Against All Odds, Still You

Odd 23: Goodbye

A S H

Sawang-sawa na ako sa mga pagpapahirap nila sa akin. Sawang-sawa na akong marinig ang mga boses nila. Ayoko na.

Isang linggo na simula noong kuhanin nila ako. Isang linggo na akong naghihirap sa mga kamay nila. Isang linggo na akong umaasa na may magliligtas sa akin, pero wala.

Ang lagkit na ng katawan ko at sobrang mahapdi. Tadtad ako ng sugat at dugo ko na mismo ang naging paligo ko.

"Let's have some chitchat, Valdine." kahit gusto kong umayaw ay hindi na ako makapagsalita dahil puro sugat na ang leeg ko. Pakiramdam ko mataganggal na ang vocal chords ko kung susubukan ko pang magsalita. "Kamusta? Masarap bang mabugbog ng isang tulad ko?" at ayan na naman ang nakakapang-init ng ulo niyang ngisi. Tumawa siya nang may maalala. "Sorry, hindi ka nga pala makapagsalita."

"Mistress." tawag ng mayabang na si Erquiza kay Kendrick. "Queen Dim ordered us earlier that we are all going to leave the empire for two days. Wala raw matitira na kahit na sino except from her."

"I see." she said as she looked at her wrist watch. "Pagabi na rin. Let's go to my resort."

Oh great. Si Dim na lang ang kasama ko rito.

Matapos makaalis ng lahat, agad lumitaw si Dim mula sa dilim.

"I can clearly see the pain and wounds they did to you." ayoko mang aminin 'to pero, her pictures are not enough to justify her beauty in real life.

"I just want to talk to you in private." she started. "I'm Yngrid Alezandra Kendrick, the Queen."

She sighed, "I don't wanna hurt you, that's the truth. Even though I want Alezandri and Irene to stop hurting you, I can't." malamang! Kasi mas kakampihan mo sila! Don't fool me with your flowering words, Kendrick! "I know that you're a threat to us, to the Black Thorn Empire. But I couldn't help myself. Since you reached high school and I get to know who you really are from afar, I started to feel this stupid feelings and I can't control myself anymore." for a queen/leader of an empire like Black Thorn, it's odd for her to talk like this; super calm. But what the fuck, did she just said that she has been watching me since my first year in high school?! Kaya ba alam nila na si Yanna ang mahal ko at ni-blackmail nila?!

"I fell in love with you, Valdine." all I can produce right now is shock. What did she just said?!

"I don't fuckin' believe you." tiniis ko ang sakit para lang makapagsalita at malaman niyang hindi niya ako mauuto!

"Fuck that, Valdine. I'm admitting my feelings for you!"

"No! I know you're just deceiving me!"

"I told you, I am not." pagsalungat niya na may diin sa bawat salita. Naglakad siya palapit sa 'kin at may pinindot sa ilalim ng metal cross para bumaba ito. Huminto ito sa pagbaba nang magkatapat na ang mukha namin. Shit, masyado siyang malapit!

"Valdine..." napapikit ako nang tumama sa mukha ko ang hininga niya. Hindi dahil sa mabaho ito o kung ano man, kundi dahil sa sensasyong dulot ng mainit na hininga siya sa pagkatao ko. Stop making your voice that sweet and gentle, Kendrick! "Valdine, I love you." and when she said it, my world seems to stop. Everything around me froze. I opened my eyes and I met hers. Her beautiful pair of hazel orbs.