"Hey, I've been seeing you on the monitor drinking since earlier. Do you have a problem?" I shook my head at Jace and continued to drink. "There is, you just don't want to say."
"Stop it, Jace. I said nothing so don't ask."
"Are you sure?"
"Fuck! Annoying."
"Been there and done that. Just tell me what it is so I can get revenge."
"Would you please leave? Go back to your office."
"Are Yara and Dylan?"
"'Tangina, don't even mention who."
"What are they? Yara and ---"
"Shut up, sucker! Fuck!" I hit the shot glass on the table and shout to the bartender. "One more!" Fuck this fucking slow. That's why I drank because I don't want to remember them and then here he is asking again and again.
"Just chill dude, I'm just Jace who's the most handsome of us all."
"Please, Jace, I don't want to talk to you nor with anyone. Leave me alone."
"Ouch, sad life, but it's ok. I'll respect your privacy and it's your moment. As I said earlier, been there and done that. But one more thing ----" I looked who is now him smiling. "Chase her for you to still have the ending."
"What?"
"K bye."
"Tss!" I continue to drink. I want to occupy my mind to divert negative thoughts. Maybe somewhere else my mind would go and I would forget to place myself and I could drag Yara out of the hospital to escape.
"Zeus?" I watched as another nuisance approached me. I wouldn’t have ignored him when I recognize him.
"Avel?"
"Holy shit, it's you, dude, wazzap, How are you?" He asked and slightly punched me on my shoulder.
"I'm good, long time no see," I asked for a bottle of whiskey and an extra glass. "Shot." I handed it to him.
"Yeah, we haven't seen each other in years since I moved. How are you and what are you up to now?"
"I own this bar."
"Ow, really? What a coincidence, how's Jace, Blaze, and Phoenix?" Way back in college, Avel is a good friend. Yara and he were the loveteam before Yara and me. But they both told me that they really didn't have a relationship.
"They're all happily married with kids."
"Really? and you?"
"No plan,"
"I see, it's nice to be single." Our chitchatting continued. Went on achievements, travel tours, and more. We had already run out of a bottle of whiskey and both are tipsy but not really drunk yet. "Zeus, I hope you don't mind if I ask you about Yara." I stopped playing with glasses because of what he said.
"What about her?"
"I want to ask if you have any news about her? I am still worried about her after what happened." My forehead furrowed at what he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Honestly, this is a secret but I will reveal it with you. Her stepmom kicked her when her father died."
"What?" I managed to sit up while listening to him.
"'Didn't her daddy die a month before you split up. And that day, when you decide to end your relationship, that was the day that her stepmom kicked her." I feel like I lost all the spirit of alcohol in my body because of what he told me.
"You mean, she was kicked out of her house?" I asked to confirm.
"Yeah, and that was the reason why she left school. Because her stepmom doesn't pay for her tuition at school anymore. She asked for help from her daddy's cousin who is also in the USA, but she is said that something almost bad happened to her."
"Means?"
"Her uncle wants to rape her."
"What the fuck! Are you serious?"
"I'm sorry, Zeus, I didn't tell you this before because she told me you have no right to know about her because you are no longer together. She asked me if she could live with me because she has nowhere to go. Since I was the only one in the house that my parents took for me, I agreed. She stays with me until something happens."
"What do you mean something happened?"
"Yara miscarriage." Did something happen to them? Is he the one Yara is referring to who once claimed him? "Don't get me wrong, Zeus, I'm not the father. Honestly, I also don't know who. Yara doesn't want to admit who the father is. Besides, nothing happened to us because I respect him and Yara knows that. I only think of her as a sister."
"Do you have any idea who's the father?"
"No, I asked her but she just cried and cried over the loss of her child. I felt guilty because I didn't know she was pregnant and I let her do it at home. I felt it was my responsibility why she was having a miscarriage. Honestly, the guilt is in me until now that's why I want to know where she is. If I only knew she was pregnant I would have taken care of her even if I wasn't the father."
"Who do you think is the father?"
"Did nothing happen to you?" he asked again. "I hope there is so I can tell, it's you."
"No, nothing. I respected her so I can't do that to her so I'm very careful with her."
"I have someone in my mind."
"Who?" Who is on his mind?
"Maybe! Not sure but maybe his uncle. Maybe he just can't say because he's shy or scared." Not that I doubt Avel, but I doubt that. Yara is a strong woman and she is not just oppressive. She doesn't care about people's opinions, she can only fight for her rights. So if what Avel said is true, Yara will not hesitate to file a lawsuit.
I feel that Yara is hiding from Avel but not in a way what Avel thought. I can even imagine that Yara was devastated and sold her pride because she needed money. But someone abused her, I doubt that because she will fight when aggravated.
But I have this guilt inside of me after hearing about Avel's confession. I feel like I was the cause of what happened to her and the loss of her child. It's as if my fear of what might happen earlier has continued. I mean, it hurts me to know that he had a miscarriage before as if I had lost a child. It hurts me that I can’t explain.
What's the fuck is wrong with me?
"All I know is that she's already in the Philippines. She told me to go home to meet her mommy and she'll just stay with her. I sold my motorbike so she could buy a ticket. We contacted each other so I found out that her mom doesn't want her to stay with her because her stepdad doesn't want her and her half-siblings are jealous."
"Her mommy rejected her?"
"Sort of. In our last convo, she says she will sell her mobile to save the requirements to find a job. She will just buy it again when she saves money to contact me again. She doesn't know anything and since she knows how to sing and we know that she's good, she's just going to be a singer in bars. That's our last convo because I lost my cellphone so we also lost communication. I look for her social media account but nothing."
"Avel, do you like Yara?" I look at him and give him another shot.
"Why did you ask?"
"I met her, and I know where she is. I just want to know if you like it. Based on your story, you did a lot of effort for her, so I will assume that you like her."
"You know where to find her?" I see his eyes blinking. "Where is she?"
"Just answer my question, first." I heard him sigh.
"Zeus, can I trust you like how I trust, Yara?"
"What do you mean?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
"I asked you if you like Yara not to know about your secret."
"Because the answer to your question is the secret that I've been hiding since I was a kid. A secret that only Yara knew."
"Spill it."
"I like Blaze."
"What?"
"I had a crush on Blaze and Yara knew that."
"You mean ---"
"I am gay, but not in a way that you think. I am not into girly thingy, but I like men. They are my fantasy in bed and Yara knows that." I don't know what to say. After all, I was so jealous of him for no reason. "I hope you don't change your mind about me. I hope you won't judge me."
"No, I am not. I respect everyone's choice of living. I am not wearing your shoes so I have no right to judge you."
"Thanks, Zeus. Only you and Yara knew my secret."
"Yara is pregnant."
"Really, with you?" Hopefully with me.
"No, with another man."
"Oh, fuck! I thought it was you. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, we got back together but separated and others got her pregnant right away."
"Ow, why did you let her go?"
"She deserved to be happy."
"But she's happy with you. You have no idea how Yara loves you, Zeus. That's why I thought then that you were the father of her child because she was crying while looking at your picture. But hearing you confirming that nothing happened to you, I have no choice but to believe."
"I didn't deserve someone like her. I could only hurt her."
"You're still the Zeus I know. Yara's welfare is always on the mind but your plan for her is wrong. You want her to be happy even though you know you're her happiness. Don't you think she's from Bataan but why is she here? " I looked at him with a delicate smile. "She's here because of you."
"You mean ---"
"For sure, she follows you here. She really loves you, Zeus. You have no idea how Yara loves you. I can say, that after all these years I am sure that you are the only reason why she still chose to be brave. But sadly, you wasted her love."