Misadventures Of Cassandra Torres

Chapter 05

Pagkarating ko sa loob ng bahay ay nakita kong wala itong pinagbago. Malinis pa rin tulad noon at hindi pinapabayaan.

Matapos tawagan ni Mom si Dad at Kuya na nasa opisina, ilang saglit lang ay dumating na ang mga ito. Kita ko ang malamig na awra ng Dad ko, habang si Kuya naman ay nakangiti sa akin dahil sa wakas ay umuwi na ako.

"Anong nangyari?" Dad asked me.

Nahihiya man ako para sa sarili ko at sa naging maling desisyon ko ay hindi na ako nagdalawang isip pa na ikwento sa kanila ang lahat. Mula sa kagustuhan ni Paul na may mangyari sa amin, ang ilang beses ko siyang mahuli na may iba, hanggang sa pag-iwan niya sa akin nang mag-isa sa apartment, at nang hanapin ko'y makikita ko lang palang nakikipagtalik siya kay Tina.

Mom hugged me tight, letting me feel that going home is the best decision I've ever made.

"Tahan na, Anak..."

"Christopher, kausapin mo 'yang lalaking 'yan." I heard Dad.

"Yes, Dad. Kahit 'di mo sabihin ay gagawin ko pa rin."

"No one should dare hurt my daughter. No one." Rinig kong galit na sabi ni Dad bago tumayo ito at pumasok sa k'warto nila ni Mom, tsaka padarag na isinarado ang pintuan.

Nang tuluyan na akong makalma ay inihatid ako ni Kuya sa k'warto ko. Ang mga gamit ko naman ay naiakyat na kanina ng katulong namin kaya naman ako na lang ang inilalayan ng Kuya ko.

Nang nakaupo na ako sa kama ko ay niyakap ako ni Kuya.

"Kuya, I'm sorry. I didn't listen."

"Shh, it's not your fault. Hindi mo kasalanan na manloloko siya, okay?"

"You already told me that he's cheating on me since then and you don't have any idea that I was his girlfriend. Sana noon pa lang ay nakinig ako sa inyo."

Hinagod ni Kuya ang likod ko.

"Stop saying sorry, okay? You weren't there kaya it's reasonable for you not to listen to me. I understand; I completely understand. We all do. So, calm now and rest well, okay?"

Nang kumalas siya sa yakap ay hinalikan niya ako sa noo bago lumabas ng k'warto ko.

Nahiga ako sa kama ko at ipinikit ang mga matang namamaga na sa sobrang pag-iyak. I never cried this way, and I can't believe I just did just because of a f*****g asshole who chose to cheat on me after all the things I did for him.

When I opened my eyes, I looked at my study table, and there, I saw the familiar color blue foldable umbrella from someone who helped me a lot since the day that we first met.

Should I give it back to him? Pero paano? I don't even know if we will see each other again.

'Wag na. Hayaan ko na lang sa akin ang payong na 'yan. Remembrance na lang sa first meeting namin.

Bigla kong naalala 'yong panyo na ibinigay niya sa akin. It was on my pocket. Kinuha ko ito, at bakas pa rin ang mga luhang pinunasan nito. Naalala ko ulit 'yong oras na pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko gamit ang sarili niyang kamay na may hawak na panyo.

I will never do that to some stranger if I was in his shoe.

He's f*****g genuine; I can't believe someone like him really does exist.

Also, the way he covered me with his umbrella, while he—himself, is already getting wet from the rain. He also gave me his umbrella when he can let me get wet because he knew nothing about me.

I heaved a deep sigh.

Even though how good of a person he is, hindi na kami puwedeng magkita ulit. I don't even want to know more about him. I don't want to know more about someone and then being the one who's left in the end.

Paul's damage to me is quite big, I don't even know if I'll ever move on even after few months. Just...just not yet. But I know, someday, soon, I will.

____

After a month of not having Paul around me, everything seems so boring. But one of his acquaintance has been really, really annoying.

"Rex, I said I am not going to let you court me. Never." I said as he followed me outside the campus.

"It's too early to decide, Cass. I'll wait."

Tiningnan ko siya nang masama. "No, okay? You don't have to wait, wala kang mapapala sa akin."

He smirked. "Cass, alam mong hindi tatalab sa akin 'yong violet mong labi at matalim mong mga tingin. I'll never be afraid to take the risk of courting you, I swear."

Nagbuntonghininga na lang ako at naglakad na lang ulit palayo sa kaniya.

"Bukas, may game kami. Puwede ka bang manood?"

"I am not a fan of basketball, you know that."

"Sige na, kahit taga-cheer lang. After that, hindi na kita kukulitin about sa panliligaw. I'll just wait until you're ready."

"I told you, wala kang aasahan, Rex. I'll never be ready for a new relationship. Just, not yet."

He laughed. "You never knew how persistent I may when it comes to person I like. I can wait years, Cass."

"Ha, talaga lang, ha?" pang-aasar ko pa.

"Yes, kaya pumayag ka na. Promise, 'di na kita kukulitin, and I'll just be friends with you."

"Okay, fine. Sige na, aalis na ako." Pagtataboy ko sa kaniya.

"Ihahatid na kita."

"'Wag na, susunduin ako ni Kuya."

"Sige na."

"Gago ka 'wag ka ngang makulit, tsk."

He just laughed his ass off of him before waving his hands at me and leaving me because he saw that I am already annoyed.

___

Kinabukasan, matapos ang klase ko, ay sinundo kaagad ako ni Rex sa labas ng block namin. Napairap na lang ako at saka nagbuntonghininga.

"Rex—"

"Cass naman, just cheer for me. I promise I'll be friends after this." He pleaded.

I heaved another sigh. "Okay, fine. Fine. Just let me fix my makeup and change my clothes. Kaninang umaga ko pa ito suot."

He laughed. "You don't need makeup."

"I'll look weak without those."

"Fine, sige na. I'll wait for you outside."

Tumango na lang ako bago nagpunta sa locker room para kumuha ng damit na pampalit, at nagpunta sa CR para magpalit ng damit at mag-ayos ng makeup. Someone told me that I looked like an angel without these makeups and by hearing those, my interpretation of that is being weak and gullible. Nobody should look at me like that. People around me, especially boys who always asked me to go out, should see me as a strong woman so they'll get intimidated and be challenged from doing so.

These days, red lipstick has been a trend and I don't want to be one of the women who wear lipstick just to look seductive. I used violet-colored lipstick because I want to look different, intimidating, and strong.

I can go out without makeup but I definitely will not go out without this violet lipstick. This has been my weapon to hide the real weakness inside me.

Pagkalabas ko ng CR ay nakita kong nandoon na si Rex at nakabihis na ng jersey uniform niya for their basketball game.

"Wow, you look so beautiful in casual clothes, madam." He praised me.

I just changed my clothes to white pants and black sleeveless shirt with ring on its sleeve. Medyo maluwag siya sa akin because that was the style but it goes with a tube. I like wearing this kind of clothes, actually. Madalang ang may ganitong style.

"Excuse me, Sir. Every Thursday and Friday is wash day, I think you already saw me in casual clothes and not just this time." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Well, that clothes you're wearing today is different. I like it."

"Psh. Tara na nang mapanood ko na kayo."

He smiled at what I said as he got my things from me so he'll be the one to carry it alone. Hindi naman ako pumayag, I don't like this kind of gestures. I mean, I have my own hands; I don't need someone to hold my things.