Artificial Love | SB19 Justin ✓

14

The first thing Ayi did when she got home was double lock the door. If she only had another lock with her, she'd put on more. May susi rin kasi ng condo unit niya sina Sejun at Stell kaya ng mayroon siya ng susi sa kanila.

Natatakot si Ayi na makapasok sila sa bahay niya kung sakali mang sinundan siya ng mga ito. Ayaw niyang makita sila. Not after they made a fool out of her.

Ayi didn't even have the energy to get to her room or even the living room. Napasalampak siya sa hallway, too weak to stand up again. Her tears began to fall again.

Tumigil lang siya sa pag-iyak kanina habang pinagda-drive siya ni Ken pauwi. Kanina, nag-uumapaw ang galit na nararamdaman niya.

Ngayon, it was an overwhelming wave of disappointment.

Justin is not even the main reason for her heartache right now. Mas dinadamdam niya yung panloloko sa kanya nina Sejun at Stell.

They've been friends since high school. They've been her family since her own family failed her. They know her more than anyone else.

Pero pati sila, pinaglaruan siya. It was as if they didn't care about her at all.

After who knows how long, nakatayo rin si Ayi mula sa pagkakasalampak sa hallway. She went into the living room and curled up on the couch, her tears still falling uncontrollably.

She fell asleep just like that.

—

The next morning, Ayi woke up at the sound of knocking on her front door.

She realized then that she fell asleep wearing the same clothes she has worn since her unfortunate meeting with her dad, but she couldn't care less. Wala siyang sapat na pakialam para magbihis man lang nang mas malinis na damit.

Slowly, she went to her front door.

Hearing her friends' voices from the other side killed her.

"Ayi." It was Sejun's voice. "Ayi, we're really sorry."

"Ayi, pagbuksan mo naman kami," sabi ng boses ni Stell. His voice cracked.

"Ayi..." Justin's voice was the softest. Halos hindi ito marinig.

Umiling si Ayi. Nagsimula na naman siyang umiyak.

"No," she whispered softly. Hindi ganun kadali yun, gusto niyang sabihin.

—

Another day passed and Ayi still hasn't left her house.

Thankfully, she got out of bed and showered, but she spent most of the two hours she stayed there crying.

As soon as she got dressed, nagsimula na naman siyang makarinig ng mga boses mula sa pintuan. Sila ulit ito. Sighint, Ayi continued to ignore them.

Hindi pa niya maiproseso yung ginawa sa kanya. Hindi pa siya handang kausapin sila.

—

The three boys were indeed at the other side of the door, whispering to each other.

"Jah, umuwi ka na. Kami na rito," sabi ni Stell. Nakatayo sila ni Sejun sa harap ni Justin.

Si Justin naman ay nakasalampak sa lapag at nakasandal sa pintuan ng condo ni Ayi. He shook his head. "No, kuya. Hindi pa siya kumakain."

Beside him is an insulated bag. Nasa loob nito ang mga niluto niya para kay Ayi.

"I don't think she'll let us in today, Jah," Stell said, his voice soft.

"Kahit hindi niya tayo papasukin, kuya," sabi ni Justin. "Basta kunin nya lang itong pagkain at kumain siya."