Stuck At The 9th Step

CHAPTER 45 : FIGHT

#SAT9S

DEDICATED TO : Janine Therese Abrasia Fernandez

CHAPTER 45 : FIGHT

There comes a long moment of silence. I stared at him, bewildered and unable to understand what he meant. There was something in his reaction that I couldn't apprehend. Even his choice of words are braced by great self-restraint. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang pulso ko at inalis ang aking kamay sa pagkakahawak sa kanyang kwelyo. Tumingin ulit siya sa akin.

"Go get her if you want. That's not my business anymore." Malamig niyang tugon.

Patuya akong natawa. "How could you say that, huh? You've been with her for years. Pagtapos ano? Ganyan lang? Wala kang pakialam? Tinatrato mo siya na parang wala kayong pinagsamahan?"

"Tapos na kami." Matalim niyang sagot na mas lalong nagpaalab sa nararamdaman ko.

"With no proper closure. Sana naman binigyan mo siya ng magandang rason. You cheated. You didn't even chase her-"

"I cheated? I don't know if your misinformed or what." Bahagya siyang natawa. "Chase? I'm done with that."

"For a year? Sapat na 'yon sayo?"

"Hindi mo alam kung ano ang nangyari sa isang taon na 'yon. Wala ka ro'n." Mas naging malamig ang kanyang tingin. "Mas lalong hindi mo alam kung ano ang nangyari pagtapos no'n kaya huwag kang makisawsaw. That was not your issue, Coby. It's already done. And I don't need to explain myself to anyone who's not involve. Who are you anyway?"

I took a step while clenching my fists. "Pinagkatiwala ko si Rhea sayo."

"Pinagkatiwala ko rin ang sarili ko sa kanya." Sagot niya nang hindi umiiwas ng tingin. "At hindi ko kailangan ng opinyon mo at ng ibang tao lalo na kung hindi niyo alam lahat. Put all the blame on me if that satisfies you. That's one common act for stupids like you."

"Damn you." I hissed.

"Hindi ko kailangang makipag-usap sayo. Kunin mo na siya." Tumalikod siya at akmang lalabas ng pinto.

"Wala ka na ba talagang pakialam sa kanya?" Pahabol ko na nagpatigil sa kanya.

"Sa kanya, meron. Sa mga tulad mo, wala."

I gritted my teeth. "You're a coward, Ren."

"Then, what the term left for you? Chicken?" He let out a snickered laugh. "Ilayo mo siya kung gusto mo. I'm not desperate like you."

"Sana hindi mo 'to pagsisihan. Matatauhan ka rin, Ren."

"Matagal na akong natauhan."

Tuluyan na siyang nakaalis pero nanatili akong nakatingin sa pinto. He doesn't look like he regrets anything. I don't know what to think anymore. The thought of him abandoning Rhea seems surreal but he just did, right? He just did. He's giving her away na parang wala na sa kanya kung kanino mapunta ang babaeng minsan niyang minahal. His actions adds more fuel to my rage. His words, too. Him, accusing me for being desperate was baseless! I just want to help Rhea. Taking her away was never my option since I don't have any rights aside from being her confidant. I don't get his point.

Napatingin ako kay Rhea na nasa couch. May jacket na nakabalot sa kanya at may benda ang kanyang kamay. I frowned. What happened? Paano siya napunta rito? Sinadya niya ba si Ren dito? Nagkausap ba silang dalawa? Questions quickly fill-up my head.

After a moment of thinking nonsense, I sighed deeply. Tinungo ko si Rhea sa couch at binuhat nang dahan-dahan at maayos. Even in her sleeping image, I could tell that she's in distress. Her psychiatrist's hypothesis is accurate. Trauma wasn't curable unless the patient overcomes her own issues. May epekto pa rin si Ren kay Rhea at binabalik lang nito ang sakit na pilit binabaon ng huli.