Elysian Tale: Flare of Frost

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30.

Vexus

Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa aming dalawa, at maya't-maya ay nakakaramdam ako ng patak ng tubig sa balikat ko. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. The fact that she's crying in my shoulder makes me sad.

"Flare?" I called out her name softly.

"Don't ask anything, please." As much as I want to ask her, I did what she told me. I remained silent, keeping my mouth shut while listening to her silent cries.

Humigpit ang pagkakakapit niya sa leeg ko kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya. Nakasiksik lang ang ulo niya sa kanang balikat ko habang nakatingin sa malayo't dumadaloy sa pisngi niya ang luha mula sa kaniyang mga mata. Iniwas ko na lang ang tingin ko't tinuon ang pansin ko sa tinatahak kong daanan.

I saw students along the way, staring, whispering, while eyeing us sheepishly. Kung ano man ang iniisip nila't pinag-uusapan ay wala akong pakialam, huwag lang nilang pagsalitaan ng masama ang babaeng kasama ko. Pinaningkitan ko sila ng mata na naging dahilan upang iiwas nila ang kanilang tingin sa aming dalawa.

"Don't wipe your tears." I whispered. 

"Why?"

"Wipe them only if you promise not to cry again." Bumitaw ang dalawang kamay niya sa bandang leeg ko.

"I'll never cry again." matigas niyang wika habang pinupunasan ang pisngi niya.

I smiled. What a strong and bold woman. But if there's one thing a person can't control, that would be their own emotions. Something and someone could always push the button and make you feel different emotions one at a time.

"Flare, it's okay to cry. Crying never means you are weak. It only means that you've held too long, you suffered enough, and your tears are there to express what your words cannot." malumanay kong wika upang kahit papaano'y gumaan naman ang pakiramdam niya.

"What would you choose, your heart or brain?" That goes without thinking.

"I will choose my brain," diretso kong sagot. "Our brain commands every part of our body," I added.

"Do you know why you should never chose your heart?" Hindi siya sumagot kaya sinagot ko na lang din ang sarili kong tanong.

"Our heart is a monster, that's why our ribs caged it. It's a demon you shouldn't awaken," I paused. "Dahil sa oras na magising ito, hindi mo na ito magagawang patulugin pa. It will wreck havoc. Lilituhin ka, paluluhain, at gagawin ka pang tanga," Naramdaman ko ang titig niya mula sa likod ko kaya nakagat ko ang ibabang bahagi ng labi ko.

"That's why choose you're brain. Brain is at the top, making it your priority. Brain is smarter, wiser and logical than the heart who does nothing but to make you feel stupid, and make you believe everything would be right to follow your unclear emotions." After my words, I heard her chuckling softly.

Natigilan kaagad ako nang marinig ko ang tawa niya. It was genuine this time, not sarcastic. It was as if something really made her laugh.

Her voice was very mellifluous.

"Unclear emotions..." she murmured.

"Heart can break but the brain will not." Hindi man ako lumingon ay nararamdaman ko ang pagngiti niya.

"Thank you." Nahigit ko ang hininga ko. Napatigil pa ako sa paglalakad nang dumampi ang malambot niyang labi sa kanang pisngi ko.

"Why'd you stop?" rinig kong tanong niya. Lumakas ang kabog ng dib-dib ko't biglang lumalim ang paghinga ko sa loob ng ilang segundong 'yon.