Kapitulo 4

I stood up from sitting in her bed cautiously. I took a deep breath and looked back to her bed before closing her door. I leaned against her door and tears started to escape in my eyes. I close my eyes emphatically as I felt a stab in my chest. I gritted my teeth and tried to calm myself. I have to calm myself first before texting the asshole Vico.

There are so many questions running inside my head. Did Vico know about this? If he does, then why didn't he tell me? As a boy best friend, did Vico agreed with the decision of my sister about going back to her ex? That time when I said that Maui will be soon my brother-in-law and Vico laughed at it. Did he know that Ate's boyfriend at that time was Ard?

Oh, damn it!

I wiped my tears when I heard the helpers in a panic that dad is home. I went to my room immediately. I can't let my father see me crying. He might kill Ard if he knows that man cheated on my sister's uncountable times.

Losing my grip. My hand trembles as I searched for Vico's number in my phone. I was about to type a message to him when my phone suddenly rang for a call from... Klaus. My lips parted and I wiped my tears. I cleared my throat first before answering his call.

"Seah?" he asked me in the other line softly.

"Yeah? Napatawag k-ka?"

Hindi agad siya nakasagot. A couple of minutes passed before he speaks.

"Are you crying?" the worry in his voice didn't go unnoticed.

I swallowed hard and shook my head as if he can see it.

"I-I'm not." I chuckled to lighten his worries.

"Mag-online ka sa Facebook. Let's do a video call," he said and his line went dead after.

I blinked there several times. I went to my vanity table and get a piece of facial tissue there. I was still wiping it in my face when my messenger rang for a VC and from... yeah... Klaus.

"H-hi, I'm doing skincare here. Hehe." I was looking for a word when I accidentally answered it. So he did see me being busy wiping my face. I don't know but that's the only words that came out from my mouth.

He sighed and gazed at me from the screen intently. He let out a deep exhalation.

"Bakit ka umiiyak?" he suddenly asked.

I chuckled and shook my head.

"I'm not crying." I chuckled again.

"Your eyes are red the same goes to your nose? Ano 'yan? Allergic ka sa facial tissue mo?" he scoffed and shook his head.

My face flushed. I glance at myself in the mirror of my vanity table. Geez, he's right! My eyes and nose are red.

I think I have no way to escape from this. I took a deep breath and started to tell him what happened. My heart's do jump every time I met his gaze from the screen, so what I did is to avoid his gaze. I stopped talking and curled my tongue inside my mouth.

"Pagkatapos no'ng break nila? Nagkabalikan sila agad?" he asked me after I stopped talking.

He is listening to me intently!

"Yeah," tipid kong sagot. "Hindi ko nga lang alam kung kailan." I shrugged.

"Tapos ngayong nagkabalikan na sila, niloko niya ulit!? Sobra naman 'yon!" his jaw tenses.

"Parang menstruation period lang. Buwan-buwan niyang niloloko 'yung kapatid ko."

"Oh, wait. It's already 9:30 na pala. You should sleep now. So you can get eight hours of sleep."

"Yeah. Goodnight." I smiled without showing my teeth.

"Goodnight, sleep well. I'll pray for the healing of the wounds of your Ate in her heart." he smiled sadly. "And also for your peace of mind. Everything's gonna be okay." he huskily said.

I went straight to my bathroom after our call. I took my shower and dried my hair before lying in my bed. I'm just wearing my rose gold suit satin nightdress and its short under.

I suddenly remembered about the courting days of Ard in my sister. He seems too good at that time. He looked like he can't even dare to break any glass at a time. Like what I expected will same goes for my sister's heart.

"Sino 'yung kausap mo?" tanong ko kay Ate nang maabutan ko siyang may kausap sa labas ng classroom niya.

"Ah... iyon ba? Si Ard, sa kabilang section." sagot niya ngunit ang mga mata ay nanatili sa likuran ng kakaalis lang bago ako dumating.

"May gusto iyon sa'yo." hindi na dapat itanong pa dahil marami naman talagang nagkakagusto sa kanya.

Her cheeks flushed. She shook her head and pulled me. Hindi ako nagpatianod kaya napatigil siya sa paghihila sa akin. Nilingon niya akong nakakunot ang noo.

"Gusto mo din ba siya?" pangungulit ko.

"Hindi ko pa siya sinasagot, Seah." she sighed.

"Hindi 'yan ang sagot sa tanong ko, Ate."

She closed her eyes emphatically.

"Gusto mo, 'no?" I teased and her cheeks flushed again. "Gusto mo nga!"

"Hey, keep quiet!" she opened her eyes and covers my mouth. "Ssh, oo."

Simula ng araw na 'yon lagi ko na siyang inaasar tungkol kay Ard. At walang pagbabago ang reaksyon niya. Palaging pumupula ang pisngi niya. Palagi ko din siyang tinatanong kung sila na ba. Pero hindi pa daw.

"May lakad ka?" kakabukas ko lang ng pintuan niya at tumambad agad sa akin ang bihis na bihis kong kapatid.

She's wearing her pink floral cami dress ending above her knee. She's wearing her doll shoes and hair was tied into a half ponytail. She puts on her lip gloss before turning her gaze at me. She smiled widely and nodded her head.

"C'mon, Se, wish me luck! Wish me luck!" she said repeatedly and held my hand.

"Good luck, Yllenea Grace! I love you." I planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Love you! Today will be our first date!"

"Take care." I waved at her as she went downstairs.

Bumalik nalang ako sa kuwarto ko at nakipag-usap kay Fe. Sobrang epal nga lang ng Kuya niyang si Vico. Nakakairita!

That was their first date. Nasundan pa 'yon ng nasundan hanggang sa sinagot na nga siya ni Ate. Their first day, week, and months were all fine. I never heard my sister complaining about something going on in their relationship. She looked so happy. And I'm happy for her too.

Hanggang sa dumating na ang the first-anniversary nila. But they chose to celebrate it the day after their anniversary because they are both busy at that time with their school works.

Nakabukas ng bahagya ang pintuan ng kuwarto niya kaya sinilip ko nalang siya. The fabric of her red cami bodycon dress hugs her hourglass figure tightly. She's also wearing her pair of white heels. She sprayed her perfume and took a deep breath. She looks so beautiful for their late celebration tonight. I smiled while looking at her before running back onto my bedroom.

Gusto ko sana siyang i-good luck. Kaso baka nagmamadali siya. I glance at the clock. It's already 7 in the evening. I haven't eaten dinner yet. I got a video call from my messenger account. I read the name first. It was from Fe.

"Hi, are you okay there, Se?" she asks as soon as I answered her call.

"Yep..." maybe I am. "How about you?" I smiled.

"I'm fine here," she answered. "You don't look okay." she frowns.

She knows me!

I took a deep breath and looks at her background first to see if what part of their house she is in right now. I want to tell her what I felt tonight. But I also want to make sure that her brother isn't around. Baka asarin lang ako. Mukhang nasa loob siya ng kuwarto niya ngayon. Safe!

"Fe, I haven't eaten my dinner yet."

"Ha? Bakit naman? Wala kayong pagkain? Gusto mo bang papa-deliver-an kita?" she startles.

I giggled at her reaction. I shook my head, but I guess it's still not enough for her to be calm.

"Umayos ka nga, Seah! Nasaan ka ba ngayon, ha? Ano'ng oras na hindi ka pa kumakain!"

One of the attitudes Fe has that I loved the most is that she looks like a mom scolding me.

"Hinihintay ko pa si Papa." wala sa sarili kong sagot.

"Bakit? Wala ka bang ibang kasabay?"

"May lakad si Ate, e." I laughed to hide the bitterness in my voice.

"Saan naman?"

"She'll celebrate their first anniversary with Ard," I informed her.

"Naku, kung ako 'yung ipagpapalit ng Ate ko sa boyfriend niya, iiyak talaga ako!" someone from the background with a teasing voice suddenly said.

I gritted my teeth. No need to ask Fe who is it. It's the annoying Vico!

I feel thirsty so I decided to go downstairs. Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakababa ng hagdan ay narining ko na ang pagpihit ng doorknob ng front door namin. Kasunod no'n ay ang sunod-sunod na hikbi. Lalapitan ko pa sana siya pero dinaanan niya lang ako at tumakbo papunta sa kuwarto niya.

And that was the first time I saw her crying to somebody. That's the first time I saw how broken she was that she doesn't even want to go out of her room. I knocked on her door several times but she didn't answer nor opened it. So I took it as an answer that she wants to be alone.

A week after that. Our mother's fifth death anniversary came. Doon niya pa lang ako kinausap. I told her everything that I felt about her having herself a boyfriend. I told her I also needed her time for me. And thank God! She understands what I mean. On that day, we promised each other to never keep a secret.

After reminiscing about those times, I felt sleepy.

As usual, I woke up early. If yesterday was just a normal day lalo na kagabi. Didiretso na ako sa banyo ko para maligo. Pero dahil hindi, I have to go to my sister's bedroom first. To check if she's now awake or else she'll be late.

I stepped out of my room. May nakita akong kasambahay na kakalabas lang mula sa master's bedroom dala-dala ang basket ng mga maruruming damit.

"Si Ate po ba nakababa na?" I asked her.

"Hindi pa po, Ma'am. Baka tulog pa po."

I nodded and smiled. "Sige po. Salamat."

I knocked on her door thrice. After not hearing her answer, I decided to open her door. She's still lying in her bed with her swollen eyes because crying is still closed. I sat in her bed cautiously. I planted a kiss on her forehead before waking her up.

"Ate, wake up na. May pasok pa tayo." I wake her up softly.

"Wake up na." I shake barely shake her.

I shook her torso again.

"May pasok pa tayo, Ate. Sige ka, ma-li-late ka niyan."

She moves and speaks with a husky voice.

"Ano oras na ba, Se?" she looks at me once and closed her eyes again.

"Mag-aala sais na po."

Binalot ulit kami ng katahimikan dahil muli siyang natulog. Niyugyog ko na naman siya at sinabihang gumising na. Pero sinasagot niya lang ako ng 'oo' at hindi pa din bumabangon.

I sighed. "Anong oras ka ba kasi nakatulog kagabi?"

"Kung nagising ka at napaiyak lang... hindi mo matitignan ang orasan, Se." she huskily said.

I rolled my eyes as I looked away. I felt the pain tooted in my chest. I gritted my teeth.

"Sige na, Ate ha? Bumangon ka na. Maliligo na ako." pagpapapaalam ko. "Good morning, have a nice day ahead! I love you." I kissed her hair before leaving her room.

Agad akong pumunta sa banyo nang makapasok na ako sa kuwarto ko. Mabilis lang akong natapos dahil hindi gaya ng ibang mga babae na katulad ni Ate, ang tatagal maligo. Wearing my high school uniform with my school bag with me, I stepped out of my room. I knocked on her door again, but she didn't answer. So I opened it.

I saw her lying with eyes are closed. I sighed and went to her.

"Ate, ba't hindi ka pa bumabangon? Halika na. Papaliguan kita diyan, e." I quirk.

"Oo, babangon na ako," she said. "Mauna ka na lang. Mag-ingat ka."

"Sige, mauna na lang ako. Iiwan ko sa'yo si Manong. Siya maghahatid sa'yo. Mag co-commute na lang ako." I said.

"Huh? Hindi. Huwag na. Si Manong na 'yung maghahatid sa'yo, Se. Ako na ang mag co-commute." she disagreed.

"Ako na po."

Nagtalo kami tungkol doon. Ngunit sa huli ay pumayag din naman siya sa gusto ko. Mabilis lang akong natapos na kumain dahil maliit lang din namang pagkain ang inilagay ko sa pinggan ko.

Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng bahay namin. Nagbabakasakaling may maabutan agad na taxi sa labas.

I was half running, when my phone suddenly rang for a call. At dahil nagmamadali ako, hindi ko na tinignan kung kanino 'yon galing.

"Yes?" I said once I swiped the green button.

"Good morning. Are you all alright? You're not replying to any of my texts, Seah. Is everything fine?" he asked on the line.

Scowling, I stopped walking and opens our gate.

"Everything's fine naman. I'm just in a hurry today. Can you call later na lang? I have to catch up with a taxi pa kasi, e."

"Magtataxi ka?"

"Oo. Sige na. Ibababa ko na ha?"

"Huwag ka na lang mag taxi." he suddenly said. "Maghintay ka diyan sa bahay niyo... at ipapasundo kita sa driver." then his line went dead.