He's My Cousin!

[Ch.55] Only One For Me

Hi! Medyo slow update sa past chapters pero I'll try to regularly update again. Belated happy valentine's day! ♥ May bago na pala akong Facebook, nakakatamad kasi maglinis ng old account. Nasa external link, add niyo ako. Chos.

[Ch.55] Only One For Me

// Ayanna's Point of View

"Baba rin 'yung lagnat niya 'pag umpekto na ang gamot," sabi ko upang kahit papaano ay maibsan ang pag-aalala ni Leigh. Kanina pa kasi siya hindi mapakali. Hindi naman kasi sakitin si Jiro at kadalasan ay ito ang nag-aalaga sa kaniya. She wasn't use to having it the other way around. Hindi siya sanay nang siya ang nag-aasikaso kay Jiro. At aaminin kong ganoon din ako.

She looked at me, worry painted all over her face. "Thank you, ate," she said as I gave her a small smile in return.

Walang-wala ang ginawa ko para sa lahat ng nagawa ni Jiro para sa akin. This was nothing compared to the safe haven he offered me for years, for keeping my secret, for never looking down on me even if he had all the rights to. He understood me in times I couldn't even understand myself. He loved me in spite and despite of my shortcomings. There was nothing to love about me anymore. I was a wrecked girl who never even looked back at him the way he did to me. But he saw what I cannot see. He still saw parts of me still worth loving. At it hurts me that he did, because I wasn't worth it.

Lumipas ang isang oras at unti-unti nang bumababa ang lagnat ni Jiro. Nakaantabay ako sa tabi niya. Bakit ba kasi hindi siya nagpatila ng ulan? Was he crazy? I wanted to scold him, but he needs to get up from this freaking bed first.

Lumipas pa ang isang oras at naging normal  na ang temperature ni Jiro ngunit patuloy pa rin siyang pinagpapawisan. Aalis na sana ako dahil umaga ang dating ni mama at papa sa bahay kasama pa ang iba naming mga kamag-anak ngunit sakto namang dumating ang mama nina Leigh at Jiro. She insisted I stay. 

"Dito ka na magpa-umaga, Aya. Alas-tres pasado na at delikado sa daan," paalala niya.

"Pero tita--" I tried reasoning out.

She shook her head. "Ako na lang ang kakausap at magpapaliwanag sa parents mo," sabi sabay himas sa likod ko. Nagpasalamat si tita sa akin at kinuwento na nagovertime raw siya sa trabaho dahil mga newly hired iyong mga staff niya at hindi pa masyadong maalam. Binisita rin daw kasi niya 'yung isa pa niyang anak na lalaki na hindi nila kasama rito sa bahay. Simula raw three years old iyon ay sa lola na nila nanirahan. Matagal-tagal na rin daw silang hiwalay ng daddy nina Jiro. At habang kinukwento niya ang mga iyon ay hindi ko maiwasang mapansin na kumportable siya sa kaniyang ginagawa... she was disclosing a very sensitive family matter.

And I couldn't help it... but to feel that I was part of that family.

Kinaumagahan ay nagising ako ng alas-otso. Walang humapay ang pagriring ng cellphone ko at halos malaglag ako sa kinauupuan ko nang makita kong si Ella iyon. My heartbeat escalated. My best friend... the girl who used to be my best friend.

I swallowed the non-existent lump in my throat as I accepted the call, "Hello."