This is not the last chapter.

Simon's Side

"What the heck! They're brother and sister? Incest?"

Hindi ako makapaniwala. I'm with my siblings, nanuod kami ng pelikula na suggestion ni Carl. I thought it would be good because it's one of those fictional books turned to movie but I didn't like it.

I did not.

Actually, not because I'm a book lover which absolutely I'm not. Hindi din dahil hindi maganda ang pag kakagawa ng movie dahil aminin ko man o hindi, the effects were really outstanding.

It's just that..

I didn't like what happened between the main characters. I hate their conflict.

"Inexplain na kanina ni Clyde 'yan. They're not related.. kagagawan lang yon ni Valentine. They thought they are but they aren't." Rinig kong paliwanag ni Tulip.

Napahawak ako sa batok ko at tumango-tango nalamang. Umiwas ako sa matalim na tingin niya at bahagyang lumayo.

I was never comfortable around her.

"Why are you so affected, Simon? Do you like those type of movies now?" Panunukso ni Clyde.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at nagkibit-balikat lamang siya.

Umiling ako at parang gusto kong sapakin ang sarili ko dahil sa mga bagay na tumatakbo ngayon dito. I thought, I'm already done with this but heck! Everyday.. lumalala.

Every second, minute, hour, day, month and year..

Walang pagbabago, instead of it dying, it's getting bigger and deeper.

"I'm not. It's just.. weird." Wika ko.

"Hindi ba ay ganon din yung nangyari kay Tito Josh at Tita Jess?" Tanong ni Clyde.

"That's different. Ampon lang si Tita Jess atsaka naging sila pagkatapos malaman ang lahat. Naging sila nung tanggap na ng lahat ang totoo about kay Tita. They met again after everything and they fell in love." Paliwanag ni Tulip.

I tried grasping everything she just said but I failed. Habang naririnig ko ang boses niya ay wala akong ibang maintindihan kung hindi ang pagusbong ng mga damdamin na matagal ko ng sinusubukan patayin.

"Ano daw?" Tanong ko dahil wala akong nakuha sa mga sinabi niya.

I can't help but stare.

"Diba.. ampon lang si Tita Jess." Ani Clyde.

Yeah, Tita Jess was adopted.

Just like Tulip.

Araw-araw, sinusubukan kong ayusin ang sarili ko. I kept on telling myself that it can't be. Hindi pwede at hinding hindi magiging pwede.

Masasaktan ko si mommy at ang pamilya. She loves the family so much that hurting the family means hurting her but I'm just a human being. I can't stop myself, especially whenever I see her, my world will just change where my eyes could only see the person I shouldn't even dare looking.

"I was a little tipsy so I took a shower and made a tea." Saad ko.

Tumango siya at hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti.

"Okay." Aniya atsaka ako tinalikuran.

"Goodnight." I finally said.

Damn, Simon Chase.

What are you doing?

Kanina lang sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na iiwasan ko siya, that the best thing to do is to divert my attention which I'm actually doing for quite a long time but here I am.

Loving the view.

Liningon niya ako at tinaasan ng kilay. Her innocent artistic eyes is staring down my soul.

It could kill me.

"Are you drunk?" Tudyo niya.

"No, I am not." Depensa ko at sumimsim pa sa aking ginawang tea.

"Okay.. goodnight, kuya." Aniya sabay ngiti.

I stopped because of her smile and I died the instant he called me the word I don't even want to hear from her.

Kumunot ang aking noo.

"Kuya?" Manghang pag ulit ko.

Nagkibit-balikat siya at napailing nalang ako.

Oh no, sweetheart. If you just know.

I'm doomed.

The head of the Montgomery will surely kill me but the painful thing is..

I don't even care.

"Thank you. Umalis ka na."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I stared at her and I saw her sobbed. Sa mga oras na 'yon, wala akong ibang gustong gawin kung hindi ang saktan ang sarili ko, I made her cry and I want to kill myself because of it.

I didn't thought that she'll be affected by it.

Lumebel ako sakanya at hinanap ang mga mata niya.

"Look at me." Matigas kong utos.

"No."

"Please.. look at me, Tul." Puno ng pag susumamo kong wika.

Hindi ko alam pero lalo lamang siyang naiyak. Paulit-ulit na pinapatay ang puso ko habang tinitignan siya.

Yes, I'm so cliche right now but damn it!

I'm close to losing my head.

"Look at me, sweetheart."

Inabot ko ang pisngi niya at hinarap siya sa akin. Sumalubong sa akin ang mga mapupula niyang mata, patuloy lamang sa pag-agos ang mga luha niya at lumambot ang tingin ko dahil doon.

I stared directly at her.

Tinukod ko ang aking tuhod sa sahig at bumaba ang aking kamay papunta sakanyang kamay. Mahigpit ko 'yong hinawakan at ramdam ko ang panginginig 'non. Actually, I can't remember when was the last time I held her hand without thinking twice.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?" Puno ng pag aalala kong tanong.

Of course I did! Iiyak ba siya ng ganito kung hindi?

Funny Simon!

Umiling siya at mariing pumikit.

"Then what? Damn.. I hate to see you cry." I breathed.

She opened her eyes.

Malalim ang kanyang paghinga.

"Nothing.. it's just that I felt like you hated me."

She sobbed again.

I won't lie. Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Buong buhay namin, wala akong ginawa kung hindi iwasan siya. Akala ko hindi niya didibdibin dahil simula pa naman ay ginawa ko na ang lahat para dumistansya sakanya.

I was close to everybody except her. I take care of her but in the most different way.

I want to take care of her but I also want to stop myself from stepping closer.

Malungkot siyang ngumiti.

"I'm not asking you to treat me good like how you treat Alice, Agatha and Adrianna. Alam ko naman na choice mo 'yon. I don't have anything to do with that but please.. treat me better. Hindi naman mahirap 'yon diba? Kahit konti lang.. subukan nating maging maayos."

Puno ng pagmamaka-awa ang kanyang boses and ayaw ko 'non. I hate it! I never wished to hear her beg.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin at napakagat sa aking labi.

"Simon.. please. Kapatid mo naman ako diba? Bakit ang hirap hirap para sa'yo? Why is it easy for you to treat them good but when it comes to me, parang kahit ang pagtingin sa akin ay nahihirapan ka pa." Puno ng sakit ang kanyang boses.

Fuck.

"Tulip.."

Binaling ko muli ang mga mata ko sakanya. Pinisil ko ang kanyang kamay at bahagyang ngumiti. I stared at her like how I wanted to..

"You don't know how much I wanted to treat you better. Not just better but the best. I want to give you everything.. I can always give you everything without thinking twice. You are my first priority, believe it or not. It's just that I can't. I love to give you anything and everything but.."

But I can't. I can't because I'm still holding on the fact that maybe I'm wrong. That maybe this is a mistake and one day, it will just go away.

"Hindi ko na kaya.." I whispered.

I smiled.

Let's get this on.

I'll start it.

"Do you like Tulip?" Rinig kong tanong ni Uno sa akin.

Linaro ko ang hawak kong baso na kalahati nalang ang laman. Nagulat ako nang kumatok siya sa kwarto ko at inalok akong uminom. I know him, I know my cousins.

Alam kong may alam siya at alam kong hinihintay lang niya na ma-kompirma 'yon pero kahit alam ko na ang layunin niya, pinapasok ko pa rin siya dahil sobrang sasabog na ako sa kagustuhan kong sabihin ang lahat. Hindi ko matanggap na kailangan kong mag tago lalo na tuwing naiisip ko na wala naman talagang masama sa ginagawa ko.

"No." Deretso kong wika.

"Drink." Aniya.

Binalingan ko siya ng tingin at tinaasan niua lamang ako ng kilay.

Uno is already pissed.

"Nilalasing mo ako para may makuha kang sagot sa akin. I know what you're playing, Uno."

"Alam mo naman pala! Answer me asshole. Do you like Tulip Montgomery or not!"

He is not asking.

He is stating the fact.

"She is not a Montgomery!" I roared.

Mabilis siyang tumayo at kinwelyuhan ako. Lumalim ang paghinga ko at nakipagsukatan ako ng tingin sakanya. I'm not afraid of him but I'm afraid that this could harm Tulip.

"Putang ina." Marahas niyang mura.

"We know. Alam mo 'yan, Uno. Hindi siya Montgomery. She doesn't belong here--"

"Gago ka!"

Mabilis niya akong sinuntok na naging dahilan nang pagbagsak ko sa sahig. Napahawak ako sa aking panga at bahagyang ginalaw-galaw 'yon. Uno surely hits hard. Sa lasing ko ay hindi ko magawang tumayo ng maayos kaya siya ang lumebel sa akin.

"You like her?" Puno ng pagtitimpi niyang tanong.

"I love her. Damn."

I never thought that I would say this infront of him.

"You really want to die?" Manghang tanong niya.

Kinwelyuhan niya ako at masamang tingin ang ginawad sa akin. Kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin, malamang ay kanina pa ako pinatay ni Uno.

"This will destroy the family, are you even aware of that." Puno ng diin niyang wika.

"I tried to stop myself. I kept my distance, nakita niyo 'yon pero saan ako dinala 'non? Wala, Uno! Walang nangyari! Nandito pa rin ako bumabalik! What do you think I should do?! Akala mo ba madali sa akin 'to? I'm an asshole but fuck, mababaliw na ako kakaisip na hindi pwede kahit na alam kong pwede naman! Mababaliw ako pag naiisip kong pag pinaghirapan ko 'to, baka pwede!"

"I'll kill you." He said with gritted teeth.

"Kill me." Deretso kong wika.

Naramdaman kong lumuwag ang pagkakahawak niya sa aking kwelyo.

"Kill me because that's the only thing that could stop me. I'm so tired of stopping myself. Kung gusto mong matigil 'to, do the honor. Kill me because that's the only way. I am so willing to start this so do what you have to."

Tuluyan niya akong binitawan at umiwas ng tingin sa akin. Tinalikuran niya ako at lumabas ng kwarto ko. Doon palang, I know already that the fight has started.

I never thought I could love her more after thay day, habang dumadaan ang mga araw mas naiintindihan ko na wala ng ititigil 'to. Alam ko na kahit anong pag-protekta ang gawin ko ay may masasaktan pa rin sa huli. My cousins know, alam ko na alam na nila kahit hindi ako magsalita.

The day that I was dreading to happen came. Dos blew everything off and the funny thing was I didn't get angry at him. I was angry because I know Tulip was in pain because of him but behind everything, naiintindihan ko siya.

He was fixing what we can't fix.

Everything was okay, noong una palang alam ko ng darating kami sa panahong 'to. Sa panahong, kailangan maghilom ang lahat. Three years was not that bad except for the fact that it's killing me not to see her.

Years are nothing whenever I realize that I can still hold her hand after this.

But that didn't happen. Wala sa plano na malaman niya ang totoo bago pa ako makabalik. Of course, alam kong mas pipigilan pa nila akong bumalik but fuck them all! Walang makakapagil sa akin! With Agatha, we flew back to Manila.

Sa mga oras na 'yon doon lamang ang umakyat ang sobrang galit ko lalo na nang makitang hindi nila alam kung nasaan si Tulip.

"Where is she?" Puno ng pagtitimpi kong tanong.

"We don't know Simon.." hikbi ni Alice.

Naiyukom ko ang mga palad ko.

"Umalis ako. I went to Argao for three years, holding your promise that you'll protect her! Pero ano? Ito ang dadatnan ko?! Lahat kayo nangako sa akin! Damn! Fuck!"

Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko at marahas na kinwelyuhan si Dos.

"Pag nalaman kong may nangyaring masama sakanya, I'll kill you. Kung hindi mo kami pinangunahan, maybe this didn't happen." Marahas kong wika at marahas siyang tinulak.

Huminga ako ng malalim at tinalikuran silang lahat. Agatha stared at me and nodded.

"Where are you going, Chase?" Rinig kong tanong ni daddy habang pababa ng hagdan.

"I'll look for her. Magdasal kayo na hindi ko siya mahanap because the moment I see her, I'll make sure she'll be a Montgomery forever not because she's adopted but because I'll put my surname next to her name." Puno ng diin kong wika.

"Uno, ang bagal mong mag maneho! Go faster!" Reklamo ko sa nagmamaneho sa tabi ko.

"Oo na! Bwisit! Pinaka mabilis ko na 'to!" Inis na inis niyang wika.

"Simon ano ba! Mamatay na kami dito sa likod, pabibilisin mo pa siya?!" Frustrated na wika ni Agatha.

Hindi ko sila pinansin at tinuon ang tingin sa labas. Para akong maiihi tuwing maiisip ko na makikita ko na siya. Kalat na kalat sa buong Pilipinas ang mangyayaring unang exhibit ng pamangkin ni Carmela Cruz, one of the famous artist and of course, aunt of the person I want to see right now.

Actually, we did received an invitation.

"Ilang taon na ba ang nakalipas? Do you think, she still feels the same towards Simon?"

Para akong mabibingi sa tanong ni Alice.

"Adik! Wag mong itanong 'yan! Baka gusto mong mamatay talaga tayo dito!" Pag babawal ni Agatha sakanya.

"Oops! Sorry." Ani Alice sabay hagikgik.

"Besides, I don't think three years would be enough to change Tulip's heart." Ani Agatha.

Bahagya akong napangiti dahil doon.

"We're here!" Anunsyo ni Uno at mabilis na pinarada ang kotse sa harap ng building kung saan gaganapin ang unang exhibit niya.

Habang natatanaw ko ang mga kotseng nakaparada sa labas at ang mga taong papasok ng building ay parang umakyat ang kaba sa akin. I never thought, I'm gonna feel this way.

A Montgomery? Nervous?

"Tara na! Wag ka ng maarte diyan!" Ani Agatha sabay tapik sa akin.

Sabay-sabay kaming bumaba at inayos ko ang coat na si mommy pa ang nag prepare. Narinig ko ang pagtawa ni Alice sa tabi ko kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Agatha smirked at me and I did too.

"Are you ready?" Tanong ni Uno sa akin.

"Yeah." I breathed.

"Alam mo ba ang sasabihin mo niyan?" Tanong ni Agatha.

No.

"Don't tell me, you made kagat-kagat your tounge!" Natatawang saad ni Alice habang hindi alam kung saan hahawak.

Binalingan ko siya ng tingin at mabilis siyang umayos ng tayo at nagseryoso kahit alam kong hirap na hirap siya.

"Mauna na daw tayo, malapit na din sila." Ani Agatha habang nagtitipa sakanyang cellphone.

"Let's go na!"

Hinila na kami ni Alice papunta doon at sabay-sabay kaming pumasok. May mga taong nakakakilala sa amin kaya may mga napalingon. Especially Alice, she's an actress after all.

Tumikhim ako at natigilan nang marinig ang nag salita sa speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Saad ng taong nakatayo sa may mini stage.

"Gosh! Ang bilis! Akala ko maghihintay pa tayo bago natin siya makita!" Excited na wika ni Alice.

"Si Reig oh!" Rinig kong wika ni Agatha.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at tinuon ang sarili ko sa may mini stage. I don't care about Reig or the others. Isa lang naman ang pinunta ko dito. I need to see her, I will see her and I'll make sure that she will never leave my sight.

Never.

"The woman behind this exhibit!"

Damn.

Ang tagal.

"Ms. Tulip Cruz!"

With that, lumabas mula sa hindi ko alam na lugar si Carmela Cruz, hawak-hawak ang kamay ng babaeng pinunta ko dito.

Wearing a simple mint tube gown, she gracefully stood up in front of everyone showing how beautiful she is.

She's really here. Finally.

My Tulip.

Hi guys, I just want to annouce that I made a facebook group for everyone who love my stories so we could interact more, if you want you could join SilentInspired Stories.

Thank you!