Elysian Tale: Flare of Frost

Kabanata 22

Kabanata 22.

Flare

Humarap siya sa akin kaya kumalas ako mula sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya. Nakangiti pa rin ako. Sa tingin ko nga'y mapupunit na ang labi ko sa lawak ng ngiting ibinibigay ko sa kaniya. He just stared at me like he's memorizing every inch of me.

"Vy?" I called him. He blinked an eye. How can I be so naive? He told me his name was Vy, it actually came from his second name Yvo.

"I'm happy to see you." he murmured. Matutuwa na sana ako nang biglang maglaho ang tuwang nararamdaman ko dahil sa sunod na sinabi niya, "Did you expect me to say that?" Umawang ang bibig ko.

"W-what?" His poker face remained. Samantalang ako hindi makapaniwala habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Nagagalit ka ba dahil hindi kita nakilala kaagad?" tanong ko sabay tawa nang hilaw. "Come on, Vy. Maraming nangyari sa loob ng sampung taon." I said, trying to explain my side why I didn't recognize him at first.

"Right, a lot has changed," he stated. "It's obvious." he added.

"Why did you became so cold and distant? You used to be cheerful before. What happened to you?" tanong ko.

"None of your concern." Nagtagis ang bagang ko nang lampasan niya ako na para bang wala lang nangyari. Sa inis ko'y pumulot ako ng nyebe at hinulma itong bola bago ihagis sa kaniya. Tumama ito sa likod niya kaya napatigil siya sa paglalakad.

"You do remember I'm a prince, right? Disrespecting me means putting your life in line." I scoffed.

This sick bastard.

"Oh, really? Do kill me, your highness. I dare you," paghahamon ko habang puno ng sarkasmo ang tono ng pananalita ko.

"Bakit ka pa nagpakilala sa akin kung tatratuhin mo lang naman ako nang ganito?  You never should've told me the truth!" paghihimutok ko. Humarap naman siya sa akin. His baby blue eyes stared at me once again, and I swear I felt my knees weakened.

"I want you to know how it feels like to be forgotten and ignored." Naningkit ang mga mata ko.

Gumaganti ba siya?

"Look, I'm sorry if I didn't recognized you. Maturity changed you. You look different." paghingi ko ng paumanhin.

"Let's leave the past behind. Just act like you don't even know me, you're good at that," he paused, and then gave me a mocking loop sided smirk. "I can't believe I actually made friends with a woman like you." And then he left after that. Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

A woman like me? What does he exactly mean by that?

Napakurap ako nang maramdaman kong umiinit ang mga mata ko. Natatawa kong inangat ang tingin ko sa langit upang mapigilan ito. This is funny, why do I feel like crying with his words? More importantly, why do I feel hurt?

Umiling ako.  If that's what he want then fine. Like he said, I'm good at pretending anyway. Hindi 'yon magiging problema. Taas noo akong naglakad palabas ng Pavilion Garden.

I, Flare Fyche Henessy will never cry for a man. Not in a hundred million years.

"Flare!"

"Hey there, handsome." Kinindatan ko siya't saglit naman siyang natulala.

"What are you doing here? Why are you drunk?" Sinubukan niyang agawin ang pot ng alak na iniinom ko pero tinapik ko lang ang kamay niya.

"Shut up." Hindi makapaniwala itong tinuro ang sarili niya. Para bang hindi siya makapaniwala na inutusan ko siyang tumahimik. Kapagkuwan ay umiling-iling na lang ito't umupo sa harap ko.