FORBIDDEN AFFAIR BOOK 1 (COMPLETED R-18)

KABANATA 6

Love and family. It's hard to choose between them but I have to. And If I have to choose between my family and Tristyn— I would rather choose my family over him.

Masakit mang gawin ay kailangan. Mahal ko siya, sobrang mahal na lahat ay kaya kong ibigay sa kaniya, but in our situation? Hindi madali. Kailangan kong magparaya kahit ikakadurog ko. Kailangan kong magsakripisyo kahit na sobrang sakit nun sa part ko. I need to let him go because what we have aren't right. Staying with him aren't the right thing to do. May masasaktan kami, may maaapakan, at may magiging miserable. Hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa, hindi lang tatlo kundi marami. My parents, Antonette, Tristyn's family and most especially, my sister.

Sobrang laki ng tiwalang ibibigay niya sa amin — sa akin, but here I am, being a b***h, a traitor. Betraying her, breaking her heart and trust behind her back.

Mang-aagaw.

Ayoko nang dagdagan pa ang kasalanang ito, ang kasalanan ko. Kaya't kung maaari ay lumayo na muna ako para bigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-isip ng tama si Tristyn, at marealize niya ang mga bagay-bagay lalo na sa sitwasyon ngayon.

He belongs to my sister. He shouldn't fall for me even more.

"Keisha, baby. Nandito ka na pala—" Mom said the moment her eyes met mine as she shifted her gaze at the monitor immediately. "— your sister is already here," she announced and pointed at my direction.

Lahat ng mata ay nabaling sa akin pati na rin si Tristyn ay napalingon na rin sa aking direksyon. I bit my lower lip for a second as I calmed my heart from beating so fast before I flash a smile.

A smile that even me doesn't know if it was real or a fake one.

"Bunso!" rinig kong tawag sa akin ni Ate mula sa monitor ng laptop ni Mommy habang bakas sa mukha at tinig ang saya, habang kabaliktaran naman ang akin.

Naglakad ako palapit sa kanila at naupo sa aking puwesto sa gitna nina Mommy at Tristyn habang nasa ginta pa rin ang laptop ni Mommy na katapat lang ni Tristyn.

I felt suffocated. Sitting between them lacking me an air to breathe as my heart is beating so fast in pace.

"H-hi... Ate." Pigil hiningang sambit ko at pilit na ngumiti but she just frown.

"Is something wrong? You look pale." I bit my lower lip when I felt Tristyn's gaze beside me as I nod in response to my sister.

"Masama lang po ang pakiramdam ko." I lied to cover up my uneasiness and bit my lower lip hard when I felt a warm hand placed on my leg and squeeze it lightly.

"Are you sick?" My sister asked worried.

I shook my head immediately. "H-hindi po, maybe I'm just tired. Medyo busy din kasi kanina sa may shop." I lied for a second time.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses akong magsisinungaling ngayong gabi. Para akong nasa interrogation room, o kaya'y nasa may korte, nangangamba at natatakot sa mga maaaring mangyari kapag nagkamali ako ng sagot.

"Hindi mo dapat pinapagod ang sarili mo. Take good care of yourself, bunso. Ayokong nagkakasakit ka," sambit niya na mas lalong ikinadurog ng puso ko.

Mas lalong dumiin ang aking pagkagat sa aking ibabang labi habang pigil-pigil ang aking mga luhang bumuhos sa sakit at pait. Parang nilalamukos ang puso ko sa sakit at konsensya.

"O-oo ate," sagot ko na ikinangiti naman niya.

"Kumusta naman ang negosyo mo, anak?" tanong ni Daddy dahilan upang mapalingon ako sa kaniya at ngumiti.

"Ayos naman po, Dad," sagot ko. "Lumalago na po siya, I already have two branches located in Tagaytay and Cavite. I am also planning on expanding it on the other side of the country."

Lumawak naman ang ngiti ni Mommy samatalang tipid lang na ngumiti si Daddy.

"That's a great news! I am so proud of you!" Mommy trailed off in happiness as she held my hand that placed at the top of the table and squeeze it lightly.

"She's so hardworking, actually." I was stunned hearing his complement in front of our parents and of course, in front of his fiancé. In front of my sister. "She's very determine when it comes to her dream. Ginawa niya lahat para lumago iyon at pumatok sa mga customers. Kahit nahihirapan, she never dared to give up. She pursue her dreams on her own and did it with all her heart. And you're right, nakakaproud po talaga siya."

I was literally stilled and speechless hearing those words from him. I don't know what to do, I don't even know what to say. Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya at mas lalong hindi ko kayang ibuka ang aking bibig.

Parang umurong ang dila ko't 'di man lang makabigkas kahit na isang salita.

Why is he doing this for me? Bakit kailangan niya pa akong i-complement sa harap nila, lalo na kay Ate?

"Of course, Keishana will never fail us, she's been a very good daughter and a little sister. Kaya alam ko na hindi niya kami bibiguin," sang-ayon naman ni Daddy dahilan upang mas lalo akong makonsensya.

They are so proud of me for being a good daughter and a little sister. But unbeknownst to them, the daughter and a sister that they are proud of have a biggest secret that will break their trust and that good image.

"And I am a very proud sister here too!" Nagtawanan naman sila when my sister beamed cutely. While I remain silent as I slightly smile to cover up the mix emotions I have right now.

The dinner went well, even if I felt suffocated as the time went by. Para akong nasa isang lugar na sobrang sikip at napakahirap huminga. It really takes me a hard time hiding my real emotions in front of them. Good thing dahil hindi na rin nagtagal ang video call dahil may importanteng tumawag kay Ate so it ended earlier than expected.

After the dinner, Daddy also took a phone call from the Head manager of the marketing department, may konting problema raw kaya naman ay nag-excuse na rin si Daddy. Nagkwentuhan kami saglit nina Mommy kasama si Tristyn, but Mommy didn't took too long because Daddy called her afterwards.

At ngayon ay kami na lang dalawa ni Tristyn ang naiwan sa may sala. Silence filled us, I didn't even dared to utter even a single word hanggang sa hindi niya na nakayanan ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin kaya nagsalita siya.

"Are you just going to sit there and not talk to me?" he calmly said but could still feel the irritation on his voice.

"I don't have anything to say." I answered right away and crossed my arms at the front of my chest.

"Do we have a problem? Okay pa naman tayo kanina, ah. Ano ba ang problema?" nagpipigil na tanong niya na ikinabuntong hininga ko naman.

"Kailan pa ba tayo naging okay, Tris? Alam mong simula pa lang noon ay hindi na tayo okay."

"Do we really need to fight about it over again, Keishana? Ano pa ba ang pwede kong gawin upang mapanatag ka? It is just you who complicate things—"

"Because it's so hard to choose between love and family, Tris." May diin ang bawat salita na binitawan ko.

He smirked as he bit his lower lip which means, he seems to lose his patience.

"Why do you need to choose between me and your family, Keish? Why can't you just choose me and fight our love for each other? And make them understand our situation? Why can't you just let me break up with her and tell them the truth about us—"

"Because I don't want to hurt them, Tris! Hindi ko kayang makita na masaktan ang pamilya ko, lalo na ang kapatid ko!" I couldn't help myself but to burst into tears. "Kung ikaw, kaya mo — ako hindi. Mahal kita, pero mas mahal ko ang pamilya ko." I added as I stood up and leave him on the living room.