Chapter 60 Is Blood Really Thicker Than Love? #3
Okay lang ako ang mahirapan, 'wag lang ikaw. But loving you feels likw hugging a rose full of thorns, Iris."
Zarya wiped her tears, but tears just kept flowing one after another.
"Zar...I didn't know you went that deep. I'm sorry." Iris finally had gain some strength to come more closer to Zarya, and wipe her tears. "You did so much for me, Zar. So please hayaan mo ako, I'll make it up to you. Let me handle your sister's case for you—"
"No." Zarya quickly refused. Hinawi niya rin ang kamay ni Iris, but this time it wasn't harsh.
"Zarya...you gave me this world and you won't even let me use it to save yours? Zarya naman. Just accept my help, mahirap ba 'yon?" Iris said, her tone was pissed and frustrated.
"Your brother died with my sister, Iris. Alam mo ba 'yon?" Zarya said, but Iris doesn't look surprised at all.
Iris nodded slowly, "Yes.."
Zarya's face was shock. She never thought Iris already knew about it.
"Si...si Ryan. He told me everything." iris said hesitantly. "But I am offering my help not just because of him. I really want to help you out, Zarya. Hayaan mo naman ako."
Iris leaned forward, reaching out like she wanted to hold Zarya's hand, so desperate to make her understand. "Zarya, please...let me help you. I'll win this case for Ate Yana, I swear. I'll make sure she gets the justice she deserves."
Zarya pulled her hands away, shaking her head firmly. "No. Just... no, Iris. Umuwi ka na lang muna sa pinas—"
"Bakit ba ayaw mo?" Iris's voice cracked, tears falling faster now. "Why can't you just let me do this for you? I'm here now, I'm willing to do everything, why are you pushing me away again?"
Zarya looked away, her voice quiet but final.
"Iris just leave it. If you really want to help me, then just go back there. Baka kapag naging okay na lahat sa akin... baka babalikan kita dun. Pero sa ngayon, Iris... di ako sigurado eh. Wala akong kasiguraduhan sa kahit ano ngayon."
Tears kept flowing, every word felt like the end for Zarya.
Iris stood up abruptly, frustrated and crying hard now.
Hindi na niya natiis, that she raised her voic.
"You're unbelievable. I traveled all the way here, I'm ready to fight anyone just for you, tapos ito lang sasabihin mo saakin? I don't get it! I really don't understand why you won't just let me be here for you?!—"
"Bakit? kaya mo bang kalabanin ang sarili mong ama?" Zarya looked straight at me, her eyes all red and puffy.
_______
Parang tumigil bigla ang mundo ko nung narinig ko 'yun. Nawalan ako ng hangin, and for a second it felt like the whole ground just fell right from under me. I couldn't move, couldn't even blink. All I could do was stare blankly at her, parang ayaw talaga mag-process ng utak ko sa sinabi niya.
My own father? Why would she say that? What does he have to do with any of this? Why would she ask me something like that?
Zarya didn't say anything more. She just broke down crying harder than before, mabigat at tahimik na iyak na lang that made me even more confused. I can feel that it was hard for her to say that, parang pinipilit niya lang ilabas kahit sobrang sakit na.
I was so confused, so lost. "Anong kinalaman ni Daddy dito, Zarya?"
She stayed quiet. Just sat there, crying even harder na nanginginig na ang katawan niya. She wrapped her arms tight around herself like she was trying to keep herself from falling apart completely.
"Zarya... tell me..." I begged, voice breaking. "Anong ginawa ng Daddy? Anong kinalaman niya dito?"
Still nothing. She just wiped her tears roughly with the back of her hand, then grabbed fistfuls of her hair like she was hurting herself too.
"Zarya, fucking tell me!" I screamed, so desperate to know the truth, scared of what it might be.
"Pinapatay niya ang Ate ko, okay na? Your dad is the reason why my sister is dead! And what's worse, siya rin ang dahilan bakit namatay yung kapatid mo. And if you're wondering bakit niya ginawa 'yon? Kasi buntis si Ate... and he wanted to get rid of that baby in order to cut ties with our names.
Ang tagal nang magkalaban ang mga tatay natin, Iris! That is also why nahirapan din ako—'cause I knew that our love would only bring chaos... but I did it anyways. Pero look where we are right now. Ang gulo ng sitwasyon natin, di ba?"
She shouted back, her voice exploding with all the pain and anger she'd been keeping inside.
Parang tinulak ako nang malakas. My legs gave in I dropped on the floor , hanggang sa napasandal na lang ako sa gilid ng kama. I couldn't say a single word. I just cried, shaking so hard I thought I'd break apart too, staring at nothing.
Is this real? Is this true? The man who raised me, the man I called Dad... He killed Yana? He killed my brother?
And all this time Zarya knew... all this time she carried this alone? How do I even process this?
The room went quiet for what felt like forever. Then Zarya spoke again, her voice soft but cutting right through me.
"Now tell me...are you willing to go and fight against your own father?"