Love Me From Yesterday

Chapter 6 - Louis' POV

She hugged me so tightly that it started to become uncomfortable. I slowly pushed her away and, with a concerned look, I asked, "Bakit ka andito?"

"I miss you. Bakit? Hindi ba kita pwede bisitahin? Can't I do that?"

Facepalm, this kid. I let out a sigh.

"I mean, in the first place, how did you find this place? I never remember telling anybody where I live though?"

"Oh, that's ...," she smiled wholeheartedly and gave me a peace sign, "I have my own ways, hehe."

It's been a few months since I last met her. From what I can remember, the last time we met was during her recognition day at her school. She's an achiever and she invited me to watch her. Kahit mahina siya at sakitin, I really praise her dedication to study real hard. Because of that, mom and dad were so proud of her as well.

I let her come in, and offered her something warm. Her favorite, a hot chocolate milk drink. She sat down and while I served her the drink, tinitigan niya lang ako without saying anything.

"Anong iniisip mo at ganyan ka makakatitig? Is something wrong with my face?" I asked.

"I just wondered how beautiful my sister is. Ang ganda mo sobra, ate."

The reason I don't hate this kid was because of this. Before, I tried to chase her away because of my petty jealousy, pero siya, hindi siya tumigil and gave all her effort in making us this close. As time passed by, gumaan na yung loob ko sa kanya and all of my hatred slowly vanished.

I just smiled at her and said, "You should go now. Nag-aalala na sila mama sayo."

She acted like a spoiled brat. She jumped into my bed and pouted as she replied, "Pwede dito na lang ako, ate? Can't I just live together with you?"

"Is there something wrong?" tanong ko.

"I just don't want to live in that house anymore. Everyone in that house had their eyes on me all the time. Nakakasakal na sila, ate."

Umupo ako sa tabi niya. I caressed her hair and replied, "Nag-aalala lang sila sayo, that's it. You can't let them not worry about you."

She responded, "Bakit ikaw ate? Remember back when we were kids? Remember noong una tayong naligo sa ulan? We were happy that time pero kinagabihan nilagnat ako ng matindi."

"Ah..."

"Although I was barely conscious at that time, I heard it. I heard that you were sick as well. Bakit hindi sila worried sayo noon? Anak ka rin nila diba?"

How carefree, kakainggit. I thought real hard what to respond.

In the end, "That's because I'm the healthy one and you're more sickly than I am. Ako yung panganay so diba dapat ako yung nakakaintindi?" was what came out of my mouth. "Pinagalitan pa nga nila ako eh. Bakit daw kita inaya maligo sa ulan when alam ko naman na mahina ang katawan mo. Funny, right?"

Memories of that time slowly came into mind. It was a cloudy day. I was 12 years old at that time. I was watching my favorite cartoon when the 8 year old Lart entered my room and asked me if gusto ko daw ba maligo sa ulan in case na umulan. At first, I strongly disagreed with her. Pinilit niya ako for hours pero hindi pa rin ako pumayag. I rejected her for the last time at nung tinignan ko siya, she was about to cry. If mom heard about this, ako na naman yung mapapagalitan. So, in the end, I agreed.

I admit, I was also happy at that time. It was my first time playing in the rain after all. We splashed around the puddle with such happy smiles on our faces, like children.

Kinagabihan, my worries started to haunt me. Nilagnat si Lart ng napakataas. Nilagnat din naman ako pero hindi gaano kalala. At that time, I was somehow delighted to hear that both of us were sick. Are they finally gonna give me their attention? Would they be sad if they saw me in this state? I can't help but have this broad smile on my face. I acted sick before but this time, it was real. So I expected them to come and visit me at my bed.

I waited all night for them to come, pero hindi man lang bumukas yung pinto ng kwarto ko. Not even a single maid came in to check whether I was okay. Still, I understand them. May sakit din kase si Lart so inuna muna nila si Lart. I get it. I'm not that sick, so I'm okay with that. That's what I thought.

After a couple of hours, my fever worsened. It was starting to get harder to breathe. Sa sobrang init ko, feeling ko priniprito ako sa kumukulong mantika. But still, it didn't make me falter. I still had this thought na dadating sila. I just had to wait a couple more hours.

Another couple of hours passed by and just what I expected, finally, the door opened. I smiled widely upon seeing the figure of my mother. At last, finally!

She closed the door and, for some strange reason, she locked the door. Lumapit siya sa akin at umupo sa gilid ng kama ko. I was happy. But that happiness didn't even last a minute. I saw my mom's face and you can clearly see hell on it. She was devastated.

She slowly reached her hands onto my neck and after a few seconds, it was difficult to breathe.

Pumalag ako sa pagkakasakal niya. I entirely used every part of my body para lang makawala sa pagkakasakal niya.

"It's because of you," she uttered. "Nang dahil sayo, mamamatay ng maaga yung kapatid mo. Ah, my baby. What should I do?"

I still continued to struggle. I desperately coughed just to grasp any amount of air to breathe. Maya-maya, biglang lumuwag yung pagkakasakal niya. Her head fell onto my chest at bigla siyang humagulgol ng iyak.

With that hell of an experience, napaluha ako sa takot at kaba. "I'm sorry, please forgive me," paulit-ulit kong sabi habang umiiyak.

After a few minutes, biglang lumabas si mama. The fear in my eyes at that time was reflected in the brightest light of the rainy night sky. I slowly caught my breath. I crawled my way towards the door. Nanginig ako sa takot, but I still needed to get out of the room and beg for forgiveness. It's my fault. If hindi ako pumayag, hindi magkakasakit si Lart. Hindi rin dapat nauwi sa ganito. It's my fault for being greedy. It's my punishment. I should've been content with everything. I should've been more understanding. I was desperate. What was running through that little brain of mine at that time was for me to beg them for forgiveness. I feared that they would abandon me completely and I truly detested that thought. It sent shivers down my spine everytime I thought about it.

"I'm sorry," paulit-ulit kong sinasabi habang kinakaladkad ko yung sarili ko papunta sa pinto.

I was almost at the door nang bigla kong narinig yung boses ng papa ko sa likod ng pinto.

"Any updates sa kalagayan ni Lart?" he said.

I covered my mouth in fear na baka marinig nila ako.

"For now, her vitals are stable. We still need to monitor her in case something bad happens," someone responded. "May I ask what happened?"

I couldn't see my father's face, but I already knew what face he had at that time. The way he delivered his every word with built-up spite, I couldn't help but be scared.

"It's because of my eldest daughter. That brat, even though she already knew her sister's condition, still niyaya niya pa din maligo sa ulan," he clicked his tongue in a way that made me feel like I was the annoying one. "Anong gagawin ko sa batang yun? Should I just kill her? Ah, this is frustrating."

After I heard that, everything collapsed in an instant. My father wanted me dead. I'm scared.