Kabanata 7

                                    

                                          
It takes actions to believe the words, they say. But sometimes, no matter how much you try to show it, they won't see it.
Because sometimes, we try so hard for a person who's not even looking. 
October, 2015
"So you mean, that night, nakita mo ang jowa ng Kuya mo na nakikipagsex sa alley sa tabi lang ng Dropout?" 
Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ni Lisa. 
"Wow," pagrereact nito. She sounded speechless, as if 'di na niya alam kung anong tamang ire-react niya. 
"She's a real piece of shit," komento ni Via, 'yung babae na laging kasama ni Lisa kahit noong araw na ini-invite nila ako for drinking. 
"Did she see you?" 
"I don't know..." 
Maybe she was having too much fun with all the sex to even notice me.
"Sasabihin mo ba 'to sa Kuya mo?" 
"Maniniwala kaya sya sa akin?" pagbabalik ng tanong ko. 
Nagkatinginan si Lisa at Vi bago yumuko. Bumuntong-hininga ako bago binuksan ang Tempura na asa mesa namin. 
Nasa canteen kaming tatlo ngayon. Ever since the day they invited me out, madalas ko na silang kasama especially during breaks and vacant periods. We exchanged phone numbers too. 
"Actually, I've heard some stories about that girl. Abigail Latorre, right?"
Napatingin kami ni Lisa kay Vi na biglang nagsalita. Inabot ni Lisa ang Tempura na binuksan ko at nagsubo nito. 
"She lives nearby my house, kasama ang pamilya nya. I don't know what really happened but one day parati nang nagsisigawan ang magulang nya. I remember it clearly nung bata pa ako, of course bata pa rin si Abigail noon, binato ng isang bote ng alak ng dad nya ang mom nya. It was shitty and messy that time. Her mom's head was bleeding like hell. There were police cars everywhere. But ever since that day, bigla nalang nawala ang dad nya. Maybe jail, or I don't know..."
"Oh my god, shit," maiksing reaction ni Lisa habang nagsusubo ng Tempura chips sa bunganga niya. Wala man lang hint ng empathy sa expression nito. 
Iniayos ko ang pagkakaupo sa upuan at nagpatuloy lang naman si Vi sa pagkwekwento. 
"Anyway, after that, Aby's mom worked like hell para suportahan ang nag-iisang anak nya. But everyone knows it wasn't easy. Her mom became a prostitute. Alam yun ng lahat sa barangay namin. It was easy-money. Kaso habang tumatagal, nagbago ang mother nya."
"What... why..."
"She became a drug addict," pagpatuloy nito bago ako nilingon sa mga mata. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay hindi ko magawang umiwas. "Eventually, she started hurting her only child too."
I didn't know that Abigail was a victim of domestic violence. Both by her dad and her mom. 
"I want to be there for her, and give her all the love she deserves. And with all my heart, I hope this love could protect her from every harm and every pain."
At that moment, sumagi sa isip ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Kuya a few days back. 
"In the end, they were both taken away. Her mom was sent to a rehab and she was sent under a government care. And then, a few years later, Abigail went back, looking so much beautiful ㅡeven more than her prostitute mom."
"And? And? What happened then?" may bahid ng excitement sa tono ni Lisa. "I don't believe na basta nalang bumalik yang si Abigail."
My guess is she's a total shit pagkabalik niya, kagaya na lang ng sabi ni Vi kanina.