Before Anything Else (Absinthe Series 2)

Kabanata 28

Kabanata 28

Before Anything Else

My body ran cold as I grasp on to something. He is here…in front of me. After six years, I was still familiar of his scent, his intoxicating features.

"Eion…" I whispered, clenching my fist. Ang kaniyang mata'y nasa akin lamang. His lips parted but his eyes are telling me that I should run away.

They were cold, as ice. It's like something has changed over the past years. He looked good but rather I can tell he had been better. Better than me, I guess? I never really bother checking up on him even on the internet. Ano bang mapapala ko? Pinaniwala kasi ako noon na niloloko niya lamang ako kaya bakit ako maglalakas loob na hanapin siya sa kahit anong social media sites?

We stared at each other as if we were the only people there. Nanlamig ako sa paggalaw ng kaniyang panga at pagtitig niya sa akin mula ulo hanggang paa. I was about to say something when I felt someone shoved me away a little.

I stumbled, ang mga mata'y na kay Eion pa rin. I saw how his jaw clenched but he did not bother changing his expression. I thought he would be concerned but I listened to the beating of my heart. It was telling me to stay away…from him.

Nalipat ang aking tingin kay Aling Lotie na siyang tumabi sa akin. She was jolly. Hindi ko alam kung napansin niya bang medyo natagalan ako sa pakikipagtitigan kay Eion.

"Hijo! Maligayang pagdating dito sa Marina. Ako nga pala si Lotie ang tagapamahala ng Sitio at ito naman ang iilang kasamahan ko dito." panimula ni Aling Lotie. Eion's eyes grazed to me until it landed to Aling Lotie. Bahagya siyang ngumiti. I could tell he was overwhelmed with the neighbors' presence.

He stepped out of the apartment. Ang kaniyang bango ay umabot sa aking ilong. I wanted to stepped back but his presence pinned me to the ground. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa supot at napatingin na lamang sa lupa.

I couldn't believe he's here! Inutusan ba siya ni Snow na pumunta dito? Ngunit para ano? para bantayan ako? o baka magpaliwanag? But his eyes were telling me that he had no business with me or he wasn't going to explain his side.

The thought of that made my heart sank. Kung anuman ang ipinunta niya rito, alam kong kailangan ko pa ring lumayo. Kahit alam ko na ang totoo, alam kong hindi na pwedeng maibalik ang lahat para sa aming dalawa. Eion and I…what we both have was already in the past.

"Hindi ba, Zepporah?" I was brought back to my consciousness when Aling Lotie  called me.

Tumango lamang ako kahit hindi sigurado sa kaniyang sinabi. Sumulyap ako kay Eion at natunghayan siyang nakatitig sa akin. I lowered my gaze. It was awkward to stare at him knowing that I've accused him all these years.

Masisisi niya ba ako? He used me too! Ngayon ay hindi ako sigurado kung naging totoo ba siya sa nararamdaman niya sa akin noon.

He talked to Aling Lotie casually. Nasa tabi lamang ako at hindi alam ang gagawin. Seriously, ano bang ginagawa ko dito? I could have walked away and go home. Kaya naman ng mga paa kong umatras kaya bakit nandito pa rin ako?

I quietly sighed. Unti-unti akong umatras ngunit hindi nakaligtas ang munting galaw kong iyon kay Eion. His eyes remain cold as they ran up and down my figure. Nanindig ang aking balahibo sa lamig ng kaniyang titig.

Mahina akong nagpaalam kay Aling Lotie. Agad kong tinalikuran ang bahay ni Eion at unti-unting naglakad. I could feel his piercing gaze on my head. Natigil ako sa paglalakad ngunit mas piniling hindi na lang lumingon. Alam ko…sa oras na lumingon ako matatandaan ko lahat at hindi lang iyon. Pakiramdam ko ay ibabalik rin ako nito sa nakaraan kung saan kaming dalawa lamang ang importante.