Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

Bigla na lang nag-vibrate ang phone ko. My heart almost jumped out of my chest nang makita kong si Caellune 'yon. Agad akong napaupo.Caellune: Hey baby, I’m sorry I didn’t respond earlier. I didn’t check my phone. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, okay?Napabuntong-hininga ako, half relieved, half unsure. Okay siya… pero ramdam kong may mabigat sa loob niya. I quickly typed back.Me: Okay, I’ll try not to worry. Can I bring you lunch?Sinend ko agad, hoping he’d reply fast. Pero tumagal na naman ng ilang minuto walang reply.Napapikit ako sa inis at kaba. I decided to shower, baka sakaling kumalma ang utak ko. Pero pagpasok ko sa banyo, malamig man ang tubig na dumaloy sa katawan ko nanatili pa ring magulo ang aking utak. After a while, lumabas ako ng washroom. Agad kong tinignan ang phone ko. My chest tightened. Why isn’t he responding? I bit my lip and decided to call him. Ilang beses na nag-ring ngunit walang sumagot.Sige, text na lang ulit. I exhaled shakily.Me: Hey… is somethin

“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine,” bulong ni Czyrene, trying to comfort me pero hindi pa rin mawala ang bigat sa dibdib ko.Napatingin ako sa dinner na inihanda ko para kay Cael. Malamig na. Pati pagkain sumuko na sa paghihintay sa kanya. I sighed, my heart filled with worry and a little frustration. I glanced back at Czyrene, her gentle eyes trying to reassure me, pero sa loob-loob ko hindi maalis ang pakiramdam na parang may mali.“Thanks, Zy,” I forced a small smile. “I just wish your brother would at least call… sabihin man lang kung nasaan siya.”She nodded softly. “I get you. Maybe he’s still at the office. You know how he gets when he’s busy.”Tumango ako, pero kahit ilang beses kong kumbinsihin ang sarili, hindi pa rin mapakali ang puso ko. I kept glancing at the clock. Minutes turned into hours. Ilang buntong-hininga na rin ang nailabas ko. Hanggang sa tumunog ang doorbell.I almost ran to the door. Binuksan ko agad at bumungad sa akin si Caellune, standing there, exhausted. Hindi

“Babe, what’s wrong?” tanong ni Cael. Kakauwi niya lamang galing sa opisina. I followed him because I wanted to talk to him. Sinubukang hawakan ni Cael ang braso ko pero iniwas ko. Akala ko handa na akong kausapin siya pero hindi pa pala...“Don’t ‘babe’ me, Cael. I don’t want to talk to you,” I said coldly. Ramdam ko ang kaba sa dibdib pero pinilit kong maging matatag.Nagulat siya. Kita ko sa mukha niya na hindi niya inaasahan 'yon. Concern flashed in his eyes as he tried to touch me again.“Baby, what have I done?” he asked quietly, his voice laced with confusion and worry.I glared at him, trying to steady the anger boiling in my chest. “Alam mo kung ano. So think about it,” I said firmly, kahit nanginginig na ang boses ko.Caellune’s eyes widened. “You’re still upset about last night, aren’t you? But I already apologized,” he said, softer this time na parang natatakot mas lalo akong masaktan.“Do you really think saying sorry is enough?” I snapped, my heart pounding. “I am your

“Gusto kong mas maganda ka kay Nathalie mamaya,” sabi ni Czyrene habang maingat na pinupulupot ang buhok ko sa curler.Tonight is Nathalie’s welcome party. Nasa kwarto ako kasama si Czyrene na abala sa pag-aayos ng buhok ko.Napatawa ako. “Mas maganda talaga, ha?” biro ko, habang tinitingnan ang sarili sa salamin.Ngumiti siya nang may halong kalokohan. “Of course. Someone has to bring some life to that boring party. Besides, you deserve to shine, girl. Alam mo namang stunning ka na, pero I’ll make sure mas mapapalingon si Kuya sa ’yo.”“Grabe ka,” natatawa kong sagot. But deep down, may kakaibang excitement akong naramdaman. Alam kong may secret weapon si Czyrene pagdating sa mga ganitong event.Habang inaayos niya ang last strand ng buhok ko, I couldn’t help but think about tonight. Nathalie’s party was supposed to be a happy gathering, pero hindi ko alam kung bakit parang may kaba sa dibdib ko.Si Cael kasi, he’d been acting strange all day. Tahimik na parang may iniisip. Hindi k

Laking pasasalamat ko dahil binalikan ako ni Czyrene. When we arrived at the mansion, nadatnan namin si Cael na nakaupo sa living room. Pero pagkakita pa lang niya sa akin, bigla siyang tumayo at naglakad paakyat sa hagdan. Mabilis kong sinundan ang lalaki at hinawakan ang kamay niya. “Cael, please. Hindi ko ginawa ‘yon. Hindi ko nilagyan ng gamot ang inumin mo. Maniwala ka naman,” pakiusap ko, halos manginig ang boses habang tinitigan siya nang may pagmamakaawa.Mabilis niyang binawi ang kamay at tinignan ako ng malamig.“Get lost. Don’t pretend, Sol. How could you drug me just because I didn’t want to make out with you? Akala mo ba ayos lang 'yon?”Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng mata ko. Huminga ako ng malalim.“Bakit hindi mo maintindihan? Maniwala ka naman—”“There’s nothing to believe. The video says everything,” pagmamatigas niya.Sa gilid namin, tahimik lang na nakatingin si Czyrene pero halatang hindi na makatiis. Lumapit ito at mahinahong nagsalita.“Kuya, bakit ayaw mong pakingg