Chapter 19

Doubt

Allen's POV

"You've gone mad, Avah!" I said with gritted teeth. Nakakainis naman kasi. What if something bad happen with Marianne, halos matawa naman ako sa sarili ko, hindi pa ba masama 'tong nangyari sa kaniya?

"Hindi ko naman alam, Allen... na ganoon ang mangyayari!" depensa ni Avah sa sarili niya.

Napatingin ako kay Colleen na nasa tabi lang ni Avah. Agad naman itong umiling kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Wala pa akong sinasabi, umiiling na agad? Guilty?

"Well, we just wanted to prove something. But it is not my idea to put peanuts on her food! I swear!" Colleen answered much defensively.

Avah gave her a disappointed look. Napahilot naman ako sa sintido ko. What a mess. This is not included in my plans. Paano ba nangyari 'to? I just want Marianne and I to end up together for pete's sake!

Colleen walk near me and then started caressing my shoulder, as if she's comforting me through that. Mas lalo lang akong naiinis.

I was about to shoo her hand away when someone did it.

"Don't cross the line, Colleen. That is not included in your role. You're just a mere decoy, you don't play a vital part here, best friend," Avah said fiercely while holding Colleen's right hand.

Colleen was surely offended but she choose not to fight back. Umalis siya sa harapan namin ni Avah and then Avah was about to hug but I was quick to hold her hands.

"What you did... was so careless. This is also not included in your role, Avah. Don't get too comfortable," I reminded her then proceed to calling Marianne's parents.

"Tita... I rushed Aria to the hospital," panimula ko.

Agad ko namang narinig ang panic sa boses niya.

"What happened, ijo? Palabas pa lang kami ng airport. We just got off from the plane," aniyang parang nagmamadali.

"Babe, Marianne was rushed to the hospital," narinig kong pagbabalita niya kay tito.

"It was an accident. Nakakain po siya ng peanuts-"

"What?" pasigaw na tanong ni tita. "Paano nangyari 'yon? She is aware that she has a severe allergy to peanuts, how come Marianne will eat peanuts?" dagdag galaiting tanong niya.

Kinakabahan ako but I am already prepared. I have an alibi.

"It was an honest mistake by the servers at the cafeteria, tita. She ordered her favorite kare-kare, she specifically told the server that there must not be peanuts in there, however, the food that was served has peanuts in it..."

"Are they stupid? And why the hell she was ordering that kare-kare there?"

"I'm sorry, tita. I am partially at fault, I wasn't able to accompany her during the lunch time because I had a class..."

"Oh, no, ijo. I'm really glad that you were there to rushed her to the hospital. Let's not point finger on anyone, shall we? I just want to know, how is she?"

"The doctor said that she's already stable. She just need a complete rest for a while. I'll excuse her to her instructors and professors tomorrow," I heard her sigh. And then the sound of the car's door being close.

"Thank you, Allen. We'll be there in an hour. Bye. "

Napahinga ako nang malalim pagkatapos ng tawag. That was really stressful. I put my phone in my pocket and then look at Avah, who's still standing near Marianne's room.

"You may now leave, Avah," utos ko sa kaniya.

She scoffed but didn't bother to complain. Umalis na rin siya kalaunan.

I told Avah that I am having a little doubt on Marianne's behavior. Whenever Avah's throwing shits on Marianne, she will complain to me and will said things that I can only understand the half. But after the previous incident at the cafeteria, where Avah lashed out on her, she is kinda... different. Though, naisip ko rin naman na baka nagbago na siya? Maybe she decided to change a little.

I know a lot of things about Avah and Marianne. They were like frenemies, they are not totally fine with each other. They've been putting a fake good relationship. They were more likely to be rivals. That's what I know from my perspective, because Avah is competing with Marianne. The reason why she lure me to cheat on Marianne. Yes, Avah is my other woman, not Collen. She's a decoy just like what Avah said. For what? So that Avah can retain her good image, and for me to have the pleasure that I can't get from Marianne... yet.

I only need at least one year to wait. After I graduate, we can get married by then. She's almost 20 years old at that time, plus we also have the consent from both of our parents. Everything is already planned. And then, before our matrimony, I'll get rid of Avah. I have a gut feeling that she'll be a nuisance when the time has come. Ayaw ko no'n. Hindi yun ang magiging hadlang sa mga plano ko.

-----

Marjorie's POV

Just like in the cliche movies when the main character woke up after a disastrous scenario, siyempre ganun din sa akin.

Nagising ako na bumungad sa akin ang puting kisame, paglingon sa kanan ay bintanang nahaharangan ng makapal na puting kurtina, nakasisilaw na ilaw ng bumbilyang nasa kisame, at ang puting kumot with matching puting kubre-kama na siyang bumagay naman sa baby pink na kulay ng suot kong hospital gown.

Ang lakas ko naman kay San Pedro, buhay pa rin ako matapos kong gawin ang kalokohang iyon. Well, it's gotta be worth it, since it almost cost me my life. A risk, stupid, and effective way of hiding my secret.

Ilang oras o araw na kaya akong tulog? I haven't visited nor called Betty para kumustahin ang kapatid ko, ayos lang kaya sila?

Hindi ako makapagsalita nang maayos. Ang sakit ng lalamunan ko, parang may gasgas sa loob o nakaharang na kung ano, at pakiramdam ko'y natuyuan akong maigi ng laway.

"Drink a little of this, Aria," halos mapapitlag ako sa gulat nang mayroong magsalita sa kaliwa ko.

It is uncle Jomar. Inalalayan niya akong uminom ng tubig sa basong hawak niya. Pagkatapos kong sumimsim kahit papaano ay guminhawa ang pakiramdam ko pero parang gusto ko pang uminom ng tubig, hanggang sa naubos ko na pala ang laman ng baso.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me

"I think... I'm very fine now, how long was I asleep?"

"Less than or more than 16 hrs," he answered immediately.

"D-Dad, gusto ko na pong umuwi," paki-usap ko sa kaniya.

"It's still 4 in the morning, princess. And we still need to wait for the doctor's go signal kung puwede ka nang madischarge until lunch later. You need more sleep, come on, sleep again," aniya sa akin na bakas na bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha.

Ganito ba ang pakiramdam na mayroon kang tatay sa tabi mo? Na nag-aalala sa 'yo, na hindi ka maiwan at hindi pinapabayaan lalo kapag may sakit ka.

Yung tatay kaya namin ni Marianne, naisip niya bang hindi na lang sana niya iniwan si Nanay? Naisip niya bang sana hindi na lang niya kami pinabayaan?

Bago pa man magtanghalian ay pinayagan na akong madischarge kaya naman nakauwi na kami eksakto lunch na. Dumiretso kami sa dining area kung saan naroon si Avah at tila hinihintay kami.

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo at lumapit sa akin. Makikipag-beso siguro sana siya sa akin pero umilag ako ng slight. She was caught off guard. But she still manage to smile.

"How are you, Aria?"

"I want you out of our house," mahina ngunit mariin kong sambit.

She was caught off guard again. Her eyes widden and I can see that any minute from now she's gonna tear up.

"Aria," Auntie Alodia said as if she's calming me

"Magpahinga ka muna, anak. Kalalabas mo lang sa hospital..." idadagdag pa sana niya pero inulit ko ulit ang gusto kong mangyari.

At tumulo na nga ang mga luha ni Avah. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon ay maaawa siguro ako sa kaniya lalo sa itsura niya ngayon pero hindi, e. Paano ako maaawa sa tanong muntik nang patayin ang kapatid ko?