knew Mirana's condition a long time ago. Kaya mula sa facility, dumiretso ako sa bahay nila. Wala siya roon kaya nakapirmi pa ako ng ilang minuto sa bahay.

"Your cousin's definitely at your foster family's residence right now, Zacchary." Tita Bel joked but I couldn't laugh at it. I used to do so every time she refers the Hamiltons as my foster family, like as if I was adopted. "I don't know what's going on with those two. Everyone was so excited about the wedding and they just suddenly cancelled it last year. Tsk."

Last year. Did she say last year? I just knew it about two or three months ago! Mirana announced it back then. Why is my life suddenly made up of lies?

Naghintay pa ako ng ilang oras pero hindi dumating si Arlo kaya nagpaalam na ako kay tita Bellaflor na umuwi. Kaya lang eksaktong paglabas ko ng gate, dumating rin ang kotse ng pinsan ko. Hinintay ko siyang bumaba na ginawa niya naman. Hindi nakatago ang lungkot at pangamba sa kanyang mga mata.

"Dude, I have to see Mirana." He said straightaway. "Get her out of there."

"Arlo, she needs it. Kailangan niyang magpagaling."

"Hindi baliw si Nana!" Sigaw niya, nanlilisik ang kanyang mga mata.

"Alam ko. Pero kailangan niya ng tulong."

"No. You have to get her out of there! Look, man! I can take care of her! I promise to look after her-"

"Why didn't you tell me? Matagal mo na bang alam 'to, Arlo? Gaya ng gaano katagal nang nakaurong ang kasal niyo?"

"Hindi mo maiintindihan, Zacchary. Kahit kailan, hindi."

"Let me know! What's the truth?" I asked authoritatively.

Ang mga mata niyang kanina ay matapang na sumalubong sa titig ko ay naging matamlay. May takot na nakarehistro do'n na para bang ayaw niyang ipakita. Tumingin sa malayo si Arlo.

"Dude, come on. We don't hide anything from each other." I encouraged, hoping he'd tell me the whole story about him and my bestfriend.

"You will never understand, Zacc." Umiiling na wika niya.

Akmang papasok na siya ng bahay pero huminto rin siya sa paglalakad nang magsalita ulit ako.

"Tungkol ba 'to sa asawa ko?"

Hindi siya sumagot. Nagsimulang bumugso ang galit sa puso ko. Parang sasabog 'yong dibdib ko at gusto kong saktan si Arlo.

"Man, answer me! Is it about Chances?" I iterated angrily.

"N-no!" He blared back after facing me. "Lagi nalang Zacc, puro nalang si Chances! Matagal na siyang wala! Can you turn your eyes to the thing that really matters? Damn, Zacc. Puro ka Chances e. Ang dami mong hindi nakikita ng dahil sa taong matagal ng wala."