Separated Love (Season 2)

Chapter 65

Separated Love

by larajeszz

Chapter 65

Jaycee’s POV

"And I doubt I'd have a chance to tell him because... he despises people like me," he said with a bitter laugh. "I know my life would be a lot easier if only my mother didn't have to be gone too soon."

Wala sa amin ang nagsasalita habang nakikinig sa kaniya. Ito naman din talaga ang dahilan ng pagpunta namin dito sa Batangas, para mailayo siya sa kanila at mailabas niya ang mga bagay na gusto niyang sabihin. Pakiramdam ko sa buong buhay ni Byron, bilang lamang sa mga daliri niya kung ilang beses na siyang naging malaya. At kahit hindi niya sabihin ay alam kong kabilang at naging parte rin kami ng mga sandali niyang ‘yon.

“Wala naman akong nakikitang mali sa kung ano ka ngayon,” sabi ni Cally. Inakbayan niya ang likod ni Byron para i-comfort ito.

“Every one of us are equal, there’s no need to feel different,” sabi ni Kuya Jaywen.

“You’re valid, and as long as you’re not a harm to other people, then they have no reason to despise or insult you for who you are." Asher gave Byron a huge smile because he was the last one to speak, and Byron became emotional as a result of what everyone was saying.

Pasimpleng pinunasan ni Byron ang mga luha niya. “My Dad is a smart guy, but I doubt he’ll accept me the way you guys do. Alam kong ayaw niya akong maging ganito kahit hindi niya sabihin, pero ano’ng magagawa ko, ‘di ba? Gusto na niya akong magkaroon ng sarili kong pamilya kahit pa nag-aaral pa lamang ako. The girl earlier… he wanted me to marry her. And the guests were not really mine, it was all his. He invited them for the big announcement, pero tumakas ako… don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Hindi ko kayo idadamay, I promise…”

Hindi siya nagkukuwento ngayon para maawa kami, pero hindi ko maiwasan. I feel sorry for him because his happiness is to be free from his own home, a place where he should be feeling safe, comfortable, and at peace.

“It’s not your fault. You shouldn’t be feeling afraid about what others would say, because you should feel confident and free. And if you’re uncomfortable in your place, you can always come to us,” I said.

Our home has always been the safe place of my friends ever since, at hindi na rin iba si Byron.

“You guys…” Inilibot niya ang tingin sa amin, “are my answered prayers.”

“And you’re or light, your positive energy gives us hope and happiness,” Aiden said with a smile at inakbayan ang katabing si Byron.

May dumating na lalaki na may dalang isang cooler na for sure ay puno ng mga drinks. In-order na rin pala ‘yon ni Kuya Jaywen kanina no’ng bumili sila kanina ng ukulele ni Aizan.

Napunta kaagad kay Asher ang tingin ko nang nagsimulang mamigay si Kuya ng mga hard drinks na laman ng cooler na binigay sa kaniya. Inaasahan ko nang nasa akin ang paningin niya simula pa lang no’ng makita namin ang laman no’ng cooler. Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata habang iniinom na niya ‘yong drink na binigay sa kaniya kanina. Ang daya!

“Oh,” narinig kong sabi ni Kuya na nasa likuran ko na. “Sige na, hindi kita isusumbong kay Mommy at Daddy. Minsan lang ‘to.”

“Ayaw ko pa rin,” sagot ko at iniyakap sa sarili ang mga braso ko para hindi niya mailagay sa mga kamay ko ‘yong alak na hawak niya.

Bumuntong-hininga siya, hindi ako lumilingon kaya narinig ko na lamang na may binuksan siyang bote.

“Take it, ako na ang bahala kay Asher,” he whispered.

Natatawa ko ‘yong tinanggap habang nakatingin kay Asher, his eyes were on my brother with the look of betrayal. Siguro ay sinabihan na niya si Kuya na ‘wag akong bibigyan pero hindi ito sumunod.

“Sorry, bro! Syrine will take care of her if ever she gets drunk!” sigaw niya kay Asher.

“I’ll look after her, Asher. I promise!” Pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Syrine, bagay na bagay talaga sila ng kapatid ko.

“I won’t get drunk.” Pinanindigan ko ‘yon kahit pa wala naman akong kasiguraduhan. Sa unang daan pa lang ng ininom ko sa lalamunan ko ay gusto ko na agad humingi pa ng isang bote kay Kuya. I’ve never thought I’d miss this!

Tumayo si Asher at hinila ako sa palapulsuhan para paupuin ulit do’n sa tabi niya.

"I should keep an eye on you while you're drinking," he said as he sipped from his bottle.

Tinawanan ko lamang siya at mabilis na ininom ‘yong hawak ko, I felt his hand on my waist. “Drink slowly,” he whispered.

“Sige, pero ano muna ‘yong sinasabi mong hindi ko na dapat maalala?” Napalayo siya dahil sa sinabi ko at umiwas ng tingin, hindi ko na ba ‘yon dapat maalala at ganito parati ang reaksiyon niya?

“Who’s next?” tanong ni Aizan sa lahat na nasa tabi ko na ulit.

“You go,” sagot ni Asher sa kaniya. “I know there’s something you’ve always wanted to tell.”

Tumingin pa saglit si Aizan sa kapatid bago napatungo, I don’t think I’ve already saw him this serious.

"Back then, you all know that we lost our father at a young age, and I was just one at that time." He took a glance at his brother, "I was always jealous of my brother for remembering how it felt to be in our father's arms. Of course, I know he lost him too, but at least he has a memory of him that he could still share until now. Because I... can't even remember how his voice sounds like."

Nakikinig kaming mabuti sa lahat ng sinasabi niya. So, this is what it feels to lost a parent at such a young age. I hope my future kids won’t experience that…

Lahat kami ay naninibago sa side na ‘to ni Aizan, si Asher ay tahimik lang na nakikinig sa kapatid. "And to be honest, I was never someone's favorite-"

Asher cut him off, “You’re my favorite brother.”

“Dude, I’m your only brother,” ngiti niya bago magpatuloy. "I don't know if y'all heard, but my grandfather is a scary man." Asher did not react at all, which means it's true. "His favorite person in this world is Kuya. He even focuses more on him than our grandmother. But still, Kuya never liked the attention... because it was too much. He continued forcing him to do things he despised.”

“Ah, I told him to talk about himself,” Asher murmured while listening.

"All he cared about was him. It was already like a sort of crime when Kuya had 2 to 3 mistakes in an exam, but me, even if I exceeded the number of wrong answers for the passing grade... he wouldn't care. I know why my brother has been taking care of me ever since we were kids because I lack the attention and care that I deserve to have." Tumayo rin siya at nagpunta sa likod ng Kuya niya para yakapin ito.

Nakangiti ko silang pinagmasdan, this is a rare sight as well. “I love you, Dad,” sabi ni Aizan kay Asher.

“Alright, get off.”

Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap, “Ang sungit pa rin…”

Kahit pala na palagi kaming magkakasama ay mayroon pa rin kaming bagong malalaman tungkol sa bawat isa. Habang tumatagal ay mas nakikilala namin ang isa’t isa.

“Parang nawalan na sila ng pakialam sa akin simula no’ng dumating ang bunso namin. Hindi ko sinisisi ang kapatid ko… dahil halos siya na lang din ang karamay ko sa bahay namin kahit na maliit pa siya.” Minsan nang nabanggit sa ‘kin ni Syrine na nag-iba ang pakikitungo sa kaniya ng parents niya simula no’ng dumating si Liam. “Never kong hinayaan na bumaba ang grades ko, pero hindi pa rin ‘yon sapat para sa kanila. Buti na lang… nakilala ko si Jaywen.”

Hindi na namin napigilan at biniro na namin sila dahil nakita namin kung paanong ‘di mapigilan ni Kuya ang mga ngiti niya. “It was the alcohol,” palusot niya.

Nang lumalim na ang gabi ay bumalik na kami sa mga kuwarto namin. Hindi pa naman late pero inaantok na ako kaagad, ito ang epekto sa akin ng alcohol.

When we got to the front door, Asher kissed my lips and said, "Good night." There was a slight alcoholic flavor, but that's fine because we both drink.

“Good night,” I replied.

Bago matulog ay naligo muna ako at nagpatuyoo nang buhok. Nawala ang kaninang sakit ng ulo na nararamdaman ko kanina lang, umaliwalas pa lalo ang pakiramdam ko nang saglit akong lumabas sa balcon para magpahangin.

Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid at napako ang tingin ko sa couple na nasa harap ng dagat. It was kind of dark, so I wasn’t sure if they were kissing? Nagulat ako nang makitang pamilyar ang mga mukhang nakikita ko. At first, I thought the guy was Isaac, but it was Ishan! Agad akong napatingin sa loob ng kuwarto namin at nakitang wala roon si Aiden. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa dalawa hanggang sa makilala na silang pareho…

Sa napapanuod ko ngayon ay naalala ko bigla ang sinasabi ni Asher na ‘di ko na dapat maalala. Sana nga ay hindi ko na naalala… My head had a picture of the night I kissed Isaac…

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-larajeszz