A Rose Hidden in The Thorns.

Chapter 20: Butterfly.

My head lowered at the next thing I felt was tears falling from my eyes.

Sa likod nang nakakatakot niyang aura, pinahihina ako nito. Subrang hina na sinisira nito ang pader ko. Pader kong subrang tagal nang walang nakakagiba. Pader na ginagamit ko upang maprotektahan ang sarili. Pader na nagawa niyang patumbahin!

A warm embrace touch my skin. A hot breathing is on my neck. A hard thing is clinging on my waist.

My sobbed got trapped, yet louder as Eugene's hug tighten. My knees completely lost its strength. Deprived of strength and something to hold on, I lifted my arm to hug him back as I drowned myself on his neck.

Ganto rin yun. Under the fall of the rain that night. Me crying my heart out, as disappointment and questions fill my body. And there he was and here he is, hugging and breaking my cage. I feel so free in his arms and embrace.

"E-eugene..." I sobbed.

His other free hand raised to my head gently rubbing my hair, as his other hand is supporting on my waist. "Hush, I'm here... I'm not leaving anymore."

My hug tighten without my knowledge. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin nang mga binitawan niyang salita, pero nagustuhan iyon ng loob ko. It felt like chains in my body was broken by those words.

"Eugene... Khai..."

Isang bosea ang napabitaw saming dalawa. My eyes widen as it meet his disappointed ones.

"Great. in whatever or wherever situation, hindi parin talaga 'ko mananalo sayo, sa inyo." Bitterness can be heard in his voice. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibigsabihin niya. Ngunit alam kong kay Eugene niya iyon pinaparating.

Lawrence's eyes that's full of tears went to mine. Lumambot ang mga mata niya, tila nagmamaka-awa. "When will it be my time, butterfly?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig niyang sabihin. Pero nasaktan ako. NASASAKTAN AKO!

His eyes are full of sorrows. Tila nagmamaka-awa ito sa akin. Tila pagod na pagod.

Hindi ko masikmura ang lalim ng kaniyang mga tingin kaya kusa akong napaiwa. I heard his sarcastic yet painful scoff. The next thing I heard was footsteps walking away.

As if it has it's own mind, my feet went running to him. Malalaki at mabibigat ang mga yapak niya palayo sa amin. "Lawrence!"

Parang walang narinig, he keeps on walking away.

Bakit parang iba to? Ako? Bakit parang wala akong kamalay-malay? Pakeramdam ko isa akong ligaw na bata.

Parang isang telenovela, at ako ang actor na kanyalangang umakto ayon sa ikakagusto ng iba. Yan ang buhay ko.

"Apo, ito bigay nang pinsan mo. Baka pwedeng ito na muna? Ok lang naman sayo kahit panglalake diba?"

"Khai, can you act colder? Baka kasi magkagusto sayo girlfriend ko."

"Nak, wag ka mashadong maingay."

"Khai, you need to grow less clingy. Busy si Mommy, you need to learn how to grow with just by yourself."

"Khai, please take care of your brother for me, will you?"

"Please don't break their trust, Kuya."

Paulit-ulit. Paiba-iba. Tila script na kaylangan kong sundin. Personalidad na nabou. Ugali na pinulot. Living in a world that please people. Sa dami na kaylangan sundin at matutunan. Nakalimutan ko na kung saan na 'ko. Kung saan ko nailagay ang sarili ko.