THE BOSS

FIFTEEN

Noah's POV

"You feel that way then why you didn't said anything?"

Napalingon naman sa akin ang dalawa at natigilan pero walang pagkagulat. Bumalik din kaagad ang dati nilang reaksiyon.

So that's why Elijah seemed so cold to me.

"I'm thinking about the Prince's sake. I don't want to burden him especially that we're both his Superiors." Elijah answered while looking straight into my eyes.

I... tried to kill the Prince.

So it's not just dreams. It's really true that I pushed him. I'm one of those people who tried to kill the Prince.

But why did I do that?

I can't remember. Hindi ko maalala ang dahilan kung bakit ko siya itinulak sa bangin. Kapag binabalikan ko ang nakaraan ay wala akong makitang gano'n na nangyari. Tanging nakikita ko lang iyon sa panaginip. I thought that it's just a nightmare.

Pero totoo pala lahat ng 'yon.

"If you hate me for hating you, it's fine. I really don't care anyway." Saad pa nito dahilan para bigyan ko siya ng isang masamang tingin.

"So what am I to you, Elijah? Am I still your friend? Do you see me as your friend? Or... Do you see me as your enemy because of what I'd did to our Prince?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko rito habang nakatingin din ng deritso sa mga mata niya.

"I see you as one of the Superiors." Sagot nito dahilan para mapakuyom naman ang mga palad ko.

"Don't be too harsh on him, Elijah. He has his reasons why he pushed me into that ravine back then. It's all my fault." Saad ni Zaccheus dahilan para mapunta sa kaniya ang atensiyon naming dalawa. "I... accused his family that they're planning to betray the King. That's why he got so mad and unconsciously pushed me."

Pareho kaming nagulat ni Elijah dahil sa narinig. Parang nabingi ako bigla dahil sa sinabi niya.

Betraying the King is like betraying your own country and Familia. And accusing someone with that is a big insult to the Familia.

So that's the reason why I pushed him...

"So don't hate Noah, Elijah. Hate me instead because its my fault in the first place."

"Y-You accused my family?" Tanong ko sa kaniya kaya napunta naman sa akin ang paningin niya.

"Yes. You can hate me now since you already know the truth. It's fine to hate me. Nothing will change at all since I'm used to being hated." He's expressionless again while his eyes are giving cold stares.

"You two already knew the truth about our past. So you don't need to hate each other. If you don't have someone to hate, feel free to hate me."

"I never hated Elijah. And I never planned to hate you, Zaccheus. So please, don't say that things again." Saad ko habang deritsong nakatingin sa mga mata niya. "You know what I'm feeling rightnow? Guilt. I'm guilty for pushing you back then. I'm guilty because I am your Superior but I tried to killed you."

"Don't feel guilty then. That's my order."

Natigilan naman ako dahil sa sinabi nito. "Zach..."

"Don't pity me because of my past. Just don't feel any emotions for me. You two can say that to others too."

"Matatawag mo pa ba kaming kaibigan kung gagawin namin 'yon?" Tanong ko rito at ito naman ngayon ang natahimik. "Say something Elijah." Utos ko sa lalaking natahimik na mula kanina.

"I... don't know what to say anymore." Saad nito na para lutang pa rin ito dahil sa mga narinig.

"I am too! Pero ayaw kung maghiwalay tayong tatlo rito ngayon na magkakagalit. Tayo-tayo na lang ang maaasahan ng isa't-isa rito. Lahat tayo may nagawang mali. Pero natural lang naman iyon. And, it's all in the past." Saad ko at hinarap si Elijah at dumukwang at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi niya at ininat. "Huwag ka ng masyadong maging cold sa akin. Kausapin mo na ako lagi. Dapat ituring mo na ako bilang isang totoong kaibigan, Elijah."