Affair With My Sister's Fiancé [R–18 | MATURE ROMANCE]

The world is all about happiness and sadness coexisting together. It is often said that when it gets too dark, your shadow leaves you, symbolizing how people— even your friends abandon you in difficult times. Shadows are always formed on the opposite side, it owes its birth to light. The brighter the sun, the darker the shadow. Light, always shines whenever it wants without ever stopping. But why is it that shadow always needs to depend on it and prove itself over and over again? “That’s b*llshit,” I hissed, almost laughing at myself. I looked down for a brief moment to shrug off those little thoughts. But with the slight movement of my lips, my left cheek stung. It burns. Ni minsan ay hindi ako pinagbuhatan ni Dad ng kamay, ngayon lang. He didn’t even try to know my side. He immediately began to voice his disappointment in me, yet again. Sa mga mata niya, wala na akong ginawang tama. I pursed my lips and tried to lick it but the sting from my left cheek was still there. “Isn’t it ridiculous how much better your sister is doing this than you?” his raging voice rang through my ears. “As much as I wanted you to keep on your tracks, you still managed to stick to your own desires. You never failed to disappoint me.” He turned his back on me, fixing his coat. I did not lift my eyes at him but I know that he stopped for a while. Narinig ko rin ang bahagyang paggalaw ni Elena ngunit nanatili siyang walang ginawa. I bit the inner side of my lower lip to suppress myself from shedding tears. “I was a fool out of myself when I considered a marriage between you and the heir of the Arellanos. Good thing, you proved yourself wrong again. Ayaw na ayaw kong ipinapahiya ako, Akira.” I could almost see himself gritting his teeth. “You deserve nothing in life, so don’t come to me running to help you rise up.” I just drove with nothing in mind where to go. Gusto ko lang mapag-isa at makapag-isip nang tahimik. For once, I wished that I was born in a different family where I could be myself. Pero naisip kong hindi rin pala sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay tayo ang magde-desisyon para sa sarili natin. In my case, my fate doesn’t lie in my hands. Biglang naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang biglang mabangga ang harap ng sasakyan ko sa likod ng sasakyan ng nasa unahan. “Hoy, balak mo bang magpakamatay?!” sigaw ng isang lalaki sa labas, turo-turo ang sasakyan ko at mabibilis ang hakbang hanggang sa nasa tabi na siya ng pinto. “Lumabas ka diyan! T*ngina. Paa mo ba ang pinangmamaneho mo?!” Kabado akong lumabas. Bukod sa hindi ko alam kung ano ang eksaktong nangyari ay wala rin akong ideya kung paano siya pakikiusapan nang maayos. The guy looked drunk. Mukhang ano mang oras ay mag-aamok na siya. Sunod na lumabas sa sasakyan ang isang lalaki at lumapit sa amin. Akala ko’y aawatin niya ang kasama ngunit wala itong ginawa. “Babayaran ko na lang—” “Hindi ko kailangan ng pera mo dahil mayroon din ako niyan! Kung hindi ka marunong magmaneho, huwag kang haharang-harang sa kalsada dahil nakakaabala ka! T*t*nga-t*nga..” Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga. “Hindi ko napansin ang sasakyan mo. At isa pa, ikaw ‘tong sumingit na lang bigla sa lane kaya malamang ay mababangga talaga kita!” “Talagang sumasagot—” Inangat niya ang kaniyang kanang kamay para sana dagdagan ang sampal sa kaliwang pisngi ko ngunit isang kamay ang marahas na humablot sa palapulsuhan niya. “Sorry for the inconvenience. We’ll pay for the damage…” saad ni Gregory, the man my father thought I would marry. Mariiin ang titig niya sa lalaking kaharap ko. Kunot-noo itong sumulyap sa akin. “Apologize to them..” Bakit ako magso-sorry, e kasalanan naman ng lalaking ‘to kung bakit siya bumangga sa sasakyan ko? “I can’t . It’s not my fault, why would I ask for apology?” pagmamatigas ko. Alam kong wala akong kasalanan. Marami akong iniisip habang nagmamaneho, oo, pero malinaw sa akin na walang sasakyan sa harapan ko kanina. “Akira,” saway pa niya. Hndi ko alam kung bakit siya nandito at kung bakit siya nakikialam. “This is none of your business so leave me alone.” I went to get my wallet and handed the guy enough money to get his car fixed but he firmly refused to take it. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang kailangan niya pero dahil sa komosyon ay dumarami na ang nanonood sa amin. “Alam mo, Miss, may mga bagay na hindi nababayaran ng pera. Kulang na kulang pa ‘yang inaabot mo sa ginawa mo sa sasakyan ko, pero kung gusto mo talagang makipag-areglo, baka pwede nating gawan ng paraan…” ngisi niya, kasabay no’n ang paghagod ng kaniyang mga mata sa katawan ko. Humalakhak din ang kasama niya kaya tuluyan na akong nawalan ng kontrol sa gagawin ko. Gregory was about to punch him but I was faster to kick the guy’s balls. Bumagsak ang lalaki sa gilid ng kalsada at napasinghap ang mga nakakita. Napangiwi ito at hawak-hawak ang pagitan ng kaniyang hita. Nang unti-unting tumayo ang lalaki ay agad na hinawakan ni Gregory ang braso ko para itulak papasok ng sasakyan ko. Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakapasok nang magsalita ang lalaki. “Nakuhanan mo ba nang mabuti?” tanong niya sa kasama, may itinatagong ngisi. Tumango ang isa, hawak ang kaniyang cellphone habang nakatutok iyon sa lalaking ngayon ay paika-ika sa paglalakad dahil sa ginawa ko. “Akira Ramirez was caught assaulting a guy… how does that sound?” saad ng lalaking kumuha ng video. Humakbang ako para sana malapitan sila pero pinigilan ako ni Gregory kaya wala na akong nagawa nang mabilis silang nakaalis. I pushed his arm and went inside my car. Hindi na ako nagulat nang muli akong ipatawag ni Daddy sa kaniyang opisina kinabukasan. Kagabi lang ay nasangkot ang pangalan ko sa hiwalayan ng dalawang sikat na artista, dahilan kung bakit galit na galit si Daddy. Ngayon ay may panibago na naman. Pagpasok ko ay mukha ni Elena ang bumungad sa akin. She looked concerned. Sa tabi niya ay ang lalaking sumubok na tumulong sa akin, tahimik na nakaupo. Bakante ang upuan sa tapat nila pero hindi na ako nag-abalang umupo. Ilang sandali lang ay muling bumukas ang pinto at siyang pagpasok ni Dad. “Nagpatawag ang board ng emergency meeting and the press is asking for my statement regarding your issue! Two important investors pulled out upon hearing the news and you just showed up, looking unbothered, Akira?!” my father’s voice thundered around the entire office. “Is this your rebellion to me?” Hindi ako nagsalita. “I’ll try to convince Mr. Gokongwei, Dad, para magbalik-loob sila sa atin,” sabat ni Miss High and Mighty, Elena Ramirez. “I sent an e-mail to Mr. Chan’s secretary and she replied na they will set an appointment for reconsideration.” For once, pwedeng manahinik ka muna? “Thank you very much, hija,” my father relaxed a little when he heard those from her. Kapansin-pansin ang ilang maputing hibla ng kaniyang buhok at guhit sa kaniyang mukha na simbolo ng kaniyang pagtanda. “If it wasn't for your help, I would have wasted my time cleaning up this brat’s filth.” With that, he left. This brat’s filth. Damn, he did not even bother asking how I was or, at least, about what happened. I swallowed hard and composed myself but noticed that Elena stood up and walked to me. Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at marahang tinapik. “Gregory already explained to me and I know that it wasn’t your fault. Nakausap ko na rin si Atty. Marasigan para linisin yung kalat. Lie low for now, may nilulutong offer at project si Dad kaya mainit ang mata niya sa’yo nitong mga nakaraang araw. I hope you understand, Aki..” Hindi ko sinalubong ang mga mata niya ngunit sa tono ng boses niya, halos makumbinsi ako na gustong-gusto niya akong tulungan. I am not sure if she’s hiding something under her sleeves but I can’t help wondering how hard she tries to earn my father’s trust. O masyado ko lang pinapansin lahat ng mayroon sa kaniya? Kung gayon, ako talaga ang mali? My father barely notices my progress. Puro pagkakamali ko ang napupuna niya. Si Elena? May mali man siyang magawa ay nananatiling bulag ang aking ama. “Ayos ka lang?” Saka ko lang naalalang narito pa pala si Gregory. Elena already left pero bakit pa siya nandito? “You may leave. Ayos lang ako,” pagtatapos ko ng usapan. “You look pale. Baka—” “Sabing ayos lang ako, e!” hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtaas ng boses ko, naghalo-halo na ang emosyon ko at hindi na naisip na si Gregory ang kaharap. “Pwede ka nang umalis. Ano man ang nararamdaman ko ngayon, labas ka na ro’n.” He did not move for a moment, observing me. Isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya bago napagdesisyunang umalis. With that, my knees trembled, and I couldn’t help but hold on for support from the couch I was closest to. Elena, you’re so damn lucky. You have everything I never had. My father, whom I am still trying to hold onto to keep myself on track even though I lack support from him. He was the embodiment of something I was trying to achieve, and he was also giving his best to assist in everything Elena wished for. And... Gregory, whom I considered liking way back before. He was the one who tried to give me company when I was barely sane by myself. Elena Ramirez, you’re f*cking lucky.