Chapter 8: Sister's Ex-boyfriend

ZYRILLE🎯

Nasa office ako ngayon because I have a lot of things to do as an SSC president of this school.

"So busy, huh?" Napalingon ako sa pintuan and there I saw my bestfriend, Ryonna.

I welcomed her with my smile.

"Yeah right. Walang choice eh," sagot ko.

Lumapit siya sa mesa at umupo sa bakanteng upuang nasa harapan ko. Napabuntong hininga siya kaya naman napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Is there something that you wanna talk about?"

"I don't know if how could I start this."

Binitawan ko ang ballpen na hawak ko at ibinaling ang aking pokus sa kanya.

"Just say it."

"It's about your sister and..."tumingin ito sa akin na parang tinatantsa kung sasabihin niya ba o hindi. Napataas ako ng kilay dahil sa pambibitin niya.

"Hirap dugtungan?"

"Eh kase naman inaalala lang kita," sabi niya na nagpaconfuse sa akin. Ano ba kaseng gusto nitong sabihin?

"Ok, ok. It's your sister and your ex," nanigas ako sa aking kinauupuan nang marinig iyon.

"What about them?"

"Kanina, I saw your sister being with the Scarlet Primos and it looks like she's already part of the group," sabi nito at napatingin ako sa kawalan.

"This can't be," I muttered. How come that they will offer that thing to her? How come that my sister would join them?

"And one more thing, I think hindi lang siya kasama sa grupo. Kase kanina, habang naglalakad sila, nakita kong nakakawit ang braso ni Ace sa bewang ng kapatid mo. I think they are in a relationship now kaya may possibility na maging member siya. Pero 3 days pa lang diba yung kapatid mo dito? Oh come on, bes. Parang masakit yata sa ulo yang kapatid mo. No wonder she's targeted by most of the girls here," manghang sambit nito.

Pinili ko na lamang di siya sagutin. There is something wrong here. Kilala ko ang kapatid ko. Even though na hindi sila nagkakaunawaan ni Dad, kahit nagbago siya, alam kong di siya nagpapadalos sa kanyang desisyon. But now, why? Is she aware that the Scarlet Primos is a group of gangsters? Alam niya bang posibleng mapahamak siya sa paglapit dito? Xeña, what are you thinking? No, it must be Xander.  I need to talk to him. I need to know the reason why he is doing this. But the question is, am I ready to talk with him now? It's been two years since the last I had talked with him.

Napatingin ako sa nakakuyom kong kamay na hinawakan ni Ryonna.

"Zy, tell me. Are you still with Xander?" Napakunot ako ng noo.

"I mean, nakamove on ka na ba? I know it's already been two years pero noong bumalik siya kamakailan lang dito, I caught you being bothered with it," halata mo talaga sa kanya yung pagiging concern.

Yes, it's been two years when we had broken our relationship, exactly the 2nd anniversary of us. Actually, we're classmates since then, but when we enter Grade 10, he's not with us anymore. We thought he had transferred into another school but when this school year had started, we were shocked of his comeback because he is enrolled again in this school not having the same level as what we have. Now, I've been questioning myself of 'why did he stopped for two years?' Konektado ba ito sa nalaman ko? May kinalaman ba ako dito? I don't know but it's just that I feel guilty somehow of what happened to him.

"I don't know," yun na lamang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Tss. So what are you going to do now?"

"I need to talk to him."

Napataas siya ng kilay.

"For what?"

"I'm concerned with my sister, Ryonna. Don't misinterpret it," pagsisigurado ko sa kanya.

--

"Xander, can we talk?" Tanong ko sa kanya nang makasalubong ko siya kasama ang kanyang barkada na papunta ng cafeteria. Tiningnan niya lang ako ng blangko.

"Whoah, is that you Zyrille?" Tanong ni Darryl

"Yeah. It's her. The ex," sagot ni Kaizzer.

Maging sina Fredrich at Vendrick ay napatingin sa akin. Halata sa mga ekspresyon nila na naiinis sila sa akin. But still I gave them smile even if it's awkward.

Scarlet Primos. They still recognized me. These four are not former students here but I met them because of Xander also. They came from different schools pero magbabarkada na sila since then wherein their group is popular kahit saang school ka pa pumunta not knowing that they are group of gangsters. Now, curiosity feeds on me. Why they are now all here in Faulker Academy? Why they are all in Grade 10 although that in my knowledge is that they must be on the same level as mine? What does Scarlet Primos up to?

Tumingin ulit ako kay Xander when I did not hear some response from him.

"Please, on the rooftop," pagpupumilit ko at binigyan siya ng ngiti.

Nauna na akong maglakad at hindi na lumingon para alamin kung sumunod nga siya. But I am hoping he will.

He really changed. He is not already the guy I know, the guy I used to be with before. And I really hate myself because of the fact that until now, I'm still affected with his presence.

First day of school at hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti habang naglalakad sa pathway ng dream school ko, the Faulker Academy.

"Yah! TABIIII!!" sigaw ng nasa likuran ko at nang lingunin ko iyon ay isang lalaki ang papalapit sa akin na nagske-kateboard at para akong natulala at hindi magawang umalis sa kinatatayuan ko. Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan ay napapikit ako. Oh, God ! Anong katangahan ba ang ginagawa ko?

Pero naramdaman kong may humapit sa bewang ko hudyat para mapamuklat ako at tumambad sa akin ang napakagwapong nilalang. Kung kanina ay hindi ko magawang gumalaw dahil sa mababangga alo, ngayon naman ay pakiramdam ko tumigil ang mundo maging ang paghinga ko dahil sa sobrang lapit ng mukha at katawan namin sa isa't isa.

Napakurap ako at magpapasalamat na sana kaso inunahan na niya ako.

"Next time, don't be stupid," at binitiwan na niya ako bigla.

Napaawang ang bibig ko at nilingon ang direksiyon niya.

"Thank you, ha!" Sigaw ko sa hindi sinserong paraan.

Pagpasok ko sa room, unang naglandas ang aking mga mata sa likuran sa .ay bintana. Kaklase ko pala ang lalaking yon? Hindi halatang nararapat sa first section. Tss.

Umupo ako sa unahan, sa gitna kung saan katabi ko ang isang babaeng nakangiting pinagmasdan ako.

"Hi, I'm Ryonna," pagpapakilala niya at inilagay sa harap ko ang kamay niya.

" Nice to meet you, Ryonna. I'm Zyrille," at inabot ko ang kamay niya.

Maya-maya'y pumasok ang aming guro.

"Good morning class, I am Mr. Telesforo Ventura. I am your adviser as well as your Science teacher. Now, it's your turn to introduce.

Isa-isa kaming nag-introduce ng aming sarilisa harapan. Mula sa unang row hanggang sa hulihan. At nang ang lalaking nasa hulihan at nasa bintana na ang nagpakilala, parang ang lahat ay napapigil hininga nang sambitin niya ang kanyang pangalan.

"Ace Xanderzild Vendell Faulker. Sounds familiar? Yeah, whatever's in your mind, that's it," sambit niya habang nasa upuan at hindi nag-atubiling pumunta sa unahan o di kaya'y tumayo man lang. He sounds so authoritative and...arrogant.

Days had passed and I never thought that I will be attached to him in the most unexpected way.

Our terror Mathematics teacher enters the room at walang pakundangang ibinagsak ang gamit niya sa lamesa.

"Now get your notebook and I will check if you have assignment or none," ma-awtoridad niyang sabi.

Hinalukay ko ang bag ko pero bigla akong nag-panic nang hindi ko mahagilap ang notebook. Ala.,patay ako neto. Nagsisimula na siyang maglibot at tingnan ang notebook isa-isa. At dahil nasa harapan ako...

"Miss Fuentella, where's your assignment?"

Napatayo na lamang ako and try to explain my sode.

"Sir, I do have assignment but I think I left my notebook in the house," I explained at tahimik na nananalangin na sana maintindihan niya.

"To make it simple, you have no assignment. Now, get out."

"But sir..."

"I don't care about your explanation. Still, you have no assignment. And besides, it's not the notebook you had left, it's your brain. Go out!"

And I have no choice but to leave the room with teary eye.

I went to the rooftop and here I am, bursting all the pain and tears that I have in this moment.

"I told you to be not stupid again," napatigil ako sa pag-iyak nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon.

"Why are you here?" Tanong ko habang hindi siya nililingon.

Sa halip n sagutin ako ay umupo siya sa tabi ko at inilahad sa akin ang panyo niya.

"Sa-salamat," usal ko bago tinanggap at ipinunas sa mukha ko.

"Are you really that stupid?"

"Nandito ka ba para asarin ako?" Tiningnan ko siya ng masama at ang loko nagkibit-balikat lamang. Naalala ko tuloy ang mga salitang binitawan ni Sir Marcos. It's the brain that I had left, meaning I'm stupid.

Napatingin ako sa kawalan.

"Tanga nga siguro talaga ako," bigla ko na lamang nasambit.

"Do you know what, I never thought na masasabihan ako ng ganoong salita. Sanay kasi akong pinupuri, pinapalakpakan at ipinagmamalaki. Sanay ako sa mga magagandang salita, sanay akong hinahangaan. But here in this school, with you and Sir Marcos, it's the first time in my history," I faked a smile with that realization.

"That's why you're really that affected. Now you already know na hindi sa lahat ng oras, magagandang pakikitungo ang mararanasan mo. Sometimes, it's okay to be called in a rude way, to experience such shameful things as long as wag mo lang dibdibin masyado. Instead, just like how you're being admired by others, accept those things because it will tend you to grow and be matured enough. Hindi mo namamalayan, yung mga masasakit na salitang iyon ay nagiging motibasyon mo na pala para baguhin yung impresyon niya tungo sa iyo. Time flies and you're proving to them that it's a mistake to call you what you doesn't deserve to be," mahabang litanya ng lalaking hindi ko inaasahang may ganoong pananaw.

With that, my sincere smile had been awaken.

"Is that the reason why you're calling me stupid?" I asked. Sinagot niya lang ako ng kibithbalikat.

"Anyway, thank you Xander," I said with a smile. He looked at me then noddedat inalis din ang tingin sa akin.

"Ah, one more thing,how come you're here?"

"I told Marcos that I don't have assignment because I lost my brain." At tuluyan na akong napahagalpak ng tawa sa sagot niya.

I was comforted by Xander that time not knowing that it's already the first step of moving forward into such deeper level of relationship.

I'm now on the rooftop and waiting for him. Kahit na malabong susunod siya dito...

"What do you want?" I smiled bitterly upon hearing his voice  before I faced him.

"I just want to talk about my sister," diretsahan kong sagot. Tinitigan niya lang ako ng mariin. I sighed. Wala na talaga ako sa sistema niya .

"What's going on between you and her?"

He smirked.

"Why? Are you bothered?" Am I?

"Yes because she's my sister. I am worried with her that I must know what are her whereabouts."

"Then, why don't you ask her instead of me?" Napatahimik ako.

"Is it really for your responsibility as her sister or is it just to feed your own self?"

"Xander, look. It's not because we have our past. It's just that I don't want my sister to be harmed--"

"Am I really that harmful to you, Zyrille?" I was stunned of his words. Naalala ko yung araw na may natuklasan ako sa pagkatao niya.

It's our third anniversary as a couple. I'm now in the park and waiting for his presence.

Pero nagulat na lamang ako nang may panyong tumakip sa bibig ko hanggang sa nawalan ako ng malay.

Pagkagising ko ay napansin ko na lamang ang sarili kong nakatali sa isang upuan at nasa abandonadong lugar.

"Gising na pala ang prinsesa ni Alas," napatingin ako sa lalaking pwerteng nakaupo sa harapan ko. I looked at him and I swear I don't like his presence.

"Yah! Sino ka ba at ba't mo ko dinukot?" Sigaw ko sa kanya habang pinipilit na kuwala sa pagkakatali.

"Don't mind my name but I will give you a hint. I'm a gangster. The one you hate, right?" Pang-aasar niyang sagot at nang banggitin niya ang salitang iyon ay biglang uminit ang ulo ko.

"Ano ba talagang kailangan mo sa akin?" He smirked at lumapit sa akin habang dala-dala ang upuan niya.

"Simple lang, princess," tiningnan niya ako ng mariin.

"To hit you with such realization," bulong niya at sa oras na iyon ay napapikit ako at dinamdam ang napakabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko. Inangat niya ang mukha ko at binigyan ako ng nakakalokong ngiti.

"Im not going to hurt you physically but rather emotionally. Don't worry it's for your own good, hmm."

"What do you mean?" I asked him.

Kumalabog ang pintuang nasa harapan namin at nang matamaang tumingin ako roon ay para akong binuhusan ng napakalamig na tubig.

"What the fuck are you doing, Brandon" It's Xander together with his group, the Scarlet Primos. Does it mean...no, no please.

"At last, you're here, Mr. Ace, Scarlet Primos," this guy said then he looked again to me. "Your love saved you but wait, I thought you hate gangsters then why? Why did you became the girlfriend of this top deadly gangster?" And now his words broke me into pieces.

This. This is what I hate with gangsters. Your life is in danger if you've encountered them. Hindi na ako nagtataka kung paano niya nalaman ang meron sa amin ni Xander. Kung ano man yung hidwaan nilang dalawa, paniguradong hahanap ng paraan ang isa para makahiganti. And our relationship is what he's targeting right now.

"Walang hiya ka, Brandon! Papatayin kita!"

Tuluyan na akong napapikit at hinayaang bumuhos ang aking mga luha.

How I hate all these things! I hate violence, the danger brought by these kind of people. I hate gangsters! And I hate myself for being stupid all this time.

"Tama na...please stop," pagsusumamo ko sa gitna ng kanilang labanan.

"Xander, tama na!!!" Sigaw ko at tuluyan ng umalingawngaw ang katahimikan sa lugar.

"Zyrille..." Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at natanaw kong nakaluhod sa harapan ko si Xander. Hawak ni Kaizzer si Brandon.

"Pakawalan niyo sila." Matigas kong sabi at binitawan ni Kaizzer ang lalaki at patakbong umalis ito kasama ang mga kasamahan niya. Pero bago ito tuluyang tumakbo ay ngumisi pa ito sa akin.

"Xander, kailan pa? Simula ba ng makilala kita involve ka na sa ganito?" Panimula ko but he remained silent.

"Do you know how I hate these things, right? Kung hindi ba ako dinukot ngayon, may balak ka bang sabihin sa akin kung sino ka, kung ano ka ha?" Napasigaw ulit ako dahil sa nararamdaman ko sa ngayon.

"I don't know," mahinang sagot niya.

"Hindi mo alam? Xander naman! Hanggang kailan mo ako pagmumukhaing tanga? Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi sa akin na wag akong maging tanga pero ano 'to? Ikaw naman ang gumagawa ng rason para maging tanga ako sa katotohanan!"

"Zyrille, I don't want to keep this to you but I cannot afford also to lose you." Paliwanag niya. If I had only knew this from the start, nagawa ko na sanang iiwas ang sarili ko sa kanya. If I had only knew, this guy and I will not be a couple, I would not show any interest for him but rather I will treat him as a guy who must be avoided.

"Seriously Xander! Takot akong mamatay kaya iniiwasan kong ma-involve sa ganito pero heto, at naging walang kwenta. Nagmahal ako ng lalaking taglay pala ang katangiang pinaka-ayaw ko. Kaya kapag ipinagpatuloy ko ito, malalagay din ang buhay ko sa alanganin. At sa oras na yun, hindi lang ako sayo mawawala!"

"Zy...."

"Tanggalin niyo ang tali ko," lumapit si Fredrich at tinanggal iyon. At dali-dali akong tumayo. And he is still kneeling in front of me.

"Do you regret now for loving me?" He's hurt pero isinawalang bahala ko yun dahil sa ngayon pipiliin ko ang sarili ko.

"Yes, I am. Ayoko na, Xander. Tama na ang lokohan. Even though I hate gangsters but I will thankful for that guy, for showing me the reality that I've been blind for three years. Thank you for the 3 years of stupidity. Because right now..."

"You're no longer the Xander I know," I ended and walked away in that place, walked away from him.

"I need to go," sagot niya at tumalikod na.

"Do you really like Xeña?" He stopped after I said those words but did not respond.

"Do you like her? If it is not, then please stop your nonsense game," banta ko.

"What if I am? Are you gonna let us then?" Mabilis niyang sagot na hindi man lang nag-abalang lumingon pa sa akin.

Beep. Beep.

Nagulat ako sa narinig ko. May taong nakarinig sa pinag-uusapan namin ni Xander. Napalingon kami sa may hagdanan.

"Sino yan?" Kinakabahan kong tanong.

"Go out if you still care with your life!" Pagbabanta ni Xander.

At sandali akong natigilan nang matanaw si Xeña sa aming harapan.

"Xeña, anong--"

"I thought rooftop would freshen my mind but it ended up that I am accused of eavesdropping," sagot niya at ramdam mo ang pagiging sarcastic nito.

Tumingin ito kay Xander.

"Now that I showed up myself, would I still be receiving any punishment for disturbing your precious moment?" Tanong nito kay Xander habang may nakakalokong ngiti. Nakatalikod si Xander sa akin kaya hindi ko makita ang reaksyon nito.

"Why are you heading here instead of being in the cafeteria?" Tanong nito kay Xeña and she just rolled her eyes as she's not going to tell the reason.

There is really something that is going on between them. And I admit, it affects me.

"Nah. I'll just go there," tumalikod na ito at akmang aalis nang pinigilan ko ito.

"Is he your boyfriend now, Xeña?"

Napalingon ito sa akin at manghang tinitigan ako.

"Why so curious, Zyrille? Do you want to know it and report it to our father?" Until now, she's addressing me through my name, not calling me as Ate that makes me sad.

"Xen, you're making our Dad disappointed again," mahinahon kong sambit pero parang nagkamali yata ako dahil nag-iba ang ekspresyon niya at halata na ngayong galit siya. I unintentionally make her mad with my words.

"Xen, I--," babawiin ko sana ito pero di ko na nagawa nang nagsalita na siya.

"So anong pinupunto mo? Hangaan at tularan kita tulad ng gusto niyang ipilit? Gayahin ko yung mga ginagawa mo dito, yung palaging pinipili yung tama, may dangal na ipagmamalaki, ganun ba?"

"Xen, I'm not referring sa kung ano ang pinipilit ni Dad na gawin mo. I'm just here to warn you, to protect you."

"Protect from what?" Sigaw nito.

"From me," napatingin ito kay Xander na nagsalita at ako naman ay napabuntong hininga.

Biglang natawa ang kapatid ko.

"Why, because you're a gangster?" Tanong nito kay Xander.

"Am I right, Zyrille? Are you worried that I may end up to death if I'm with him?" Namilog ang mata ko sa mga nasabi niya. Hindi ako sanay na ganito siya kadirekta magbanggit ng bagay na yun.

"You don't have to. I'm always ready to face that. But I know, being with a gangster cannot be easily sent me to death. Gangster is a fighter... and a protector," she said seriously while facing at me then to Xander. In her words, I can tell that she's trusting him. And that's the thing I easily gave up when I had known his other side as I choose to end our relationship before. But now, I realized it's only our relationship I had made to end but not my love for him.

"Can I go now?" Xeña asked.

"Let's go," aya sa kanya ni Xander.

"Xander..." Tawag ko at pareho silang napatigil.

"If I had accepted your other side, will you be able to fight for me, to protect and save me if I will be in danger?"

"I already proved that to you before but you just let it pass. So, what's the sense of having that question now?" Tuluyan na akong naluha at tumakbo papunta sa kanya. I hugged him from his back.

"I still love you, Xander."

Napaharap ang kapatid ko and she just show her blank expression.

"I never thought that I will be witnessing the other side of yours, my dearest desperate sister. Good luck," at tuluyan na siyang bumaba ng hagdan.

I'm still hugging him and when Xeña had became out of our sight, he grabbed my hand then let go of it before he faced me.

And I am stiffened when he smirked at me.

"I'm not your Xander anymore, Zyrille Khirsten."

"You're no longer the Xander I know."

Before, I'm the one who is walking away from him after I broke his heart. But this time, he's the one who is now walking away from me, who is now breaking my heart through the words I had once said, reminding me that he's not the Xander I used to love, I used to be with.