Akin Ka Lang

Chapter 40

Di na maipinta ang mukha nya pagkarinig sa banta ko.

"I don't know what she went through but for you to say that she run away because of a little bit of difficulty is quite funny! Let me ask you this then... do you even know her for you to say that?" Tanong ko.

"Of course... she is my estrange sister na walang ginawa kundi ang gawin ang gusto nya, ang pag-alalahin sila mama at ng mga nakakatandang kapatid ko. She's been spoiled by lolo Lucas-"

"She cried..." I said cutting his nonsense rumbling.

"What?"

"Have you seen her cry?" Tanong ko ulit sa kanya only for him to shake his head no in answer.

"... Her? Cry? Th-"

"Dalawang beses ko na syang nakitang umiyak... sa akin at kay... Noreen. I think only Cassie how vulnerable Sven is sa inyong magkakapatid the way how protective she is to her."

Nakatitig lang sya sa akin at di makapagsalita.

"The last time na magkasama kami I saw pain and guilt sa kanyang mga mata as she confess what she think she did wrong. Confessing how selfish she is as she used me and Noreen... and even you matanggap nyo lang sya... doing what she thought that could help you not to lose Noreen and your daughter and even me."

Di ko mapigilan ang matawa at mailing thinking how absurd her wish is.

"Don't you think she is ridiculously naive and stupid at the same time? Ang mas nakakatawa ay ang sabihin nyang she is worst than you are... but I've known you for years."

I look at him meaningfully sa huli kong sabi. I know what Michael's personality after being his girlfriend for years... see? He can't even look at me directly as soon as I uttered those words.

"If Sven claimed she is the devil then you and your kind are saints... don't you think that's too funny?" Natatawang tanong ko.

"Ang di ko lang maintindihan... why do this? You already had choosen that day, di ko lang matanggap at subrang nasaktan ako sa naging desisyon mo sa una, ng gamitin mo ang walang kaalam-alam na kapatid mo."

Namuo sa amin ang katahimikan at nakalimutan na namin ang pagkain sa harap namin.

"... Kung alam ko lang..." sabi nya makalipas ng ilang minutong katahimikan but it seems like hours for me.

Napapikit sya as if he, Michael, is reliving that only he can see.

"Kung alam ko lang na hahantong sa ganito... na magkakagusto si Noreen kay Sven... di na sana ako nagpadala sa takot at kusensya kahit na magmukha na akong masama-"

"You already are... matagal ka nang masama sa paningin ng ibang tao noon... maging kay Noreen after what you did." I said to him as a matter of fact.

Natawa sya ng pagak sa sabi ko.

"I really made out of myself like a fool, aren't I... Kristine?" Natatawang tanong nya. "I should have taken away Noreen that day... at nagpakalayo-layo na dapat kami rito... sa pamilya ko... kay papa..."

Nanlamig ako ng tukuyin nya ang papa nila pero agad din ito nawala at napalitan ng galit. As we suspected that man really had something to do sa nangyari kay Sven ng saktan nya mismo ang sarili nya.

"So... you used your sister at pinalabas mong sya ang gumugulo at may kasalanan sa lahat ng kagaguhan mo mapagtakpan lang na isa kang duwag?" I could not help but sneer in anger.

"I don't have a choice! I planned to eloped with Noreen at magpakalayo sa lahat but everything was ruined ng malaman kong sumugod sya mismo sa simbahan at ang mas malala... that craving for love and idiot sister of mine-"