The Ugly Duckling (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

Ugly #25

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko na nakatingin kay Sage. Mabigat at mabilis ang bawat pagtibok ng puso ko. Kulang na lang ay humampas iyon sa rib cage ko sa sobrang lakas ng pagtibok. 

Kung kanina ay puro irap at masasamang tingin lang ang binibigay niya sa akin, ngayon ay nasa harapan ko na siya at nakuha niya pang suntukin si Marcus. 

Sage was heaving. His chests were puffing from the way he's breathing. I know why. He's trying to control his anger and stop himself from resorting to violence. I could see it from the way he's clenching his fists. 

A gasp erupted from my mouth when Sage lifted his hand. I flinched because I thought he was going to hit me. He gripped around my wrist and started pulling me with him without a word. 

My eyes widened and everything that I did was out of instinct. I'm not going to allow him to drag me like some kind of rag doll. I tried to stop from walking but he was hauling me with him.  I next grabbed his hand and then attempted to pry it away from me. 

"Sage!" I yelped when my attempts of breaking free from him weren't successful. "Sage, ano bang problema mo?!"

He stopped and glared at me. "Pwede ba tumahimik ka na lang?"

"Ayaw ko!" sa pangatlong beses ay nakuha ko nang tanggalin ang kamay niya mula sa pulso ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin habang matatalim at galit naman ang tingin ang ibinibigay niya sa akin. "Bakit mo sinuntok si Marcus?"

He looked away from me, gritting his teeth. I could see his veins popping from his neck. He's still pissed and he's bottling up all the anger inside him. Ramdam ko na gusto niya akong sigawan pero pinipigilan niya ang sarili niya.

Gusto kong matuwa dahil nagtagumpay ako sa pagpapaselos na ginawa ko sa kanya. I know he's jealous. Kung hindi siya nagseselos ay hindi ko alam ang tawag sa kinikilos niya. I would have rejoiced in my success if it weren't for Marcus who's probably still on the ground, nursing the bruise that Sage probably inflicted on him.

Shaking his head, he returned his eyes on me. "Because I fucking want to, that's why." sarkastikong sagot ni Sage na parang inaasar pa ako.

Kahit kailan ay hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang ugali niya. Pwede siyang mapagkalaman na may multiple personality disorder. Daig niya pa ang isang patient na may worst case of bipolar. 

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Wala na akong pwedeng sabihin pa sa kanya. Hindi ako pwedeng magpadala sa galit ko. I can't shout at him because Maria Celestine is supposed to be timid, she's weak and she doesn't have any guts to speak up her mind.

I clenched my jaw and then tightly balled my hands into fist before turning around to go back to Marcus and make sure that he's okay. Hindi pa ako nakakahakbang ay nahawakan agad ni Sage ang pulso ko at hinatak paharap sa kanya.

"Where are you going?" he snapped at me.

"Pupuntahan ko si Marcus." Sage scoffed, then he chuckled without any tinge of amusement in his voice.

"Don't be stupid, Maria Celestine."

"Bitawan mo na ako." malamig na sabi ko sa kanya. Kumuyom ang mga panga ni Sage sa sinabi ko. Kitang-kita ko ang labis na pangingitim ng mga mata niya at pag guhit ng galit sa buong mukha niya.

"You're so naive!" napatalon ako sa biglaang pagtaas ng boses ni Sage. Frustration irked his face, mixing with the anger that's oozing from his skin. It didn't took a few seconds when he next harshly dropped my hand. He shook his head.  "Fine. Go the fuck with him. See if I'll give a damn."

Hindi ako pinasagot ni Sage. Pagkatapos niyang magsalita ay tumalikod agad siya para umalis. I released the breath that I was holding inside me and different emotions tumbled inside my chest. I didn't know how to react to any of this.