CHAPTER 6 NO STRINGS ATTACHED
"Oonga naman." sang ayon ni Maru.
Mabilis nilang natapos ang pag aayos ng mga makakain at pinaandar na din ang TV upang simulan ang kanilang marathon.
"Since ikaw nalang naman ang single sa inyong magkakapatid, why don't you try letting go and flirting just for once? I mean, there's this thing called no strings attached." Ethan pointed out, amongst the four of them, he was always laid back and thinks freely, nothing was going to bring him down. Just like Ethan always says, 'no one can make you feel inferior unless you let them'.
"That's risky, but I believe you have to cut yourself some slack and enjoy life." Mea's soft voice cut through.
"Ikaw nga din eh." sagot ni Heaven, hindi naman sa gusto niyang mabuhay na para bang isang madre, sadyang wala ito sa plano.
"Well we are the same but not quite, you are free to do whatever you want you just don't want to. Meanwhile, I don't have freedom, but if I could I would travel wherever I want. On top of that, my religion and beliefs are keeping me from doing the things I longed for."
Napatanggo na lamang ang dalawa habang lumalamon.
"It's not that I hate my religion, but I believe in it and am faithful no matter what. But there are times…. I hope the chain was longer than it was supposed to be."
Tahimik lamang si Maru, dahil sa apat, siya ang may matagal na relasyon. She had been in a relationship with Hadori, her boyfriend since junior years in highschool. Hanggang ngayon ay sila pa rin kaya naman ay siya ang pagbubuntungan lagi ng inis ng mga kaibigan sa tuwing wala siyang oras sa kanila.
"Fine, Fine, if I haven't known you guys for a long time, I would have thought that you guys are too keen on giving me away."
"It would be almost like that if you keep on living so boringly, you have all this beauty, intelligence, fame, money, and power and yet you're like a nun." Ethan bluntly brushed her off and rolled his eyes at her. "No offense to those nuns….If I know better, nuns have a much more fun life than you."
They were used to his frankness so they didn't pay any mind to it.
"I refuse to believe that you are trying to help me out here Ethan." Natawa na lamang si Ethan at napa irap.
Nagsimula na ang napili nilang pelikula at habang nanunuod, pabalik balik si Heaven sa kwarto at sala upang tapusin ang pag iimpake. Isinali niya na rin ang mga paboritong pagkain ng mga anak niya, kasali na rin ang mga vitamins at laruan ng mga ito habang naruon sila sa pamamahay ng magulang niya.
"Ahh finally, I'm done." Heaven groaned and plumped her body on the sofa.
Unlike others, Heaven never liked people touching her, she can't bear simple intimate actions like hugs, hands holding her, and more kisses. This was also why she didn't want to jump into a relationship or even flings. She was way too 'broken' to let others get near her.
After the movie ended, there was only her and Mea left awake by now. Ethan and Maru were sound asleep, cuddling their favorite pillows.
"You know, there's nothing wrong with giving men a chance, doesn't mean you will entertain someone, you will be obligated with their feelings and be forced to have a future with them."
Heaven glanced at her friend who was looking at her with concern. "Heaven, doesn't mean you are broken once, someone will no longer step into your life and try to mend those broken pieces together."
"You should go to bed now." Pag puputol ni Heaven sa kung ano pa mang balak sabihin ni Mea.
"Hindi dahil susubukan mong lumigaya, ay itatali mo na ang buhay mo dito, at hindi din dahil gusto mong sumaya, ay masisira na ang plano mo. Letting loose does not mean losing control. And sometimes, we should let fate take control."
Napatigil si Heaven sa kanyang paglalakad, hindi niya hinarap ang kaibigan, tumigil lamang siya ng ilang segundo.
"Goodnight" ani nito bago nagpatuloy muli sa paglakad papunta sa kanyang silid.
Mea watched as she walked away from her and thought that the mighty and proud back somehow looked so lonely like it always has been.
"Heaven may look as strong and powerful as she is, but we know how vulnerable that person is. Mamamatay na lamang siya, di pa siya hihingi ng tulong." Ani ni Ethan na gising pala at nagtutulog tulugan lamang.
"Despite being with her since high school, we haven't really heard the whole story," nilagok ni Mea ang juice na nasa baso at napa iling. Hindi siya pwede uminom ng mga alcoholic drinks kaya naman ang tatlo lang ang nalalasing.
"And it's difficult to even make her speak about such a topic, she is as stubborn as a mule and nobody can force her to do something she has decided not to do." ani naman ni Maru na napa buntong hininga na lamang.
Pagsapit ng umaga, nagising si Heaven bandang alas sais palamang at nagluto na siya ng almusal para sa mga kaibigan. Habang naliligo siya, nagising na ang tatlo at hinanda ang lamesa habang wala si Heaven.
Paglabas niya sa silid, kumain na sila ng agahan at parang walang nangyari kaninang madaling araw. Sanay na ang mga ito kaya naman wala lang sa kanila kapag mayroong medyo hindi napagkasunduan.
TBC
Maple Writes
Don't forget to leave a comment, share and give me reviews for me to know if there are things that I should improve with and change at the same time. Have a good day. Enjoy reading.