Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 8

"I'll tell Rigor about Castian today..."

Muntik nang maibuga ni Kyros ang iniinom niyang juice at napatingin sa akin. His eyes widened when he saw me, eyes swelling from crying all night and messy hair. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gently placed his glass down.

"Natulog ka ba kagabi, Czarina?"

"Castian is being bullied..." my lips tremble as another batch of tears threatens to spill from my eyes. "That sweet, sweet boy is being bullied, Kyros, for something he does not have control over with. And it's all my fucking fault!"

"Is this about the girl who scratched his face? Bigay mo sa 'kin ang address, Czarina, ako bahala magpatumba dun."

Mas lalo lang akong naiyak sa sinabi niya. Kyros panicks. Nagmamadali niya akong nilapitan at niyakap.

"I'm a horrible mother..." I buried my face in his chest and cried harder. My conversation with my son last night haunts me even in broad daylight. My heart bleeds for him.

Kyros embraced me tighter, running his hands down my hair while I bawled in his chest. I'm soaking his nursing uniform with my tears but he didn't seem to mind it.

"Kumalma ka muna, okay?" mahinahon niyang wika sa akin. "Kakausapin mo si Rigor na ganito ang lagay mo?"

My cheeks and ears felt hot from crying too hard. I pulled away from him and wiped away my tears, my lips still trembling. Kyros nods in approval, helping me to dry my cheeks. Iginiya niya ako sa upuan at inalalayang makaupo.

"If you want to tell him, you should be in the right state of mind, Czarina." Kyros says calmly again.

I nodded, starting to feel calm. Medyo humupa na ang iyak ko at bumabalik na rin sa normal ang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib ko.

"Good, that's good.." Kyros encourages me while rubbing my back. "Think about it first, okay? You should call in sick today."

Kaagad akong umiling. "Andami ko pang kailangang tapusin sa opisina. Hindi ako pwedeng um-absent." My voice is dry from crying, and I instantly regretted what I did. Hindi ko lang talaga mapigilan ang emosyon ko kagabi habang kinukwento ni Castian ang nangyayari sa kaniya sa eskwelahan.

"Okay, at least have something to eat before you go."

Tumango ako, nag-guilty na pin-purwesiyo ko pa si Kyros na kakarating lang galing sa night shift niya at pagod din sa trabaho. He fixed me a simple breakfast while I stared blankly at the table in front of me.

"Eat." He says, placing down a plate of slightly burnt egg and bacon. "You need your energy for the day."

"Thank you..." I murmur, picking up the fork and digging in.

Pagkatapos kong kumain, binigyan ako ni Kyros ng gamot para mawala ang sakit sa ulo ko. It's only three days before the exhibit. Rigor is almost done with the paintings for the collection. He's just finishing up the rest and polishing the completed pieces.

Before I went to work, I went upstairs and planted a kiss on my son's forehead before leaving. Kabado ako habang nagda-drive patungong Manila. I want to get it over as soon as possible.

"Oh my God! Are you sure?!" Shantel shrieked from the other line. Kaagad ko siyang tinawagan nang maikabit ko ang Bluetooth earphones.

"I'm telling him before I change my mind again," determinado kong wika. "I'm going crazy, Shantel."

She went silent for a while and I start panicking like an idiot.

"Shantel?"

"Yeah, yeah." I heard her grunt, and then something in the background shifts. "Alright. Let me know what he says okay? And remember, no matter what happens, I got your back."