A Kiss to Life

Chapter 23: Kabit

I don't understand how some people can be so cruel, but act so innocent about it. I feel so offended, pained, and humiliated from what happened. Pakiramdam ko ay nawalan ako bigla ng karapatang ipagtanggol ang sarili ko; ni hindi man lang nila ako hinayaang malaman kung ano iyong ibinibintang sa akin ni Marcus.

“Okay ka lang?” Ycca asked me. It’s been a whole day and I am still in shock of what happened this morning.

I shook my head. “I feel robbed,” I answered honestly.

“Mari…”

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit galit na galit siya sa akin,” I told her. My tears started falling to my cheeks.

“He’s insecure with you, Mari,” she said.

“Pero hindi naman ata sapat iyon para pagbintangan niya ako ng kung ano.”

“Mari, baka naman may nakita siya. Baka may nagawa ka na hindi mo alam na mali pala?”

My mouth parted, I cannot believe that she's actually considering what Marcus said. “He was accusing me of committing a crime. A crime, Ycca. Tingin mo ba hindi ko malalaman kung nakagawa ako ng krimen?”

“Pero paano niya naman masasabi 'yon? Hindi naman siguro siya gagawa na lang basta ng kwento para lang siraan ka?"

I shook my head for the nth time. "I would have known it, Ycca."

"Pero paano?"

"I don't know,” I answered.

“Huwag ka nang umiyak. Aalamin natin kung ano ‘yung sinasabi niya,” Ycca said.

“How can we do that? He didn't want to talk to me, not even to you.” I cried more. “I just want to know what he was talking about. I want to understand why he’s torturing me like this.”

This situation gives me anxiety. I can't rest thinking he might spread 'the crime ' he was insisting I did. And thinking people might believe him stresses me more.

Bakit niya ba kasi ginagawa sa akin 'to?

“Did you cry?” Noah asked the moment he saw me appear on the screen. I had to call him to inform him about dad’s farewell dinner tonight.

I shook my head. “Wala ‘to. Emotional lang kasi last day na namin ngayon dito sa ospital ‘di ba?”

Noah’s brows creased as he said, “Your eyes are swollen, baby. You can’t have that just because you were emotional.”

“I am not lying, Noah.”

“I didn’t say you were lying, Amaris. But I knew you were vomiting something,” he said.

“Noah–”

“You can always tell me, remember?” I said, cutting me from my words.

Hearing him say that and the tone he used, it made me cry again. “Noah…”

“Wait for me. I will be there in 15 minutes,” he said.

“No. You don’t have to–”

“In 15 minutes, baby,” he said seriously, brows creased, dropping the call after.

I tried calling him again but he’s no longer answering it.

"Mari, let's go," Aila called me. "Tawag na nila tayo."

I nodded and said, "Okay."

She was already by the door with Ycca. And when I got closer to them, they instantly held me by my arms. Aila's on the left and Ycca's on the right.

"Cheer up, Mari. Nandito kami para sayo," Aila nudge me.

"Tama si Aila, Mari. Kahit gaano pa kasama ang ugali nila Marcus at Anthony, nandun pa rin kaming dalawa ni Aila para sayo. Hindi ka namin iiwanan," Ycca added.

I smiled at both of them and said, "I don't care about how they are mean and rude to me. I just don't like being accused of something I have no idea of. It gives me anxiety."

"Ano ka ba! Huwag mo na ring isipin 'yun. Mapapatunayan din nating wala kang ginawang masama tulad ng ibinibintang niya sayo."

"I'm afraid he would spread that to everyone in the hospital," I said.

"Ire-report natin siya pag ginawa niya 'yun!"

"We actually could do that now. Let's report him for bullying you," Aila said.

"Hindi naman na siguro kailangan na umabot pa sa ganun," I said and they both snorted.

"Mari, ikaw ang biktima rito, kaya for once, tigilan mo muna ang pagiging mabait," Ycca said.

"Ayaw ko lang na mas lumaki pa ang problema," I told them.

"Mas lalo kang mamomroblema kung 'di mo agad masolusyonan 'tong sitwasyong 'to!" Aila said.

"That's why I want to talk to him; ask him what he was talking about so I would know how I could explain it to him."

"Marcus is a dickhead. Okay sana siya kaso masyado siyang nagpakain sa inggit at selos," Ycca.

"I agree," Aila added while I just sighed.

We fell silent after that as we headed at the rooftop. Dad decided to host the dinner at the hospital's rooftop. Barbeque dinner 'to kaya mas okay na ring sa rooftop ganapin. Isa pa, para makasama rin sa dinner 'yung mga naka-duty.

"Oh, they have started," Ycca said when we reached the rooftop.

"Late na pala tayo," Aila said.

"Oh, look who's finally here! The holy Amaris Romana Claveria!" Marcus went to us.

"Don't start us, Marcus," Aila said immediately. "You're drunk."

He hissed. "Kailan niyo ba lulubayan 'yang babaeng 'yan, huh? Kung ako sa inyo, 'di na ako sasama dyan. Baka mahawa pa kayo sa pinaggagawa niyan."

Ycca rolled her eyes. "Kami ang lubayan mo, Marcus. Pagod na kaming makipag-away sayo."

"Mga sira ulo kayo para kampihan 'yang maruming babaeng 'yan."

"Ikaw ang sira ulo! Gago!" Ycca.

"Ycca, Aila…" I called the two.

"Oh, marunong ka palang mag salita?" He mocked me. He was smirking so high and the way he’s looking at me, it made me feel like I’m some peasant he’s ready to step on. "Akala ko pipi ka para magkaroon ng dalawang spokesperson."

"Shut up, Marcus," I said, glaring at him. "I don’t understand why you are doing this to me. Wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa’yo,” I said.

“Talagang wala kang magagawa sa akin. Tingin mo na papayag ako?” He laughed. “Hindi sira ang ulo ko para payagan kang may gawin sa akin."

I creased my brows.

He smirked and started speaking again. "I wonder how many times have you done that or how many old men have you hooked up with?"

My mouth parted from what he said. "What?"

"Stop denying it. Kilala na kita. You're a f*****g w***e. A mistress."

"Marcus!" Ycca yelled at him.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, hurt and offended.

Is this the crime he was talking about? Me, hooking up with… what? Old man? Me, a mistress?

Has he gone insane?

"Oh, itatanggi mo pa?" He asked mockingly.

"Marcus, this is a serious matter. Do you even have evidence to prove your accusation?" Aila asked him.

Marcus hissed. "Aila, this isn't an accusation. This is the truth behind the dirt your dear friend is hiding from everyone. Kabit siya!" He said, a bit louder, that everyone who attended the dinner looked at us.

My hand flew to his face. "I have never hooked up with anyone, and I am not someone's mistress!"

"Tangina. Ang kapal rin ng mukha mong itanggi pa," he told me, pushing my shoulder using his finger. "Nahuli na kita. Kitang-kita ng dalawa kong mata at rinig na rinig ng dalawa kong tainga."

I slapped his hand away from me. "Wala akong itatanggi dahil walang katotohanan ang mga ibinibintang mo!"

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo, Amaris! Hindi ka na nahiya!" He shouted, garnering more attention from everyone.

"What's happening here?" Dr. de La Costa butted in. "Dr. Arzadon?"

Marcus scoffed. "Tangina kasi nitong si Mari. Ayaw pang umamin sa ka-immoral-an niya. Tatanggi pa tangaina!"

My hand flew to his face again. "Shut up! I never did anything about your accusations!"

Dr. de La Costa pulled me away when I tried to slap Marcus again. He put me behind him. "This is a very serious accusation, Dr. Arzadon. You should not utter such words without solid proof."

"Proof? I am the living proof, Doc! I saw and heard it! I saw how she snuggled to a married man! How she said she loves the man!" Marcus insisted.

"Shut the f**k up, Marcus! I never did any of those!" I insisted as well.

Marcus scoffed again. "Sinungaling! Napaka-imoral mo–" Marcus was cut from his words when he suddenly fell on the ground.

"Noah!" I called out, shocked that he suddenly appeared and punched Marcus in the face.

“Your girlfriend is someone’s mistress. A man who’s age could be her father’s. Tangina pare, kabit ng Director nitong ospital ‘yang babaeng ‘yan! Kabit ‘yang girlfriend mo–” Marcus wasn’t able to finish his words when Noah’s fist flew to his face.

“Gago ka palang tangina ka, e!” Noah shouted at him. I gasped and so did everyone on the rooftop.

Dr. de La Costa tried to separate them but Noah shoved him aside. Dr. Martinez went to him immediately to stop him from separating Noah and Marcus.

"Your heart, Joaquin. You can't be involved," I heard Dr. Martinez told him.

“Ikaw ang gago! Nagpapakatanga ka sa ganyang klaseng babae! Hindi na ako magtataka kung pati mga professors namin ay kinabitan niya para lang sa mataas na grades!” Marcus yelled that caught my attention back to them.

“Putang ina ka!” Noah said before throwing multiple punches to Marcus. Marcus was able to dodge some of Noah’s punches, but everytime it hit him, pain was really visible on his face.

“Gago ka! Bobo!” Noah kept on muttering.

“Noah, stop!” I called him but he was too angry to even hear me.

“Ikaw ang bobo! Tangina pare, isipin mo, kabit ng director ang girlfriend!” Marcus said and started throwing punches as well.

“Wala kang alam, gago ka!” Noah’s hand landed at Marcus' jaw and it made him fall on the ground.

I immediately ran to stop Noah by hugging him from his back when he jumped at Marcus and started punching him on the face. "Noah, please stop!"

"Tangina ka! Matagal na akong nanggigigil sayo!" Noah said as he threw punches to punches.

"Help! Please!" I begged but no one moved, they were too shocked to even move. "Baby, please stop!" I pleaded more as my tears kept on pouring.

“What the hell is this?” Dad suddenly spoke from the rooftop’s entrance. His voice was so cold and full of authority. Mom was behind him.

"Noah…" I called him again and pulled him away from Marcus. I went to his front and hugged him. "Stop please, baby." I cried.

Seeing me crying shocked him that he immediately let go of Marcus. Pulled me to his chest and hugged me back, putting his forehead to mine. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so mad. I lost my mind."

Noah's abandonment means dad's turn to chastised Marcus.

“What were you saying kid?" Dad asked, anger is very visible in his face.

"Love…" Mom called dad, but that was already consumed by his anger that he can no longer be controlled by anyone, not even mom.

"Say it out loud again. Tell me how my daughter became my mistress!" Dad asked Marcus once more, stepping closer to him and grabbing him by his collar.

"Dad!" I yelled but the gasps from everyone around us was louder.