Chapter 7

(DIVINA POV) 

Our conversation was interrupted when my older brother's orders were served on our table.

"How about your allowance? Paniguradong hindi mo magagamit ang bank account mo we both know mommy." I can see on my brother's face that he really worried about me. Pero hindi naman ako ganoon katanga kung maglayas. 

"Kuya, don't worried about m-." I’m not done talking when he interrupted what I was going to say.  

"Anong kuya, don't worried about ang sinasabi mo!?" his blood is about to boil and any moment he will start to emit a fire. 

I know he has a right to be angry with me for what I am doing now. I couldn't even tell him what had happened. So, I understand if he’s mad at me, he’s entitled to that as an older brother. 

"Kuya listen. You don't have to worried about me, na withdraw ko na lahat ang nasa bank account ko." Mabilis kong saad. I saw his forehead furrow and his two eyebrows meet.

"How did it happen?" he asked in astonishment as he looked straight into my eyes. Wait, how can I explain that to him? Eh, ‘di ba nga ayaw kong ikuwento. 

"Kuya, kumusta na ang flight mo, malapit kanang umalis, naayos mo na ba ang lahat ng kailangan ayusin bago ang pag-alis mo?" Pag-iiba ko ng topic. Which is why his two eyebrows stick together even more and multiply the frowns on his forehead.

"Don't try to change the topic! How did it happen, Divina?" Pagalit na tanong niya, na parang anytime handa na siyang bugahan ako ng apoy. I took a deep breath. I also adjusted my chair while thinking about how I could properly explain what had happened.

"When I decided to leave our house. Nagkataon naman na ang credit card ko ay hawak ni Sofia." Panimulang sabi ko. When I looked at my older brother again, I saw that he was even more confused.

"Paanong nanyaring hawak ni Sofia ang credit card mo?" Nginitian ko si Kuya. It seems like all what happened is destinies planned. It help me to get rid off on my mother side. Habang iniimpake nila nanay Perla ang mga gamit ko, nagtungo ako sa banyo upang matawagan ko si Sofia. 

"Nang gabing iyon, nangangailan ng pera si Sofia. Kaya pinapunta ko siya sa bahay." Kinuha ko ang baso ni kuya na may lamang tubing at ininum ko iyon. 

Flashback!

After I took a shower, I’m so bored because I can’t get out of my room so, I stay in my room I decided to get ready for bed when my phone rang. When I look at my phone it was Sofia who's calling. I grabbed it from the table beside my bed. 

"Hello." I answered when I hang up the phone call. 

"He-hello, Divina." she stuttered, na siyang dahilan para mapabalikwas ako ng upo mula sa aking pagkakahiga.

"Sofia, are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong ko, anong nangyari sa kaniyan? Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, para siya umiiyak mula sa kabilang linya. 

"No!" Tungon niya, mas nakumpira kong umiiyak talaga si Sofia. 

"Is there a problem?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko, this time tumayo ako mula sa akin pagkakaupo. 

"Be-best, papalayasin daw ako sa apartment kapag hindi a-ako nakapag bayad ng upa." Umiiyak na sagot niya, napahawi ako sa aking buhok. 

"Best, nasaan ka ba?" Tanong ko ulit na mas nag-aalala pa. 

"Na-nasa apartment. Hindi ko mapigilan si aling Lus. Hi-hinahagis niya ang mga damit ko palabas." saad niya habang humahangulngol sa pag-iyak. I walked over to the window in my bedroom.

"Ibigay mo kay aling Lus ang phone, kakausapin ko siya." I said in my authority voice, medyo uminit ng bahagya ang aking ulo dahil sa narinig kong hinahagis ang mga damit ng best friend ko. Ano ba ang nangyayari? 

"Aling Lus, gu-gusto raw po kayong kausapin ni Divina." Narinig kong sabi ni Sofia mula sa kabilang linya. Kung iisipin ko last week niya pa pinoproblema ang pera. Hindi ko naman alam kung bakit, tinatanong ko naman si Sofia tungkol d'on, kaso ayaw naman n’yang sabihin ang dahilan. 

"Hello, sino ka?" Mataray na tanong ni aling Lus na lalong nagpainit pa sa aking ulo. 

"I'm Sofia's best friend. I just want to ask. Magkano po ba ang dapat bayaran ni Sofia?" nandoon pa rin ang aking paggalang. And now it became clear to me why she was worried about the money.

"Tatlong buwan na siyang hindi  nakakabaya kaya 12,000." Mataray na sagot niya. Para ano pa ang pagiging mag best friend namin kung hindi ko siya matutulungan, 'di ba? 

"Can you wait until 09:00 pm?" Pataray na tanong ko sa kaniya. Grabi si aling Lus hindi na ba siya naawa kay Sofia at hinagis niya pa ang mag damit niya? Take note, gabi na saan niya ba balak patulugin si Sofia? 

"And why? Huwag mo nga akong ini-english, english!" Sigaw nito sa kabilang linya. Aba at sinigawan pa talaga ako. 

"I will give her money to pay you." Pagsusuno ko sa kaniya. Kung pera rin lang naman ang kailangan mo, that's not a problem. 

"Okay sige. Pero hanggang nine lang! Oh, Sofia!" What's her problem? Ano ang pinuputok ng bunganga nito matangdang 'to at kanina pa siya sumisigaw. Parang nabingi tuloy ang aking kabilang tenga. 

"Hello, Divina. Saan ako kukuha ng pera?" Umiiyak pa ring si Sofia. Hindi na niya dapat problemahin 'yon. Paniguradong nahihiya lang siya na humiram ng pera sa akin. 

"Pumunta ka sa bahay, I'll borrow you the money you need and I will wait for you here." Alam ko na marami pang problema si Sofia. Kaya Maliit na tulong lang 'to, may mga ATM machine naman hindi ba? 

"Salamat, Divina salamat." Tapos binaba ko na ang phone ko. Tumayo ako sa kama ko at kinuha ko ang wallet ko ang kaso kulang pala ang cash on hand ko kaya kinuha ko ang credit card ko sa kabinet. Maya-maya lang ay nandito na si Sofia. Marunong naman siyang mag withdraw, kaya binigay ko ang credit card at ang password ko. 

Oo, ganoon kalaki ang tiwala ko sa aking bestfriend na si Sofia. 

End of Flashback!

"Magkano ba ang pina withdraw mo sa kaniya?" Tanong ni Kuya, this time hindi na nagkakasalubong ang dalawang kilay at wala ng mga kumunot sa kaniyang noo. 

"Noong una, 12,500 lang." Sagot ko.

"Then why she withdraws all your money?" Bakit na hindi na unubusan ng tanong si Kuya? I quick role my eyes yung tipong hindi niya talaga niya nakita. 

"Pina-withdraw ko nga lahat sa kaniya." medyo naiinis na sagot ko ulit sa tanong niya. 

"Naguguluhan ako. Can you please clarify it? The main reason why you left the house.“ He asked with irritation on his voice. I really don’t know how say it, baka mapatay ni Kuya si Benjie. Ayaw ko namang maging isang kriminal ang kapatid ko. 

I remained silent because I didn’t really want to say what had happened. Because I am worried about what he will going to do and I will not allow my older brother to perish.

He never tries to asked anything again. Hindi-hindi ko talaga makakalimutan ang ginawa ni Benjie, napaka walang hiya. 

He needs to be ready. I swear, when I find my way to get my revenge it will be great as my turn. 

"If you don't want to tell me what happened. I will ask someone." Pagalit na tugon ni Kuya. Base on his expression na ipinapakita niya ngayon. He really wanted to know what happened and the very reason why I was ran away. Base in brother face he was really confused and upset. 

From now on I need to teach myself how to be brave and I need to learn how to fight to defend myself.  Because I can't always rely on others to defend and protect me.

"Don’t waist your time to know what happened, it will get you more upset." I said irritated but full of worry. Galit ako at nag-aalala na pagnalaman niya ang tunay na nangyari ay mas lalo pang madagdagan ang mga iniisip niya at alalahanin, ayaw ko ng dagdagan iyon, ayaw ko siyang mapahamak ng dahil sa akin. 

"It's too late. Better you go home." alam kong galit na si Kuya sa tono palang ng kaniyang pagsasalita. He stood up and walked out of the Caffe Resto and he left me alone. I know my brother if he wants to know something he will do everything to get know it.

Sorry kuya, I really don't have the courage to tell you  what happened.