Stolen Chances

Chapter 31

Alikabok was just hugging me when the chopper started moving. I didn't dare look back. I couldn't afford seeing how I will leave the Islands where balls are everywhere. Sa isla kung saan naramdaman kong importante ako. Too bad, I won't be able to be there again.

Hindi ako nagsasalita habang pataas nang pataas ang chopper sa himpapawid. Ni hindi ko maramdaman ang takot na baka magcrush ang chopper sa lakas ng ulan. At hindi ko rin alintana ang hangin.

When the chopper landed our yard, I immediately went out of the chopper and marched to my room. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. I wanted mourn for me and Bagyo's end. I wanted to cry my heart's out. I saw my Mom and Dad waiting for me - but I didn't give them a second look. Iniwanan ko sila doon at dumiretso sa kwarto ko. Pasalamat na lang ako at hindi nila ako sinundan.

Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama ko at doon nagsibuhusan na parang gripo ang luha ko. No matter what I do, Ithaca doesn't smell like home to me. And that's the saddest fact.

Nakatulugan ko ang pag-iyak at nang magising ako ay nananakit ang boung katawan ko. Nilibot ko ang mata ko kung nasaan ako at naalala ko na naman ang nangyaring pag-iwan ko kay Bagyo. Tumulo ang luha ko pero pinalis ko rin ito kaagad.

Anong iniiyak-iyak ko? I shouldn't be crying. I choose this.

Tumayo ako. Hindi ko alam kung sinong nagdala sa akin dito sa higaan ko dahil ang naalala ko ay nakahiga ako sa sahig. Hindi ko na iyon inalala pa dahil kailangan kong malaman ang kasagutan sa lahat ng katanungan sa utak ko. Iyon lang naman ang binalik ko dito. And then after that, I'll weigh all the things involve. I have to use calculations kung ano ba ang matimbang.

Naligo muna ako bago nagdesisyong kumprontahin si Mama. Alas dose na pala. I used concealer to hide away the eyebags and my swollen eyes.

Nang makababa ako ay nagtanong ako kay Manang Opra kung nasaan si Mama at sinabi niyang nasa garden sila. Dumiretso ako sa garden at nakita silang nag-uusap-usap. I was about to go to them when I heard the name they were talking about. Tita Emilda, Tito Al, Kuya Rob, Alikabok, Kulog, Ate Janine and my parents were all there.

Nagtago ako sa pintuan at pinakinggan ang pinag-uusapan nila.

Anong ginagawa dito ni Kulog at Alikabok?

"We shouldn't be keeping our guards down. Kilala niyo naman si Knight, he's so stubborn. Gagawin niya ang lahat para makalapit kay Ariella."

Papa said and all of them agreed. Kulog was just looking at the flowers. Mukhang nag-iisip siya.

"He won't make any move, Uncle. I know that dude. Gagawa lang iyon ng hakbang kapag nagsabi na naman si Ariella ng encouragement. So what we need to do is to prevent Ariella from talking to him."

I saw how Kuya Rob's eyes covered with red.
Bakit ba napakalaki ng galit niya kay Bagyo? Sumusobra na sila.

Hindi nagsasalita si Tito Al.

"What do you suggest, Al?"

My father asked Tito Al but the other just shrug.

"Can't we just let him go?" He said after the shrug.

"What? You might be kidding me! Pagbabayaran niya ang ginawa niya kay Ariella! He made my sister, a sinner!"

Nanggagalaiting sigaw ni Kuya Rob.

"The only thing that we should be doing is to make Ariella hate him. Bakit hindi niyo lang sabihin sa kaniya ang totoo nang matapos na ito?"

And from what Kuya Rob has just said, I went out of my hide out - showing myself to all of them. The shock on their faces were visible and I hated it.