Immortal City

Chapter 44

Chapter 44
Lapses

Napaatras ako, tulala at halos mabingi sa narinig ko. Unti-unti na bumibigat ang pakiramdam ko at nahihirapan na akong pigilan ang namumuong luha sa mga mata ko. Halo-halong emosyon ang bumabalot sa akin ngayon at hindi ko na alam kung hanggang kailan ko pa makakaya ang mga nangyayari.

"We should go back," rinig kong sabi ni Drake. "The siren will go off any minute now and they'll wake up soon."

Agad na bumukas ang pintuan sa dormitory namin at bakas ang gulat sa mukha nilang apat nang makita akong nakatayo sa kanilang harapan.

"C-Celestine," bulong ni Ione na puno ng kaba.

Hindi ko magawang ipikit ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko magawang tignan ang sino man sa kanila sa mga mata. Hindi ko matanggap na nagawa nila sa akin 'to.

"C, bakit gising ka pa?" masiglang sabi ni Kaoru na para bang hindi nila ako pinag-uusapan ilang sandali lang ang nakalipas. "Don't tell me you wanted to see me? Alam ko namang hindi mo ako mati—"

"How dare you." My eyes are full of contempt as I glare at him and his expression instantly falls.

There's something in his eyes that I have never seen before.

Chaos.

"K-Kaoru," Julien worriedly whispers, her hand shaking as she tries to hold him.

Isang nakakabahalang katahimikan ang bumalot sa paligid.

"Did we just fail?" mahinang sambit ni Drake at tila tulala. "Hah. And it was such a stupid mistake too."

"Drake!" pagsuway ni Ione.

"It doesn't matter anymore," Drake says in resignation. "You heard us, didn't you, Celestine?"

I clench my teeth to suppress my anger. "For three years..." I say as tears escape from my eyes, "you were all spying on me for three years?"

"Primarily you, yes."

"Drake," muling babala ni Ione.

"Three years of hit and miss and we're still in the dark," Drake continues to say, ignoring her. "We might as well take advantage of this para naman hindi masayang ang inaksaya nating oras. So, tell us, Celestine. What did your father leave you behind?"

"Drake, stop it," Ione warns.

"Lance Demafelix left you something before he died, and we need it."

"Drake!"

"Cooperate with us, will you, Celestine? Don't you feel bad that we're in this position because of you?"

"Drake, ano ba!" sigaw ni Ione na nanlilisik ang mga mata.

He bites back. "Don't pretend that this isn't her fault! I'm sure you've all realized that by now!"

What is he saying?

It's my fault?

Sila ang nanloko sa akin pero bakit sila pa ang may ganang magalit?

"Ano ba'ng mayroon sa'yo, Celestine, ha?" singhal ni Drake. "Why does everything revolve around you?! Our mission. Sir Mitsuru. The whole Administration. Every goddamn thing has something to do with you and you're not even aware of it!"

"Drake, tama na..." bulong ni Ione, nanginginig na ang mga kamay.

"You don't even know what we've been through," patuloy na sabi ni Drake, taimtim na nakatingin sa akin at may bahid ng galit ang kanyang boses. "You don't know a thing about us—not our suffering, not our pain. So why the hell do we have to sacrifice ourselves for your safety?! Why did we have to spend three years protecting you from—"