Cosima Sanctuary is a one of a kind safe house for teenage survivors, but when they realize that one of them is a psychopath, all hell breaks loose. The hunt is on for the psycho next door.
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18
Behind enemy lines
Tasha
I couldn't help but sigh when I noticed how Aaron's eyes followed Kleya as she left. Aaron returned to his seat and continued to eat but I can't take my eyes off him. I kept staring at him for awhile, my mind's a mess. Different scenarios kept playing in my head, what if he gets hurt again? What if he falls for her and she doesn't? Damn it, I have to do something. I can't take this anymore. I have to give him a piece of my mind once and for all.
I occupied Kleya's seat and sat right next to him. He didn't even notice me. What's new?
"Give her your heart and she'll break it, after breaking your bones," pasimple kong sambit habang deretso ang tingin sa bakanteng upuan sa tapat ko.
"Ha?" tanong ni Aaron at mula sa gilid ng mga mata ko, nakita ko siyang lumingon.
"You like her, it's obvious. But you should know, Miller likes her too," banta ko sa kanya, payong kaibigan kumbaga. I like Aaron but I'm saying this as a friend, not to have him for myself, but for him not to get hurt. Kleya may be a moron but I know deep down, part of her is already attached to Miller.
"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" tanong ni Aaron kaya ngumiti na lamang ako.
"I see the way you look at her. You don't have to lie," giit ko. Tumikhim ako at ngumiti. Lumingon ako sa kanyang direksyon at kahit mahirap, nilakasan ko ang kalooban kong titigan siya sa mga mata. "I know how it feels to love someone without being loved back. One-sided love is tough, I know because that's how I am with you. And let me tell you one thing about one-sided love—it's tough, and I don't want you to suffer the way I do."
And for the first time, I finally got to say the words I've been dying to say for the last few months.
"T-tasha..." Bakas ang gulat sa mukha ni Aaron kaya umiwas nalang ako ng tingin.
"Hindi mo alam no?" natawa ako. "Okay lang, hindi ko rin naman sinasabi. 'Wag kang mag-alala, hindi naman kita inoobligang gustohin ako. That's not how love works."
"Tasha, sorry..." mahinang sambit ni Aaron. He sounded to concerned and worried so I just laughed and nodded.
"You don't have to apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for," giit ko habang tinititigan ang mesa. Ayoko nang tingnan si Aaron sa mukha, baka mamaya maiyak pa ako.
"Jesus Christ, this is so awkward," bigla kong narinig ang boses ni Wolfgang kaya lumingon ako. Hindi ko alam na nasa tabi ko pala siya at narinig niya ang lahat. Wolfgang is looking straight ahead with an awkward smile on his face. "Soooooo fucking awkward," dagdag pa nito na para bang kulang nalang eh magdasal sa kalangitan ng kamatayan niya.
"Shut up, Wolfgang," inirapan ko na lamang siya. Why did this guy choose the name Wolfgang? He looks like a giraffe! Well a giraffe with tattoos and piercing! A giraffe na member ng isang member ng gang!
Lumingon ako sa lalakeng nagpa-piano sa stage at nang matapos ang kanyang pyesa, bigla akong nakarinig ng para bang isang tili. Malabo ito at mukhang nanggagaling sa malayo pero malakas ang kutob kong tili ito.
Napatayo ako sa gulat.
"Problema mo?" tanong ni Wolfgang.
"Did you hear that?" tanong ko sa kanilang lahat sa mesa.
"Hear what, sweetie?" tanong ni Ninang.
"I heard a scream," giit ko.
"Ate narinig ko rin!" Napatayo si Ruth at nakita ko ang takot sa mukha niya.
"Ano? Wala naman akong narinig ah?" bulalas ni Cloud.
"Meron!" giit ni Ruth kay Cloud.
"Shhhh!" giit ko ngunit nagsimula ulit sa pagp-piano ang lalake. Dali-dali akong tumayo at lumapit sa stage, sumunod din naman agad sa akin sina Wolfgang, Aaron, Cloud, at Ruth .
"Sir, please stop playing po muna," pakiusap ko sa lalake kaya huminto siya sa pagp-piano. Mukhang magka-edad lang kami. Actually mukhang mga teenagers lang din ang lahat ng mga narito sa restaurant.
Lumingon ako sa direksyon nina Wolfgang sinenyasan ko silang pakinggan ng mabuti ang paligid. Makaraan ang ilang sandali, muli akong nakarinig ng tili at sa pagkakataong ito ay sunod sunod na. Magsasalita sana ako pero biglang umalingawngaw ang tunog ng mga upuan kasabay ng pagtayo ng lahat ng mga customer.
Biglang nagtayuan ang lahat, maliban lamang kay Ninang at Ninong na nakaupo parin sa mesa.
Sa gitna ng nakabibinging katahimikan, labis akong kinilabutan nang unti-unting humarap sa amin ang lahat. Mula sa mga waiter hanggang sa mga customer, huminto sila sa ginagawa at tiningnan kami.
"Tangina," bulalas ni Wolfgang at agad niyang hinila si Ruth patungo sa kanyang likuran na para bang pinapatago at pino-protektahan ito. Cloud and Aaron also made us hide behind them. The three of them positioned themselves as if they were protecting Ruth and I.
Everyone was staring at us with emotionless expression. They seemed mindless. Shit.
