EPIPHANY

Brutum Fulmen (1)

an empty threat

HANNAH

Pakiramdam ko ay mamamatay na ako sa sobrang hingal. Ibinagsak ko na paupo ang sarili ko sa sahig. I threw my head up and desperately suck in air. 

"This is going to kill me!" Ciara complained while catching her breath. She slumped herself beside me.

Stella, catching her breath as well, but she doesn't look as miserable as Ciara and I. She got her hand on her hip while looking down on us. 

"It's just the beginning, girls. Masasanay din kayo," Stella proudly smirked. 

"Feeling good?" coach Mark, walked to us with his charming smile. He's the one who assisted us. 

"I don't think I can do this any longer," pagsuko ni Ciara. "Mamamatay ako."

Coach Mark chuckled. "It's just on the beginning. When your body got used to it, it will be a piece of cake for you. Just like Stella," he patted Stella's shoulder. "She's just as dramatic on her first week." 

Ang alam ko ay dito nag-start mag-gym si Stella hanggang sa magkaroon s'ya ng personal trainer at dietician n'ya nang sumasabak na s'ya sa international modeling. 

Dahil sa sobrang pagod sa unang routine ay hindi na namin natapos ni Ciara ang mga gawain sana namin ngayong araw sa gym. Iniwan na namin si Stella dahil gusto n'ya pang tapusin ang program at mukhang may catching up silang gagawin ng mga dating coach n'ya sa gym. 

Ciara and I hanged out on a nearby restaurant. 

"I should've known that Stella was just manipulating me. Panay banggit pa ng gym. Akala ko naman para sa wellbeing ko. Gusto lang pala ng kasama sa paglalandi n'ya," Ciara ranted while we're waiting for our orders.

I chuckled. "Paglalandi agad?"

Ciara shrugged. "You know how Caspian rejected her, right? Kaya parang may quest 'yan na patunayan sa sarili n'ya na she's still desirable and alluring. The dude crushed her precious pride." 

I shook my head in dismay. Hindi naman in love si Stella kay Caspian. She was just attracted. When Caspian showed that he's not interested with my cousin, Stella took that as a challenge. 

"I thought she dated Caspian while she was on Miami?" 

"That's only physical relationship, Han. You know how liberated Stella is. Things between them ended when Caspian left. Hindi matanggap ng gaga na may lalaking tumikim sa kanya na naunang nagsawa. She was so used to men wooing her. Kaya iyan, parang siraulo na naghahanap ng validation na she's still as attractive as she believed herself to be." 

"Why does she needs that? Maganda naman talaga s'ya. It's just that Caspian was not the type of guy who will bend for someone's beauty."

"Pride, darling," Ciara said. "Alam naman ng lahat na abnormal si Stella. Hayaan na natin s'ya sa gusto n'yang mangyari sa buhay n'ya."

I received a message from Carrack saying that he's done with work. He's asking me if I want to see him. 

"May gagawin pa ba tayo, Ciara?" I asked my cousin.

Ciara shrugged. "Balak ko na umuwi na lang. Magbababad ako sa bathtub at mag-re-relax. Dahil for sure, bukas ay hindi na naman ako tatantanan ni Stella hanggang sa samahan ko ulit s'ya. Binabalaan kita ngayon pa lang na idadamay kita kung sakali. I'll drag you with me," she smirked. 

Nangiti na lang ako. I typed a reply for Carrack. I texted him where I am right now and said that I'll be going home after this. 

"Who are you texting? Selene?" Ciara asked. "We can invite her for tomorrow."