Hidden Obsession

CHAPTER 29

"Don't leave me, love...please..." he begged at me. Umiiyak siya habang nakaluhod at nakayakap sa akin.

I shook my head and tried to get away from him. Nag-unahan sa pagtulo ang mga luha ko.

"I'm a poison to you, Hope... Hindi ako ang taong kailangan mo..."

"No, Lorah. You're the one I need. Please..."

"Tama na. Hindi kita matutulungan... I need to go, Hope. So you could see what's wrong."

Kumawala ako sa pagkakayakap ni Hope at naglakad patalikod sa kaniya.

"If you will leave me, I will die, Lorah!"

Napalingon ako sa kaniya nang nakarinig ng pagkasa ng baril. I gasped after seeing him aiming the gun at his temple. His eyes went blank while looking at me hopelessly.

"Don't leave me...or I will pull the trigger?"

I shook my head. Alam kong hindi niya gagawin 'yan.

"Hope, tama na! Pakawalan mo na ako!" umiiyak kong pakiusap sa kaniya but he shook his head.

"LORAAAAH!" galit niyang sigaw. He's like a ticking bomb that any minute, he'd burst into explosion. "After everything I've done, you will still leave me!" Hope's eyes were bloodshot. Nanginginig sa galit ang kaniyang kamay. Upon realizing that he'd actually pull the trigger, I tried to calm him down.

"Hope...ibaba mo 'yan...please?" Kinabahan ako nang hindi siya nakinig. Umigting ang pagkakahawak niya sa baril. Any mimute, he'd accidentally pull the trigger.

"You will still leave me, Lorah..."

"Hope, please..."

Umiling siya.

"I love you..."

I was so shocked when he pulled the trigger. My breath hitched when I heard a loud bang. Tumulo ang luha ko. Everything faded into the background. Parang lahat ay huminto sa paggalaw nang bumagsak siya sa semento.

"HOPEEE!"

I got deaf. I only heard the loud pound of my heart. I got immobilized. Seeing the blood spilt on the floor, I screamed in hysteria.

"Ahhh!!!"

Nagising akong pawisan at hinihingal. Bumungad sa akin ang amoy ng hospital nang napagtantong masamang panaginip lang ang lahat.

"'Yong baby ko!" I was in hysteria as the blood flashed on my mind.

"Hey, Lorah-"

"'Yong baby ko! 'Yong baby ko!"

"Lorah, love..." Natahimik ako nang nakita si Hope. My tears fell. Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit sa sobrang takot na nararamdaman.

"Our baby, Hope... Tell me... Okay lang siya 'di ba?" umaasa kong tanong. Yumakap din siya sa akin. He calmed me down but he didn't answer my question. Napahigpit lalo ang yakap ko sa kaniya habang umiiyak. "Hope, ang baby ko..."

His arms on my back tightened as I broke into tears. His silence damaged my heart greater. Kasi kung okay lang ang baby ko, he'd gladly tell it to me, right? He wouldn't stay silent. He'd surely assure me. But, him, remaining quiet broke my heart.

Just tell me that the baby was safe and I'd give you a chance.

"We have an angel..."

"Hope...!" I shook my head. "Hindi totoo 'yan...! No! Tell me you're lying! Tell me, Hope. And I will forgive you!"

Bumuwag ako sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya. Halos hindi ko na siya makita sa sobrang dami ng luha sa mga mata ko. Pero nakita ko pa ang pag-iyak niya. He looked down and I saw how his shoulders were shaking.