Midnight Sky

Chapter 15

"ATHENA!..." Napabalikwas ako Ng biglang sumigaw si mommy. Taka akong napatingin sa kanya habang nakakunot Ang aking mga kilay.

"Pffttt..." And of course Hindi mawawala Ang nakakabuwisit na pagpigil Ng tawa Ni Kyo. Ang sarap batuhin Ng sapatos eh. Akmang ibabato ko na Ang mansanas Kay Kyo nang pigilan ako Ni mommy.

"Athena! Be nice to your friend!... Sorry Elijah, my daughter is a high tempered girl..." Nagpilit Ng ngiti si mommy Kay Kyo bago ako pinanlakihan Ng Mata.

Pffttt. I wanted to laugh but I can't. Mukhang tarsier si mommy pag ginanon nya Ang Mata nya.

"Anong Sabi mo!?..." Napatakip ako sa aking bibig. Did I just accidentally said those words that was supposed to be on my mind only? Oh uh...

"Tita Hayaan mo na si beshie Athena, maganda ka Kaya tita, Parang Hindi tumatanda..." Oh my gosh! Bumaliko na si Kyo. I can't believe this. Ang lambot nya magsalita. Parang bakla hahahahha!

Naglakad nang pakembot-kembot si Kyo papunta sa tabi Ni mommy. He sat down near my mom and took her hands gently as if it's a rare diamond.

"Look at you! Your gorjas! (Gorgeous) Gusto mo tita bilhan Kita Ng mga pang churva eklabush sa iyong feyslak. Like makeups? Keribels ba ta?..." He's speaking like a real gay. Ang lambot Ng pananalita nya. Dinaig pa ako. He even blinked his eyes a couple of times na Parang nagbu-beautiful eyes sya Kay mommy.

What the hell happened to Kyo? Epekto ba Ito Ng pag french kiss nya sa aso Kong si Luna? Pffttt..

"We're both gorgeous Elija–..." Hindi na natuloy Ni mommy Ang sasabihin nya.

" Ellie nalang po tita.. haler I'm a girl Kaya ta look..." Tumayo si Jah at umikot-ikot sa harap Ni mommy. He put some strands of her hair at the back of his ears bago nag-beautiful eyes Kay mommy. Mommy on the other hand laugh out loud. I also smiled when I heard my mom's precious laugh. Parang Wala syang pinagdadaanan. She looks more prettier when she's smiling.

"Alright, alright Ellie, were both gorgeous. Tayo Lang Hindi kasama si Athena..." Agad nawala Ang ngiti ko Ng marinig Ang sinabi Ni mommy. Wtf!?

"Well yes tita, she's not kasama to us.. Kasi Hindi Naman sya gorgeous katulad sa atin..." Kyo said and lean closer to my mom's face as if pinapakita nya sa akin na silang dalawa Lang talaga Ang maganda. Napairap ako bago magsalita.

"Hindi kaya , bakit nanay mo ba ya–..."

Natigilan ako sa pagsasalita nang panlakihan ako Ng Mata Ni mommy. Here she goes again looking like a tarsier pffttt...

"Hoy Athena. For your information, Hindi Kita anak noh. Si Ellie Kaya Ang anak ko..." Makipag beso pa sya Kay Jah. Itong Isa Naman ay mukhang natutuwa pa talaga. I wonder why Kyo is acting like a gay. I mean yeah, medyo makulit sya at malakas Ang trip sa buhay pero there's no way on Earth that he will literally be a gay. Maybe he's just acting? But why?

Nahinto ako sa aking pag-iisip nang pumasok Ang doctor na may masamang dalawang nurse. The nurse with a flower hair clip on gave me a slight nod I responded with a small smile. The doctor checked my mom's vitals at saka bumaling sa dalawang nurse. May sinabi sya sa mga Ito at agad Naman nila itong isinulat sa mga papel na dala dala nila. The nurse that have a flower clip keep looking at me as if nababahala sya sa presence ko.

"That nurse is a bit weird..." I jumped on my sit nang marinig ko Ang boses Ni Kyo. Unlike kanina.. naging panlalaki na ulit Ang boses nito. I looked back at that nurse he was telling me who is now busy talking to my mom. Pa sulyap-sulyap sa akin Ang nurse habang nakikipag-usap Kay mommy. Maski si mommy ay napapasulyap na Rin sakin. Weirdos.

Natapos na silang kausapin at i-check si mommy. The doctor turned to me and motioned me to come out with him using his hands. Tumingin muna ako saglit Kay mommy bago napatingin Kay Kyo. Kyo gave me a slight nod urging me to go. Tumayo ako at sumunod sa doctor na nauna nang lumabas. I wonder what might happen. Bat Kaya nya ako pinatawag?

"You need to take care of your mom, more than before..." My brows forrowed. Eh? I'm already looking out my mom since then. Hindi ko Naman sya napapabayaan truth to be told, ako Ang napapabayaan nila/Niya. So why would this doctor say such words?

"Uhmm.. excuse me doc, but why would I do that?..." Oh uh that isn't sound good. I need to change it otherwise, this doctor might Become suspicious to me with my words. Who would know? Halos lahat ata ngayon ay Napaka judgemental. "I mean, I've been looking out my mom for quite years now, do you mind if you tell me what's the exact reason? At ano Ang lagay Niya ngayon?..." I asked trying to be polite. Ayoko nang maraming pasikot-sikot. Just say it straightforward. That way, people wouldn't do too much thinking.

"You're mom's pregnant..." See? That's what I'm saying. You need to ba straight forwar– Wait, what? My mom's what? Hold up. My eyes slowly widened. The doctor motioned me again to come inside. My eyes blinked a few times. This isn't good. Oh gosh.

"That's why nag bleed Ang kanyang hita. You probably thought na it's because the bullet hits her thighs but no. You almost lost your child ma'am. Kung Hindi ka naidala dito kaagad, I'm sorry..." The doctor said while writing something on the paper. Kyo looked shock. He looked at me. his face was saying 'Is it true?' I shrugged my shoulder as a response to him. My mind was still clouded. Hindi ko na marinig Ang sinasabi Ng doctor sa akin.

Nang makalabas Ang doctor ay agad akong nagpunta Kay mommy. She looked at me with her worry eyes. "May masakit ba sayo mom? Do you want something?..." I asked. Mom looked down and didn't even bother to answer my questions. Kyo on the other hand, also sat beside my mom. He took her hands and while gently carressing it.

"You don't need to worry about what we have found out tita, look your precious daughter's not even mad at you. It's okay. Sometimes, you need to hide the truth to protect you..." Jah said while looking at my mom's eyes. I saw how my mom's lips curve a little. She then turned to me and smiled.

"I am sorr–..." I immediately cut her off. "Ky– I mean Ellie was right mom, I'm not mad. Perhaps I'll be more mad at myself if may nangyaring masama sayo at sa magiging kapatid ko..." I said while smiling at her. Nagluha Ang mga Mata Ni mommy at agad akong niyakap. Paulit-ulit syang humihingi sa akin Ng tawad.

"Tita, labas PO muna ako ah? Bili aketch Ng iyong nakakain while you and Lorraine can have a mother and daughter heart to heart talk..." Sabi Ni Kyo at saka tumayo para lumabas. Maglalabas na Sana Ng pera si mommy pero agad syang pinigilan Ni Kyo at sinabing sya na raw Ang bahala basta't magpahinga na lamang daw siya. I think My mom's heart flattered. Nararamdaman Kong komportable syang kasama si Kyo. Who wouldn't be comfortable with that man? I mean he was fun to be with. Humble and understanding. Ang swerte na magiging girlfriend nito balang Araw.

"Ang swerte mo anak at sya Ang magiging boyfriend mo..." Yeah right! Ang swerte k– WHAT!? "Mom! Kyo's a gay..." Agad Kong protesta.

"Gotcha!... May nararamdaman ka para sa kanya Athena.. come on, don't deny it..." My mom smirked at me.

"How could you say so?..." I asked..

"Instinct..." Oh no. Mom and her magical instinct. Napailing na lamang ako bago ko kinuha Ang aking sketch pad. I was busy shading some parts of my dream house when my mom faked her cough to get my attention.

"Are you really sure about that?..." I forrowed my brows and slowly looked at her. "About what?..." I asked. "About that." SHe said and pointed at my drawing. Oh I get it..

"you know, your father might be mad becaus–..." i cut her off.

"Yeah I know..." Walang gana Kong Sabi. I wish I'm brave enough to tell people that the expectations drown me. That all they do is put more weight on my shoulders and make me second-guess myself, that they make me so scared of failing, way worse than I think I should be.

I wish I could tell them what I need are the silent cheers. The pats on the back, the well-wishes, that reassurance that whatever happens, even if I lose all my battles and end up crying on my way home, their arms would be waiting to still celebrate me.

I just need them to support me. But why can't they give me that? Controlling my life is like chocking me with a chain on my neck until I couldn't breathe, until I bleed, until I die. It feels so suffocating. I wanted to breathe but how If this chains on my neck were locked?

My mom just simply gave me a nod. Napansin nya na Rin sigurong Wala akong walang gana kapag pag-usapan Ang bagay na Ito. Whenever this topic brings up. Laging ako Ang Mali. What's the point of defending myself and opinion if at the end, I'm still the devil they used to describe me? Magsasayang Lang ako Ng always mo para ipaintindi sa kanila Kung ano Ang Mali nila.

***

The night time came. Me and Kyo decided na dito nalang matulog since a nurse suggested us to sleep here para mabantayan si mommy. We can't let mommy go home already. Knowing what dad have done to us? Mas mabuti pa siguro Kung humiwalay na kami Ng bahay Ni mommy kaysa nakasama Ang halimaw na iyon. Wala syang sinasanto. Money is all he knows. Money is the reason why he became like that. Money is the reason he kills. Money is the reason why everyone becomes evil.

Pumasok na Ang nurse na may clip sa buhok at ibinigay sa Amin Ang aming mga pillows and comforter. Agad Naman iyon kinuha Ni Kyo at inilagay sa sofa sa malapit sa bintana. This boy really. Kanina ko pa sya sinasabihang umuwi but he wouldn't listen to me. This boy is the most hard headed human I've ever met in my entire whole life. Para Kang kumakausap Ng pader sa sobrang tigas Ng ulo nya. Kung ano Ang gusto nya, iyon Ang masusunod.

"Ija, Ellie?..." My mom asked. Kyo replied humming. "Are you sure na you want to stay here with us para bantaan ako? I mean–..."

"Tita ano ka ba? Athena and me are beshies remember? Also Wala namern aketch na gagawin sa housey-house namin. Kaya I think it's okay Lang Naman po..." Here he goes again with that gay talking. Wala nang nagawa si mommy. Matapos ayusin Ni Kyo Ang hihingaan Kong sofa ay tumayo na sya para doon matulog sa katabi naming kwarto. He still respects our privacy daw especially girl ako at baka iba Ang isipin Ng Tao kapag Nakita kaming magkasama sa iisang kwarto. People really nowadays. Masyadong judgemental. Why can't just they live their own life? Mind. Their. Own. Business.

"Goodnight..." I told Kyo before opening our room door.

"Goodnight.." he answered.

I entered my/ mommy's room and shot a glance to Kyo who is now busy on his phone. I waited for a while but he didn't even moved. I sighed and closed my door. Come on. Ano bang hinihintay mo Lorraine? A goodnight kis– fvck u self. Bat ka ganyan? Since nakapasok na sya sa room nya at naihatid ko na sya. I looked at my mom who is now sleeping peacefully on her bed.

I was about to turn off the light when I heard a knock. "Why?..." I asked.

"I forgot something..." Kyo answered from the outside.

I unlocked the door knob and opened the door. " What is i–..."

My words was cut off when Kyo rushed towards my direction and kissed me on the lips. It was so fast that I forgot to breathe.

"I forgot my goodnight kiss. Goodnight darling..." He smiled at me and went outside leaving me dumbfounded.

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