Love Me Back, Mr. Stranger

Chapter Five - His Past

Luis

Nandito ako sa condo unit ko at kakauwi ko lang, I was supposed to attend Jacob’s dinner party but I end up going home early because I saw Elisse that Miss Gorgeous I met last night, she is with her friend but suddenly some girls running after me, not interested with those girls chasing after me, ayoko ng hinahabol ako.. hindi ko alam bakit kinukulit ako ng mga iyon eh. But, it’s funny, isn’t? That I am more interested with that Elisse than any other girls I’ve met when I was in the states. She’s gorgeous and look nice, gago lang ‘yung fiancé niya for making her like an option.

I was busy drinking my glass of beer when I heard knocks on my door. Papunta pa lang sana ako sa harap ng pintuan para pagbuksan kung sinuman ang kumakatok na yo’n nung biglang bumukas ang pintuan, kung sinuman yo’n ay alam niya ‘yung passcode ng condo ko and it was MOMMY. She popped in front of me, smiling na para bang nasasabik siyang makita ako.

Agad akong pumasok ulit sa condo nung makita kong tuluyang ng nakapasok si Mommy sa loob.

“Nakauwi ka na pala pero hindi mo man lang kami kinontak ng papa mo o ang mga kapatid mo.” Mariing bungad nito bago niya ilapag ‘yung hand bag niya sạ couch.

“What for?”

“I made it clear the day I left that I will no longer want to be involved in your family. So now, what brings you here?” Mariin ko ding sagot sa kaniya pero nakita ko ang disappoint sa mukha niya at gulat sa naging sagot ko sa kaniya.

“Anak, hanggang ngayon ba bitter ka pa din sa nangyari, matagal na yo’n just move forward, madami pa naman babae diyan.” Mariin nitong payo pero parang nagpantig ang tenga ko sa sinabi ni Mama. Ako bitter? Talaga ba?

Did she think that being cheated by your own brother and girlfriend is easy to deal with?!

“Matagal na nga yo’n pero hanggang ngayon you are still choosing to side with that cheater and worst you tolerated Sean and Samantha’s affair!” I could help but to yelled at her out of anger. Dahil nung nalanan nila ang buong nangyari they still chose to accept that cheater than to side with me or make sure that I am okay. Wala silang ginawa even kahit man lang sana pinigilan nila si Sean na makipag-relasyon kay Sam, respeto na din para sa’kin but no they did nothing!

“Huwag mo kong pinagtataasan ng boses, nanay mo pa din ako!” I shouted back so I turned my back on her trying to calm myself.

“You’re right, you are still my mother and I can’t do anything about it so please leave habang may natitira pa kong respeto para sainyo.” Pakiusap ko pa sa kaniya.

“Sammy is already dead, anak. Please, makipag-ayos ka na sa kuya mo.” I froze as I heard what my mom said. Samantha is dead? How?

I stood firm and tried to show no emotion. “I don’t care, wala namang mababago buhay man siya o patay.. the fact that she used me and show no sign of regret until the end… it’s clear that even in her death, she doesn’t deserve my forgiveness.” I firmly said and turned my back on her again and continue to drink my beer. I heard the door closed so I guess she finally left and leave me alone. Oh, Thank God!

Gusto ko na sanang kalimutan lahat pero mali yata ang desisyon kong bumalik pa dito sa pilipinas. I shouldn’t look back, kung wala lang akong business na aasikasuhin dito, hindi na ko babalik pa.

***Flashback**

Nakatitig lang ako kay Samantha habang patuloy siya sa pag iyak. I found out that she and my brother are having an affair and hurtd to think that these two important people in my life betrayed me like this.

Hindi ko alam pero parang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko at hindi ako makapagsalita.

“Sam, bakit?”

“Bakit mo ginawa yo’n?” My voice is cracking while asking her that question as if her answers will justify cheating. No, I know that no reason can justify that act. Cheating is cheating.

“Sorry, Luis..” Tanging mga salitang nabigkas niya.

“I need an explanation, Sam.” Mariin kong sabi sa kaniya.

Kita ko sa mga mata niya ang luha sa mga mata niya but I can see no sincerity in her eyes and apologies.

“It wasn’t you, Luis. Hindi talaga ikaw ang gusto ko..” Pakiramdam ko parang may karayum na tumusok sa’kin nung narinig ko yo’n.

“I dated you because I liked Sean in the first place..” Parang gumuho ‘yung mundo ko sa sumunod niyang sinabi.

“Tangina, Samantha.” I yeled. She should’ve ask me for help, hindi yung kinailangan niya pa kong gamitin para lang mapalapit sa kapatid ko?!

“Sana sinabi mo na lang, Samantha! Naiintindihan pa kita, sana tinulungan kita na mapalapit sa kaniya pero bakit? Bakit kailangan mo pa kong gamitin?!” Mariin at dismayado kong sigaw sa kaniya.

“Sorry, Luis.” Mangiyak-ngiyak niya pang wika.

“Sorry?”

“Wala nang magagawa yang sorry mo! Huli na ang lahat, nasaktan mo na ko, you cheated on me with my brother, you used me para makalapit sa kaniya and here you are expecting me to forgive you?!” Mariin kong giit sa sa kaniya.

****

Hindi ko namalayang basag na pala ‘yung basong hawak ko dahil sa sobrang higpit ng pagakakahawak ko rito.

Simula nung gabing yo’n nabalitaan ko na lang na naging sila ni Sean weeks later and my parents still wholeheartedly accepted my cheater ex-girlfriend as their other Son’s girlfriend! Disgusting, isn’t?!

Nilinis ko ang mga kamay kong punong puno ng dugo mula sa bubog na galing sa basag na basong hawak hawak ko.

Sam is dead but the pain remains… kaya hindi ko pa kayang patawarin si Sean dahil nandito pa din ang sakit at hindi ko alam kung maibabalik ko pa ba ang tiwala ko sa kaniya o mababalik pa ba ‘yung closeness naming dalawa but one thing is for sure, it was already damaged and broken and nothing can fix it. Kahit anong gawin mo sa isang basag na salamin kailangan man hindi mo na yon mabubo gaya ng tiwalang nawala samin ni Sean. He chose to broke our sibling relationship for that btch!