Cost of Taste | ✓

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

"Adren..."

Naniniwala pa rin ako na maaayos namin ito. I even told Sarathiel before, ang mga lumilisan ay bumabalik kapag mahalaga ang kanilang naiwan. Pero nakalimutan ko 'yata idagdag na minsan ang mga nangiiwan ay wala na ring nababalikan.

"What?" Matamang tanong niya. "You said we were over, so get over it."

"Pakinggan mo muna kasi ako." I was crying infront of him. "P-promise, I won't hurt you again. Sa kahit anong paraan, Adren."

My heart was shattering as my vision gets blurred because of the tears. Pakiramdam ko ay pinong-pino ang pagtapak ni Adren sa puso ko. Pero hindi ko ito inaalintana, I just wanted us to be together again. I just want to be with him, kahit gaano kasakit.

He arched an eyebrow. "Promise? Like how you promise you'll never leave me?"

It hurts me that I couldn't justify it. Lahat ng binabato niya sa akin ay galing naman talaga sa bibig at aksyon ko.

My lips quivered as I spoke. "This time, it's for real."

Umiling siya. "No, because this time I won't believe you anymore. Pwede bang lubayan mo na ako? I'm trying my best to be at my best behavior towards you- even if you don't deserve it."

"I'm sorry..."

The words he told me made me feel numb. Hindi ko matanggap na si Adren itong kausap ko. Hindi ko matanggap na kaya niya pala akong saktan na parang hindi ako naging mahalaga sa kanya. It's painful to get hurt but the pain that's brought by the person you love was beyond any pain. It's nerve wrecking.

His eyes went somewhere and smirked. "Nandiyan na pala 'yung tuta ni Solstice."

Even in my slump state, I manage to turned around to see who it was. Nakapamulsang lumapit si Etienne, walang bakas ng kahit anong emosyon sa mukha.

Nang makalapit si Etienne sa akin ay agad niya akong inakbayan. I could feel him gently caressing my shoulders as if to tell me everything's okay. The small gesture made me cry again.

Etienne grinned. "Mas bagay 'yata kung tuta ni Arrisea? What do you think, Kuya Adren?"

Adren clenched his jaw. "Shut up."

Etienne snorted. "Makikipag-asaran ka, pikon ka naman."

I gently nudged him using my elbow. Sa tingin niya ba ay biro lang ang lahat?!

"I'm sorry." Etienne apologized. "It was all me. If you want to blame someone, ako na lang. Labas si Ate Arrisea rito."

"Sawa na ako kay Arrisea." Malamig na saad niya. Parang tumigil 'yata ang mundo dahil mas lalo kong dinibdib ang pananalita niya.

Alam ko, maaaring dala lamang ng galit ang mga sinasabi niya ngayon pero hindi nito maalis ang sakit na pinaparamdam sa akin ng bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya.

"Sawa na pala sa'yo e, tara hanap na lang tayo ng bago." Panga-alo saakin ni Etienne.

"Adren..." nagsusumamong sambit ko.

"Leave me alone."

"Mahal kita." I was trembling and my chest was heaving.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng pagmamahal mo. Sa'yo na lang 'yan." Malamig niyang utas bago niya kami iwanan ni Etienne.

I couldn't take his words against him. Nasaktan ko 'yung tao at siguro nga nahihirapan siyang magtiwala muli. Bumuntong hininga ako.

Kumunot ang noo ni Etienne.