CHAPTER 23
Betrayal and Heartbreak
Time flies so fast and another month has passed. By that time, Raven and I were stupidly dating.
"Ha? Kayo na?!" sabay-sabay na tanong ng mga kasama ko sa gang. A small smile suddenly escaped from my lips and felt my face flushed. Hindi ko sinasabi sa kanila ang tungkol sa amin ni Raven kaya gulat na gulat sila nang sabihin ko ito.
I was shocked when I couldn't control my feelings anymore.
"Imposible..." nakangangang sambit ni Primo habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Isasali na ba siya sa gang? Anong balak?" tanong ni Cancer at mukhang mas tuwang-tuwa pa ito kaysa sa akin. I shrugged my shoulders and stared outside the window. What's taking him so long?
"He doesn't want to," tipid kong sagot at naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng aking phone mula sa bulsa ng damit ko. I quickly pulled it out and walked away from my members before reading his message.
RAVEN
Where are you?
ME
Hideout
A small smile curved in my lips like a crazy shit after I sent him my reply. Napatingin ako sa likuran ko habang nakakunot ang noo dahil sa biglang paghalakhak ng mga kasama ko. Sinamaan ko sila ng tingin at tinago sa bulsa ang phone ko.
"What?" tanong ko at napaiwas sila ng tingin sa akin.
Iniwan ko muna sila sa loob hg hideout at pumunta sa labas para magpahangin, pero laking gulat ko nang makita ko si Raven sa labas habang nakasandal ang likod sa pader. Kaagad ko naman siyang tinaasan ng kilay, pero sa loob-loob ko ay hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko!
"Artemis," he called and walked near me. Bahagya akong napaatras kaya napalunok ako.
"You're so fast," sabi ko at humalukipkip, dahilan para matawa siya sa reaksyon ko. But he really is fast! I just sent him my reply minutes ago and he's already here.
"Let's go?" aya nito at inabot sa akin ang isang helmet. Kaagad ko naman itong kinuha at sumimangot sa kanya.
"Whatever." Sinuot ko ang helmet at sumakay sa nakaparada niyang motor. I rested my chin on his shoulders and my eyes suddenly widened when I heard him groan. I was so shocked and held his arms to stop moving, yet he never looked at me.
"W-Why?" I asked, worriedly. He shook his head kaya hindi na ako nagtanong pa bago paandarin ang kanyang motor.
* * *
"Sorry," he said out of nowhere while we're eating at our favorite place. Natigilan ako kumain at nagtataka siyang tinignan. Geez, why is he acting weird lately?
"Hmm, for what?"
"Hindi kita nahatid kahapon. Something came up," sabi nito at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. I assured him with a smile and held his hands.
"What happened?"
"Sinugod si Dad kahapon sa ospital," tipid na sagot nito at parang hindi niya gusto pang dugtungan pa ito.
Oh. I barely know a thing about him, and I just knew that he has a Father on his side. Isang beses niya lang akong dinala sa bahay nila, pero hinatid niya rin ako pauwi matapos iyon. I am amazed when I knew he like ravens. Sakto kasi sa pangalan niya, Raven. He even had five ravens in their house and I admire the color of their feather.
Tumigil siya bigla sa pagkain at may kinuha mula sa kanyang bag. Napatigil din tuloy ako sa pagkain at nagtataka siyang tinignan, pero hindi siya nagsalita. Natigilan ako nang makita ang pagbagsak ng napakaraming itim na envelope na may simbolo ng buwan sa likuran nito.
Tahimik ko siyang pinanood nang mabilis niya itong pinulot at nagpatuloy sa pagkain na parang walang nangyari. By that simple action, I knew that he is something from me.
"Raven?" I called to get his attention but he shook his head nervously. He seemed uneasy and it concerns me...
"Don't mind it, Artemis," seryoso niyang sambit kaya napaawang ang bibig ko sa gulat. Something is definitely wrong and he is avoiding my eyes.
He isn't like this before. I suddenly felt irritation within me, so I grabbed his wrists and dragged him out of the place. I confronted him with questioning eyes but he avoided mine.
"Don't lie to me, Raven. Ilang buwan na tayong magkasama!" I shouted angrily, but I stopped when his jaw clenched. Ah, I am making rash decisions and conclusions again... but he isn't helping me to ease my mind.
"I'm protecting you, and your life is in fucking danger, Artemis!" Natigilan ako sa biglang pagtaas ng kanyang boses. This is the first time he shouted at me. What have I done?
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout," nakayuko niyang sabi. Pero naguguluhan ako. May nagbabanta sa buhay ko?
"But why would you lie to me?" I asked and my voice nearly cracked, but he suddenly hugged me tight. Binalot kami ng katahimikan at nanatili sa ganoong posisyon. I buried my face on his chest and I felt his gentle hand stroked my back.
"You know how much I love you to the point that I am willing to sacrifice anything for your protection, right?"
"I don't want to lose you, Artemis... so please let me handle this."
I smiled and tapped his shoulders. His body stiffened and became immobilized. I'm sorry Raven, but I need to know what you're hiding.
But whatever I do to know the answers behind those envelopes failed, so I just let it slide until a year passes by.
ME
Happy Anniversary, Raven
RAVEN
Happy Anniversary. I love you.
RAVEN
Get ready. I'll fetch you at 5 PM.
ME
I love you to
ME
See you later then
I rolled all over my bed and hugged my pillow tightly. I can't explain how fast my heart beats so much right now.
Inilapag ko ang cellphone ko sa lamesa at tinignan ang sarili ko sa salamin. My hair's so messy at kakagising ko lang. A year has passed and everything was just fine for the both of us.
We fought enemies together and became reckless together. Our bond became stronger and unbreakable. I didn't know that I would love him badly. Palagi siyang nandyan kapag kailangan ko siya. Whatever happens to me, he never leaves my side.
My expectations were so far from the reality that I've been facing right now.
Kinuha ko ang towel at damit ko saka pumasok sa banyo para maligo. Binuksan ko ang shower nang makatapak ako sa liguan at pinakiramdaman ang pagdausdos ng malamig ng tubig sa aking balat. Nang matapos akong maligo ay nag-ayos na ako ng sarili ko.
I've never been so excited in my life. Kapag hindi ko siya nakikita, hindi kumpleto ang araw ko. Bumaba na ako para kumain at magpatay ng oras.
* * *
Nakangiti ako habang nakaharap sa salamin. I wore a black shirt dress and black heels. Isinuot ko ang bigay ni Raven na heart pendant necklace na binili namin sa mall last week. Naglagay ako ng blush on at rose-colored na lipstick sa labi ko. I sprayed my favorite perfume and texted Raven.
ME
Hintayin mo nalang ako sa downtown, please?
Pagkasend ko no'n ay kaagad siyang nag-reply.
RAVEN
I'll wait for you.
Lumabas na ako sa bahay at pinagmasdan ang regalo ko para kay Raven. I bought a camera for him since taking pictures is his hobby. Ako palagi ang kinukuhaan niya ng litrato at masaya ako roon.
The thought of pictures always makes me happy. You can capture a moment in your life and you can keep it forever. Sumakay na ako sa bus papunta downtown kung saan kami magkikita ni Raven.
"Shit, si Artemis 'yan diba?"
I heard people talking about me behind mg back. Napangisi nalang ako at isinandal ang ulo ko sa bintana. Ilang saglit pa'y bumaba na ako nang makita ang downtown. I patiently waited for him, pero lumipas na ang isang oras ay wala pa rin si Raven. I suddenly became nervous and uneasy.
ME
Where are you?
ME
Nandito na ako
ME
Raven may nangyari ba?
Napasinghap ako nang marinig ang pagkulog sa malayo. I frowned when I realized that it was going to rain. Shit I forgot my umbrella again! I dialed Raven's number again and again when I saw the droplets from the road.
RAVEN
now calling...
"The number you have dialed is unavailable-"
Napaupo ako nang maramdaman ang unti-unting pagpatak ng ulan. People were rushing to the nearest bus stops, pero nandito lang ako, hinihintay siya.
"Raven, nasaan ka na?" bulong ko sa hangin at pumikit. May nangyari ba? Hindi ba siya makakapunta? Tinignan ko ang oras sa phone ko. Seven na pero wala pa rin siya.
"Miss, umuulan na. Dito ka muna sa loob." I stared at the old guy's face who offered to let me stay inside their shop, but I refused.
"I'm fine," I lied. Tumango siya at inabutan ako ng payong. Nung una ay ayaw ko pa itong kunin pero sa huli ay napilit niya rin ako. Nagsimula na akong maglakad at madilim na ang paligid.
Napagtanto kong nasa harap na ako ng Metropolitan. The lights were so bright kaya halos masilaw ako nang pumasok ako sa loob. The music was so loud, but I feel fucking numb right now.
ME
Raven, nasa Metropolitan ako
Binaba ko ang phone ko at sinimulang uminom ng alak. Parang nasusunog ang lalamunan ko kada inom. But I don't care, I feel numb anyways.
"Hi, Miss. Gusto mo ba ng-woah, shit! Artemis!" Walang gana akong tumingin sa grupo ng kalalakihang nasa harapan ko. It was the guys who nearly beat the shit out of me.
"What the fuck do you want?" I furiously asked and raised my brow. Hindi nila ako binigyan ng sagot at kumaripas ng takbo palayo sa akin.
I look so fucking wasted right now. Halos maubos ko na ang isang case ng alak, pero hindi pa rin ako lasing.
But then, I suddenly snapped back to my senses when I heard people's louds screams from the other table.
"Nice, Sandra!"
"Videohan niyo, bilis!"
Curiosity killed the cat they say, kaya naglakad ako papunta sa nagkukumpulan na tao at halos madurog ang puso ko sa aking nakita.
My heart was shattered into millions of pieces when I him, kissing another girl passionately. Nanghihina ako. Nanlalamig ako. Hindi ako makagalaw.
Hindi ako makapagsalita.
I cried and bit my lip. Mabilis akong tumakbo palabas ng bar at umiyak sa malapit na poste. Nanlulumo ako sa sarili ko. Kaya ba hindi siya nakipagkita sa akin dahil nakikipaghalikan siya sa iba?
I fucking wasted one year of my life with this bullshit!
Sana hindi nalang kami nagkakilala kung alam kong ganyan lang din ang mangyayari. I cried so hard but it can't ease the pain that I am feeling right now.
Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang maramdaman ang matinding pagkirot doon. I feel like there are thorns inside my throat. I never knew that he would betray my trust in a blank of an eye.
I was petrified when I heard footsteps behind me, then felt a metal banged my head... and lost my consciousness.
And I woke up in a strange room, with no abilities anymore.