Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Aviena's POV

I just raised an eyebrow when I saw River liking some of my Instagram posts. This is my last day here in Batanes and I often see him simply liking some of my posts.

We never really talk. I never texted him again while I was traveling here in Batanes. Somehow I forgot to even think about him. That's just right so that I won't think too much.

I also started walking before I brought the camera.

I'm here in the lighthouse. I couldn’t help but grin while taking the picture. The place is pretty so I enjoy walking around.

"Ma'am, let me take a picture of you," a woman who looked like a caretaker of the place, said.

"Sure, thank you!" I said with a wide smile. For days, I just keep on thinking about River and what I was supposed to do.

For weeks, I realize that I’m really falling for him even if I don’t admit it to myself, I’m already falling. That's why I really want to distance myself for a while but it's already fine with me if we became friends. So we can treat each other nicely.

I let out a wide smile to Manang before I took my phone to her. I just smiled because the pictures were nice even though they were blurred.

I was just smiling from ear to ear when I uploaded the picture.

"Im in love! <3” I caption my Instagram post as that before uploading it.

I was able to stroll from the beach to the lighthouse. I also plan to go for a walk to eat because that's my plan today.

I enjoy eating food and buying pasalubong for my niece and nephews. My days ended up just like that. I have also prepared my belongings for my departure tomorrow now

I was about to go to the closet when I saw River's name with a message from my phone. I stopped there. Wow? He remembers me, huh?

I just kept quiet before opening my phone and looking at his message for me.

Husband:

When are you coming home?

It looks like his message was from this afternoon and I just read it now because I've been too busy sightseeing.

I know we were on good terms before I came here and he didn't do anything wrong so I tried my best to reply to him nicely.

Me:

Hey, I'm going home tomorrow. Did something happen?

I wonder if something really happens. He didn't text for weeks. Maybe his Grandfather visited and he didn't know where I was.

I almost jumped in shock when I saw an immediate reply from him.

Husband:

You didn't tell me that you're going to extend your stay there.

I can't help but look at his reply. For the days I was here, it was only now he have a nice and long reply. It was just often one word.

Me:

Right.

Me:

I'm sorry. I was just enjoying the place. See you tomorrow, River:

I'm planning to stop texting him because I already said that I'm going home too. We can just talk if he needed to say something at home. Before I could put down my phone I saw a I don't know if a sarcastic reply from him or what

Husband:

Enjoying, huh...

I frowned there. My blood slowly boils because of the way he texts. I don't know if he's trying to provoke me or if I was just really annoyed with him. He was also enjoying that I'm not at home. Maybe he's going home to a different house now or worse maybe he's making her stay at our home.

I just frowned to myself because I really like to conclude things that are not really nice.

I didn't even pay attention to his text anymore. Maybe it doesn't mean anything else.

After I took a bath, I thought he would never text again because I didn't reply to him but I saw his text asking me what time I am going home.

Me:

Maybe at 1:00 pm, I'm already there.

I was about to put down my phone but there was an immediate reply from him.

Husband:

Fetch you tom.

Me:

No need. You're busy. Don't worry I'll be at home at the exact time I said.

Me:

And I still have someplace to go too

He didn't reply after I said that so I just shrugged. I was also determined in what I decided to do so I tried my best not to conclude things because of his actions.

I didn't fall asleep right away and just tried to watch but I saw a notification with River liking some of my posts again. I can't help but pout. Yes, I'm pretty but if I was his girlfriend I won't like to see him like other girls' pictures. Toxic it is but I want him to only like me.

But you're not the girlfriend, Vena. And his girlfriend probably doesn't mind at all.

That's my cue to sleep. If I won't I just probably think about a lot of things again.

The next day, I just fix my things and ate at someplace before going to my flight. Even though I told myself I would never fall from River again. I still can't help but be nervous at the idea of going home and seeing him again.

I arrived in Baguio at eight in the morning. My family's already waiting for my arrival so I can't stop the smile on my lips when they greet me.

"How's your flight, Hija?" Grandma asked me.

“It's okay, grandma! I enjoy Batanes! It's really a nice place. I will take you there next time. Let's celebrate your birthday there,” I said while smiling at her.

“It's good that you thought about us too. You were having fun there while we were at home,” Auntie Puschia told me when I entered so I stopped immediately before looking at her. I can't help but furrowed my forehead. Why is Tita's mindset always like this?

Before I could speak I stopped when I saw Uncle, Tita Puschia's husband. I immediately turned pale when his eyes turned to me.

“I won't be long either, Grandma. I'll be going. I just gave the kids some gifts,” I said so they immediately turned their eyes to me.

"Auntie? Why? You just arrived though?” they asked me.

“I need to go home as well. My husband is waiting for me,” I said to them with a smile. The reason why they looked at me sadly. I just smiled before messing up their hair.

“Don't worry, I'll be back too. I will visit here again. ” I was almost in a hurry to leave and didn't want to see my Uncle's eyes when Auntie blocked me outside.

“You still have a grudge for your Uncle? You were young back then, it was only natural to discipline you,” Auntie Puschia said so I couldn't believe it when I looked at her. I could feel the smirk on my lips.

“If your way of disciplining me almost breaks my skull. Thank you, Auntie but I don't need that kind of discipline. ” I can always take whatever she says to me but this time I can't. Especially when it comes to this kind of conversation she wants to go back to.

"You still don't really learn how to respect like what your Auntie said." I heard Uncle's footsteps approaching me. My muscles immediately trembled and I seemed to be cast magnetically at my place.

“Why? Until now, you still think highly of yourself, ” I said with a smile when he faced me. I could see the clenching of his fist as if preventing himself from hurting me but he can't either. A crisp slap he gave me caused me to sit up. I could feel the trembling all over my body and remembered every time they locked me in the same room after I was struck by anything they could find in the house.

I couldn’t help but close my eyes when I remembered how he scared me to burn my skin.

“Vena? Vena? What are you doing to Vena?! ” Grandma shouted loudly at Auntie who just frowning as she looked at me now.

“What did we do there, Ma? Nothing! She's a celebrity! She's naturally acting again!” Auntie said. I don't know if I can hear her voice trembling or if it's just my thought.

I stood up and tried to smile at Grandma.

“I just fell, Grandma. I'm leaving,” I said as I hurried away without looking at any of them. I could feel the tears from my eyes as I walked as if I were going back to childhood. Vena, who's always weak, seems to have returned.

I tried to wipe my tears when I got to the bus station. I just quietly went straight inside. That face… I can never forget his face when I was in their house. When I was in Auntie's house. They always throw things. They don't really care if they hurt me, as long as they discipline me, it's okay.

While I was on the bus I couldn’t help myself to puke, I don’t know if it was because of the flight or because of the idea I saw Tito.

I could feel the trembling of my muscles as I tried to calm myself.

It's just like I'm going back to those times. The time when I was abused by him. I don't even want to call him Uncle when he was the reason why I wanted to kill myself.

I… I feel terrible… I feel like he was going to do what he have done to me when I was young. The time when he always tries to use me as his punching bag. And Auntie? She didn't do anything about it. She said that it would be better for me to blame his husband to abuse him.

I just smiled to myself before wiping the tears from my eyes.

I was just looking at the window until I arrived in Manila. I waited for all of them to come down before I would have gone to ride a can but only to be stopped when someone had already talked to me.

“Ms. Vena, can we take pictures?” a woman asked.

"I'm sorry but I refuse," I said before continuing to walk but she didn't stop and even touched me on the wrist which is the reason why it triggers my memory. My lips parted as I felt the trembling of my body.

“Ms. Vena, just one picture!” she said to me.

"I'm sorry but I need to go," I said, already holding my head.

“Just a picture, Miss! What’s so hard about taking a picture?” she questioned. I even heard her angry voice so I tried to loosen her grip.

"I'm sorry but I just can't really take a picture with you today," I said, unable to stop the irritation in my voice too. I felt so bad that I just felt dizzy and was greeted by darkness.

I just woke up that I was somewhere else. I was immediately confused but also calmed down when I saw that I was in the hospital.

I immediately stood there. Some nurses attended to me.

"Miss, you should stay here for a while," she said when he saw that I was removing some apparatus from my body.

"What happened to me?" I asked her.

“Someone brought you here. You are said to have fatigue,” she said to me. I just nodded.

"Thank you but I need to go now," I said.

“You didn’t eat, Miss, that’s the reason why you got fatigued. Stress is one of the problems too why you end up being here in the hospital,” she said, explaining things that happened.

"Eat first before you leave," she said before handing me the food.

“Thank you but where's the cashier? I needed to pay my bills,” I said.

"The girl who brought you here already pay but she seems like she's in a rush," she said. The girl was probably guilty. I just shrugged before standing up. I need to go home.

I don't really like to stay in some public place. The nurse let me go when she saw that I had finished eating.

I just wore my cap and hoodie before I continued walking. I just quietly commuted back to the penthouse. I have so many things to think about. All the events of the past few days and what happened earlier. I still shiver with the thought of my uncle.

I just went straight to the penthouse and intended to go straight to my room to rest but I just stopped when I saw River sitting on the sofa who looked like he was really waiting for the door to open.

"What did you do with your playtoy?"