CHAPTER 5

Meeri's POV

"Salamat sa paghatid, Ceed." Tinanggal ko na ang pagkakasuot ng aking seatbelt at tinignan siya mula sa driver's seat. "At salamat din sa pagkain. I really missed Filipino cuisine even though I haven't eaten it for just half a year."

"Then, magbabaon ako bukas. Let's eat lunch together," tugon naman nito na agaran kong tinanguan bilang pagsang-ayon.

Namaalam na ako at lumabas sa kaniyang kotse. Bumusina muna ito bago pinaharurot iyon paalis upang bumalik na sa kaniyang bahay. Malalim naman akong napabuntong-hininga. Nabusog ako sa mga pagkaing inihanda niya.

Pumasok na ako sa bahay at isinarado muna ang gate. Tumambad na naman sa akin ang tahimik na paligid pero mula sa living room ay naroon ang lahat maliban kay Uncle Ilay. Bagsak ang mga balikat ng mga ito at mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

"Anong ganap?" tanong ko at nilapitan sila. Inilapag ko sa sofa ang aking bag bago naupo sa tabi ni Mom. "Para kayong binagsakan ng langit at lupa."

"Well, we got a call from random people and your name was all over the internet," tugon ni Avy at nasapo ang kaniyang noo.

Hindi naman ako nakaimik pero parang alam ko na ang tinutukoy nila. Kung tama ako, it was about Kenji and our breakup issue again. They probably made a story making me bad at people's eyes. Such a childish game made by his manager and some other people that handling and tolerating his bad habits. Well? What can I say? They needed him. They needed his fame and the money. So they'll do everything to keep him the nicest person in the world.

"Okay guys!" Tumayo si Logan sa gitna at pumalakpak. "This is nothing. We know that they're just making stories for that asshole's reputation. We shouldn't allow ourselves to fall to that shameless game of them. We are Salazar's, we are strong. So, let's party for celebration of thousands of bashers of our beloved Meeri!"

Agad namang nabuhayan ang lahat habang bumuntong-hininga naman ako. Having party for my bashers? Ang galing niya talagang gumawa ng rason makapag-inom lang.

Though pumayag ang lahat.

"I'm always by your side, Meeri," hayag ni Mom at niyakap ako kaya naman niyakap ko rin siya.

"I know, Mom," bulong ko at mapait na ngumiti. "And I'm sorry for bringing shame into our family."

"No, no, baby, it's not your fault."

Inalo ako nito pero hindi na ako muling umimik. Kahit na itanggi niya, talagang kasalanan ko ito. I expected this to happen but... I can't handle the shame especially that I'm dragging down my family name.

"This might affect your teaching," anas ni Avy na inilingan ko.

"This will affect my social life and the way people treat me, but not my teaching. I'm the teacher, and the teaching comes and depends on me myself. I'll feed them knowledge, and it's up to them if they'll swallow it or spit it just because of this nonsense issue," lintana ko na ikinangiti ni Avy.

"I really like your strong will," komento nito kaya napangiti na rin ako.

"Perks of being a Salazar."

Nagtawanan kaming pareho hanggang sa dumating si Logan at ang tatay nito na may dalang nakaplastic na mga canned beers. Inalok ako nito pero tumanggi ako. I need to go to school for tomorrow so I don't feel like drinking even a little.

Tumunog naman ang phone ko kaya inilabas ko iyon mula sa aking bag. Nagpaalam muna ako sa kanila na lalabas para sagutin muna ang tawag. Pagkalabas nga ay sinagot ko na ito at bumungad agad ang malakas na pagbati ni Rosie.

"Hey, you're fine, right? Nakauwi ka na ba? Kung hindi pa ay susunduin kita. Nasaan ka ba?" taranta nitong sambit na tinawanan ko ng mahina.

"I'm good, Rosie, thank you by the way," tugon ko at huminga ng malalim. "I haven't seen the news yet but my family was gloomy when I came home. Is it that bad?"

"Yes it is! May iba na nagsasabi na kaklase mo raw sila noon, or kaibigan, or nakasalamuha lang pero ang lala ng mga paratang nila, puro hindi kapani-paniwala!"

Nagtuloy-tuloy ito sa pagkukwento kaya naman naupo muna ako sa mahabang kahoy na upuan sa gilid at pinakinggan ito. Panay naman ang pagbuntong-hininga ko habang pinakikinggan ang mga kwento na kumakalat tungkol sa akin.

"At heto pa, I don't know how they managed to take this pero kumakalat din ang picture niyo ng uncle mo and it looks like you're hugging him. It was taken in airport, probably nitong umuwi ka," pamamalita ni Rosie kaya naman kumunot ang aking noo hanggang sa may maalala.

"Ah right. Nasubsob lang ako no'n," bulalas ko.

"I didn't saw that happened but even if you hugged him doesn't matter. He's your uncle. You're allowed to do that," reklamo pa nito na para bang ako ang inaaway niya. Mas mukha pa ngang siya ang namomroblema sa sitwasyon ko.

"Hayaan mo na—"

"No, hindi ko 'to palalagpasin. Sige, mauna na ako dahil magiging busy ako buong gabi sa internet. Keep safe, Meeri, but I hope hindi umabot sa puntong sasaktan ka nila physically."

Namaalam na rin ako hanggang sa naputol na ang tawag. Ibinaba ko naman ang aking phone at sinuklay paitaas ang aking buhok.

Humans are really the most disgusting animals in this world. They have brains, right, but we can't deny that we are all as stupid as the other animals. Society has the power to ruin a person's life and drive him or her into madness.

"How's your day?"

Napatingin ako sa nagsalita at nakita si Uncle Ilay na nakatayo sa gilid. Naglakad naman ito palapit sa akin at inabutan ako ng isang baso ng tea na tinanggap ko naman at uminom doon.

"Ayos lang naman," sagot ko.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yeah. I had a lot at Ceed's house." Matapos iyon ay nabalot na ng katahimikan ang paligid kaya naman tumikhim ako. "I'm sorry for dragging your name and image in my break up issue, uncle," mahina kong sambit at napayuko.

"That's fine. It won't ruin my reputation," tugon naman nito at uminom din sa tea na kaniyang hawak.

Namagitan ang katahimikan sa amin hanggang sa maalala ko ang sinabi ni Ceed. He thinks Uncle Ilay likes me. But that's ridiculous. I'm his nephew. Right, he's just being protective and— I stopped when I remember something. Yeah, the kiss. Why would he kiss his niece in the lips?

Napahawak ako sa aking braso. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable being alone with him and looking at him.

"Meeri?"

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang marinig ang pagtatawag ni Dad. Tumayo naman ako pero natigilan ako nang maramdaman ang kamay sa aking palapulsuan. Tinignan ko si Uncle Ilay at nang makita ang mga mata nito ay para bang may gusto siyang sabihin, pero nag-iwas ito ng tingin at binitawan na ako.

"P-papasok na po ako," pamamaalam ko na hindi niya inimikan kaya naman naglakad na ako papunta kay Dad.

"Pumasok ka na sa loob, malamig na rito sa labas," aniya at nagawi ang paningin sa kung saan ako nanggaling, agad namang nangunot ang kaniyang noo. "What are you doing there with Caesar?" taka pa nitong tanong sa akin.

"Nothing. He just ask me if how's my day and we talked a little about my issue," sagot ko naman pero mukhang hindi kampante si Dad at hinawakan ang aking balikat.

"Is that how he treats you?"

Nagtataka man pero tumango ako. "He's been like that ever since I was a little. He hates his father because he drive his mother to her death. Then his pregnant stepsister was left by her husband. He wouldn't like me to feel the pain of not having a father or having a asshole father," sambit ko na sininghapan nito at binitawan ako.

"Fine, it's my fault and I'm thankful that he takes care of you and your mother, but..." Huminto ito at parang nag-aalangan but still continued. "...I don't like the way he look at you and the way he treats you. It really has something about him that I hate—"

"You just hate him because he's more responsible than you," pagpuputol ko sa kaniyang sinasabi at kalauna'y bumuntong-hininga. "I'm sorry, Dad. Magpapahinga na po ako."

Matapos iyon ay naglakad na ako papasok at para tumungo sa aking kwarto. Pagkasarado ng pinto ay binagabag na naman ako ng isip ko.

Ngayon ay hindi na lang si Ceed ang nagsabi, even Dad noticed it.

So... what if Uncle Ilay really has feelings towards me? A love that doesn't just about love of a family?