Between Hate and Love

Chapter 30

I was completely taken aback by what I was witnessing. My heart beated so fast as I held my breath.

My feet immediately walked out of the scene, shutting the door closed. I quickly ran towards the room and locked it.

I felt weak all over my body. They were kissing and Khal was just there, sitting, and letting Sarah kiss him.

I didn’t expect it. All this time, the idea that I had in my mind was that they were just friends. Khal considered Sarah as special, but it was nothing beyond treating her like he was her younger sister.

I didn’t realize my tears were streaming down my face. There were so many things that was going on inside my mind. Gusto ko na lamang umalis sa lugar na ‘to, I wanted to escape. I wanted to leave and never come back.

Tinawagan ko si Venera, telling her what I saw.

“Teka lang, hindi kita masyadong maintindihan,” Venera muttered. She was trying to calm me down.

When I was able to tell her everything, she immediately asked if I was fine. “Ay gago, malamang hindi. Susunduin ka na namin ngayon!”

Venera ended the phone call. Kaagad ko’ng inayos ang mga gamit ko. Isinilid ko lamang sila nang isinilid sa loob ng bag ko at saka ako kaagad na bumaba. Kinalma ko na ang sarili ko at umakto na parang walang nakita.

Khal’s door was still locked. I was not sure kung nandoon pa rin sila. My feet stopped, and my eyes got glued on the door, and I had an itch to check if they were stil there. But I knew better.

I walked outside and reached the lounge area. I complacently left my luggages in the lounge area and ordered two bottles of liquors. I brought them to the beach. Hapon na, at kahit papaano ay hindi na rin gano’n kainit. I was able to watch some surfers rode the waves, and people swimming.

The beach was swarming with people, and each of them were enjoying the water. Meanwhile, I was holding a liquor, walking aimlessly.

I love La Union, so far. I would not deny that, and I was certain that I would come back and try more things here. But as for now, I wanted to escape and leave because Khal and Sarah was here, not to mention that River was here too.

It would probably take Hendrix and Venera a four-hours drive, so I had to wait for four hours. The last update that I had from them was that they were on their way.

I held the bottle of liquor tightly and felt like my chest was being crushed. Four hours was long so I decided to use my time to walk around.

I remembered seeing a souvenir shop and and a nearby publicly opened garden beach resort, so I made my way over there.

Nang makarating ako sa souvenir shop, I checked a lot of cute things like the keychains that were available. My money was on a budget so I decided to get something for Venera, Mama, Allison, and Atticus only.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako nang pagbili nang mag-ring ang cellphone ko. Seeing that it was Khal, I hesitated.

“Y-yes, Sir?” bungad ko.

“Where are you? Where is the contract?” tanong niya na parang naiirita.

“In Sarah’s room, Sir,” sagot ko.

“Didn’t I ask you to bring it to my room?”

My brows raised.

“I’m sorry, Sir. Dinala ko po sa room niyo, but it seemed like I would be interrupting your intimate moment with Ms. Sangson, so I decided to leave it in her room,” malamig na tugon ko. I tried my best for my voice not to c***k. Hindi ko ipinahalata kung gaano ako nasasaktan, but I made sure that he knew I was aware of what I saw.

“Where are you?” tanong niya, not minding what I just said.

Inulit niya pa ng dalawang beses ang tanong na iyon at saka ako sumagot. “Don’t worry, I’m leaving, Sir. Venera and Hendrix are on their way to pick me up.”

Malamig ang naging tugon ni Khal, “I didn’t ask that. What I am asking you is where are you right now?”

Naging matigas ako sa kanya. Ibinaba ko ang telepono at hindi iyon pinansin kahit pa tumatawag siya nang tumtawag.

Ayoko siyang kausapin. Pinag-iisipan ko na rin kung aalis na ako sa opisina. I would just apply to academic institutions. I was a teacher in U.S for five years and I have a good resume, surely, I would be able to easily secure a job.

Nang matapos ako bumili ng mga souvenirs, I went outside to see the public beach garden resort.

Panandalian ko’ng nakalimutan ‘yung mga nangyari, because I was entertained by the view and I was busy. But then, later on, a hand pulled me and all the pain came back to me.

“Where are you going?” Khal asked me. Suot niya pa rin ‘yung damit niya kanina, gusot iyon sa bandang itaas at may bahid ng lipstick. He seemed stressed out and not in the mood.

“Uuwi. You told me to go back to Manila, right?” sagot ko.

Khal was frustrated. Mukha siya’ng balisa at hindi maganda ang pakiramdam niya.

“You should stay, Sarah will leave. I need your assistance here,” paliwanag niya.

“What?” pagtataas ko ng kilay. “I thought you don’t need me anymore? Why the sudden change of mind, Sir?”

Gulong-gulo na ako dahil sa hindi niya sigurado na desisyon. Pinapaalis niya ako kanina, tapos ngayon naman ay sinasabi niya na manatili ako. Parang hindi siya sigurado sa mga ginagawa niya at sinasabi niya.

It was not like him.

“I’m telling you to stay. This is an order from your boss, and I demand it,” matigas na wika niya.

I crossed my arms and stared at him. “Ano ba talaga ‘yung gusto mo, Sir? Do you want me to leave, or not?”

Hindi sumagot si Khal. He shook his head and gave me a sigh. “f**k it. Do whatever you want,” wika niya at saka ako tinalikuran.

“Ano ba kasi ang problema mo?!” tawag ko. He came to me and now, he wasn’t talking. Parang may gusto siya na sabihin, pero pinipigilan niya ang sarili niya. “Kung may gusto ka na sabihin, go ahead and tell me!”

I followed Khal. Nang hindi siya tumigil na maglakad ay ibinato ko sa kanya ang hawak ko na paperbag. “I hate you!”