OWNED by a POSSESSIVE GREEK

Ika Apatnapu’t Walo- Back

”To feed your curiosity..Yes, I have already forgiven him.” I said confidently.

“Really?” Taas kilay na tanong ni Azalea.

I look straight to her eyes, to show her that I am telling the truth.

“Yes.”

“No hard feelings?”

Umiling ako.

“No.”

“So if ever na mag kasalubong kayo, kaya mo syang batiin? Tingnan sa mata? Kausapin?” naghahamon nyang tanong.

I sighed and gave her a snile.

“You know Azalea..it’s been five long years, and I’ve spent three years away from everyone.”I exhaled. “ I have been independent and I saw the cruel reality of life. And I realized that, yes Silas did hurt me..but life must go on. I cannot just you know..stop my life because I’m hurt because the world won’t stop and life will go on.” I shrugged. “We were both young back then, we took a shortcut and look where it lead us.” natawa ako. “The pain that he put me through will be a constant reminder that once upon a time I fell in love..it was a bitter sweet memories and it is part of life. I have forgiven myself and has forgiven Silas already. Kaya ko syang makasalubong at harapin ng walang sama ng loob. I can be civil to him..but I am not sure if we can go back to how we used to be..madami ng nag bago.” I shrugged.

Azalea pursed her mouth and looked away.

“Cass..” tawag saakin ni Yckos, mabilis akong bumaling sakanya.. he is looking at me in gentle way. Malamlam ang mata nito na tila nangungusap.

“Are you really happy with that guy?”

I know that he is pertaining to Paris. He is that mad at him na ni hindi nya kayang banggitin ang pangalan nito.

I tried to remember my life at Spain with Paris.

I gave him a warm smile and I nodded slowly.

“I am.”

He bit his lips and nodded.

“Then, I’ll support you if that will make you happy.”

Napasinghap ako. My eyes started to feel hot. Yckos really loves me and I am so happy to have a cousin like him. All of my cousins loves me..alam ko.. pero with Yckos, his love and concern for me is overflowing. He is like my soul brother!

“Thank you Yckos.” I whispered then bumaling ako kay Azalea.

Her opinion matters to me too.

But we just stared at each other for a couple of seconds. She looks torn and frustrated at naiintindihan ko naman kung bakit.

Bumuntong hininga ito.

“Fine. Pero once na saktan ka nya, ako mismo ang nagbabaon sakanya sa lupa!” Martin nyang sabi naikinatawa ko.

“I’ll let him know..” I giggled. “Thank you cous, that means a lot to me.”

“Be happy with him Cass, I will always prioritize your happiness…”Yckos suddenly said. “Besides..I’d rather you end up with him than with Kuya Silas.”he said bitterly.

My lips parted. He once liked Silas..but it seems like he really sided with me. Mukhang mas affected pa ito kesa sakin.

I cleared my throat.

“Let’s not talk about him na nga, he is someone from the past.. masaya na yun kung naasan sya, at di na yun babalik.. let’s mention his name anymore dahil baka nabibilaukan na sya ngayon.” natatawa kong sabi.

Pero biglang humalakhak si Azalea kaya napatingin ako sakanya.

“Well I hate to break it to you ..cous, but he is back!” she said in a teasing voice.

“Lei..”

“What?!” defensive nyang sagot kay Yckos. “Cassie needs to know..para hindi naman sya ma shock pag bigla silang nagkasalubong!” she said with a naughty smile on her face.

Azalea really likes Silas. Not the romantic type of like, but she considers him as her big brother.

My lips parted. Silas is back?? Bumalik sya? Sinubukan kong kapain ang nararamdaman ko pero walang kahit anong kirot ang naroroon.

Napangiti ako.

“Really? Kailan pa sya bumalik?”

Napataas kilay ni Azalea, mukhang hindi ito kumbinsido na kalmante ako. Akala siguro nya ay mag papanic ako or something.

“Just months ago..” naka smirk nyang sabi.

Napatango ako.

“Nakita nyo na ba uli sya? Nagkita na ba sila ni Kuya Yvo?” curious kong tanong.

Pinaningkitan ako ng mata ni Azalea ba para bang binabasa ako.

“What? I’m just curious..” natatawa kong sabi.

“Kuya Yvo bhas beaten him the moment he appeared in front of us.” Yckos said.

I sighed. I am not even surprised.

“I wanted to punch him too but Kuya Yvo said, he’s the one who’s going to do the beating,” he added.

“Kuya Silas did not fight back, he was hospitalized after.. basag ang mukha!” naiiling na sabi ni Azalea. “His father arrived from Greece, he was livid when he saw the state of Kuya Silas, he wanted to take legal actions but ayaw ni Kuya Silas.”

Napasinghap ako at inom ng beer. I kinda feel touched kasi I know how close the two of them are..and Kuya Yvo beating his best friend for hurting me..is making my heart feel warm.

“After he recovered, nag pakita uli sya samin. Akala ko gugulpihin uli sya ni Kuya Yvo!” Animated nyang kwento. “Pero good thing kalmado na si Kuya Yvo. Then they talked in private, after that naging okay na sila..until pabalik balik na si Kuya Silas kay Kuya Yvo.. He apologized to us too, actually sinampal sya ni Ate Saf! Then one day ayun, okay na sya uli sa lahat, maliban kay Yckos.” nakasimangot na sabi ni Azalea.

Yckos exhaled harshly.

“I don’t care about his apology! He hurt Cassie, he is the reason why Cassie left. And he can’t even tell us why he left!” asik nito.

“He doesn’t owe us an explanation. He owes it to Cassie, not to us!” Azalea rolled her eyes, medyo pula na ang pisngi nito dahil sa beer.

Yckos and Azalea glared at each other and I just watched them while I am processing everything that Azalea said.

One thing is for sure, I am happy because Kuya Yvo’s friendship with Silas is not ruined kasi kung nagkataon baka na guilty ako.

Napasinghap ako.

“Okay, let’s call it a night.. mukhang may mga tama na tayo!” awkward akong tumawa at sa wakas natigil na ang titigan ng dalawa. Nag umpisa na akong damputin ang nga bote ng beer, it’s almost one am.. tama lang na magpahinga na kami, Yckos has work.

“You should be ready Cassie, I have a bad feeling.. hindi ko gusto ang pagbabalik ni Kuya Silas..mukhang may pinaplano syang hindi maganda.”

Napasinghap ako. Yckos won’t just let go of the topic.

“Stop it Yckos, don’t be paranoid! Kuya Silas is not a bad man! I believed that he has a valid reason why he did what he did in the past!”

“I am not being paranoid, I am telling you Azalea, Kuya Silas is really planning something.. I don’t care what he does as long as he leaves Cassie out of it! Or else, kakalimutan ko na mas matanda sya saakin at best friend sya ni Kuya! And valid reason my a*s! He could have called or even texted Cassie and break up with her! Hindi yung pinag mukha nyang t*nga ang pinsan natin! Iniwan nya sa ere!”

Napakislot ako.

Biglang nagbalik saaking alaala ang sakit ng mga panahong iyon. That’s what I was thinking too, pwede naman syang makipag break ng maayos, but he chose to disappear in my life without considering my feelings.

But past is past. I have moved on. And I promise to myself na hindi na ako papauto pa.