Every Bad Thing

Chapter Forty-Three

But even with this fact and logical reasoning, my monsters won. Halos malunod na ako sa kakaisip na mas bagay silang dalawa. Minus her negative attitude towards me, Francheska is a perfect catch. She can be with him without slowing him down. Unlike me. They're perfect for each other.

Natahimik ako buong oras na nakapila. Sinubukan akong kausapin ni Silas at ibalik ang mood ko pero hindi siya nagtagumpay. It was his turn be down. Nang makabalik kami sa sasakyan ay halos manlumo na siya. He acted like he'd done something wrong and it made me feel bad. It's not his fault. At least it wasn't his intention.

He let out a dejected sigh. "Please talk to me."

"Bagay kayo ni Francheska." I said.

"Laurene..." he warned.

I pursed my lips and watched him. Sumusulyap-sulyap siya sa akin. "It's true though. She's not a liability to you. You're perfect for each other."

"Baby, please stop it." he croaked. Nakita ko na ang takot na gumuhit sa mukha niya. He's afraid. He's scared of where this conversation is heading. 

My heart squeezed. But not with pain, this time. With pure bliss. 

Why do I let my own destructive thoughts get to me? Bakit ba ako nangangamba? From here, I could see how much the thought of losing me terrifies Silas. He fucking loves me... possibly more than I love him and I never thought that's possible because I love him with all of me.

"But you love me." I exclaimed. That surprised him a bit. Napatingin siya sa akin. Ngumiti ako sa kanya nang matamis.

Ibinalik niya ang mga mata sa harapan. Kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na iyon para abutin ang kamay niya  kagaya ng ginagawa niya sa akin tuwing nagda-drive. I lifted his hand and pressed a kiss on the back of his palm. It surprised him even more.

"I do, baby." he softly murmured. 

He loves me, and that's more than enough. Our love is enough. Everything else is inconsequential. And it took me four years to realize that.

Pondering over mistakes and the past is futile. It won't turn back the time. It won't right the wrong. There are only two things to do, and that is to learn and make sure that you won't make the same mistake again.

Everything was smoothly sailing after that day. It's like I've found inner peace. The voices in my head stopped. The calm after the storm. That's the most fitting title for it. At least, that's what I thought...

I've never enjoyed going to school like this before. Oh wait, I did. Four years ago. Pero ngayon ay parang bumalik ang dati. Everything's behind us. Maayos kami ni Silas. My family still loves him. His father didn't bother us again. 

There's only one thing. Silas' friendship with Orion is still broken... but I'll try my hardest to fix it. Ako ang dahilan kung bakit nasira, kaya ako ang dapat gumawa ng paraan para maayos iyon. Maghahanap lang ako ng tamang timing.

It's been two weeks since this semester started. I'm loving it so far. Parehas ang schedule namin ni Silas. Halos lahat ng subject ay magkaklase kami. The past months, we were inseparable, and no one can blame us because we're trying to make up for the lost years.

"Hey, twin, you in the university?" Hadeon asked as soon as I answered the call.

Silas raised his plastic spoon and brought it to my mouth. Ngumiti ako bago ibinuka ang bibig para magpasubo ng ice cream sa kanya. 

"Nope! Vacant namin. I'm out with Silas. Why?" pinanuod ako ni Silas habang sinubuan ang sarili ng ice cream. 

"Of course." he answered, like he realized that he asked a ridiculous question. "Can you two pick me up? I didn't bring my car."

I scowled. "Again?" 

Pang-ilang beses na nagpapasundo si Hadeon. Minsan sa mall, minsan sa convenience store lang. Hindi ko nga alam kung anong ginagawa niya roon at kung sino kasama niya at palagi siyang walang dalang sasakyan. It's fishy. Lalo na at same area lang ang lugar na pinagpi-pick-up-an namin sa kanya.

If I wasn't wrapped up with Silas, I would have investigated and find out what my twin's up to lately.

"Just pick me up. I'll text you where." he said before hanging up.

Silas immediately knew what that call from Hadeon meant. Wala siyang reklamo na tumayo. Dala-dala ang cup ng ice cream ay lumabas kami ng ice cream parlor. He drove to the address of the convenience store that Hadeon sent me while I fed him with ice cream. 

We stopped in front of the store. A knock blared from the window at the backseat. Silas immediately unlocked the door for my brother. Hinalikan ako ni Hadeon sa pisngi bago komportableng umupo sa likod.

"Damn. You two are always together, hindi kaya magsawa si Silas sa mukha mo n'yan, Laurene?"

I scoffed at my twin, turning my body slightly to look at him. "Masyado akong maganda para pagsawaan." 

Silas didn't say anything but a proud smile crept on his face. 

"True." Hadeon easily agreed. Syempre, kambal kami, e. Kung pangit ako, mas pangit siya.

Bumalik kami sa campus dahil may klase pa kami ni Silas. While Hadeon's got a business in the campus, too.

We sat together in class. He's reading his notes while my head's on his shoulder while fumbling with my phone, browsing my newsfeed. Umangat ang mga mata ko nang bumukas ang pinto.

I expected it to be our professor, but it was Francheska. Yes, we're blockmates for this subject. She deliberately scanned the room until our eyes met. A ghost of a smirk hinted on her lips before she looked away and headed towards her friends.

Napaayos ako ng upo dahil doon. There's something about it...

"Why?" Silas asked, interrupting my thought.

My head automatically snapped at him. I flashed him a bright smile. I shook my head. "Nothing."

Tumango siya bilang sagot. Hindi ko na nabalik ang pagkakapatong ng ulo ko sa braso niya dahil muling bumukas ang pintuan. This time it was our professor. He's accompanied by our institute's assistant dean.

Just like Francheska, they searched the entire room like they were looking for someone... until their eyes set on mine. My brain rang a warning alarm. There's something wrong.

"Ms. Laurene Serrano?" the assistant dean confirmed, looking at me.

"Yes po?" I asked, bewildered.

"Ms. Serrano." she nodded, as if it made sense. "Please come with me to the office."

Agad na nanlamig ang buong katawan ko.

What is this all about now?