Rhythm of Lies (Daguitan Series #1)

Wakas

This is the wakas of Rhythm of Lies.

I still can't believe that this story has now come to an end. I am so glad I was able to share this with you. You, still here, trusting me the flow, is an honor. I hope you enjoyed their whole journey. And for the last straw, sana mag-enjoy ulit kayo sa wakas na ito.

--

Wakas

I couldn't breathe properly after I saw a familiar name in an advertisement from the news article I'm reading in my phone. Fuck! And fuck that my anger boiled immediately! Dammit!

Binaba ko ang cellphone ko para tingnan ang pinsan ko. I don't know how long it was until that woman left. I got so occupied with my own life. Nakita ko sa gilid ng aking mata na napatingin sa akin si Ragnar nang napansin siguro na bumalik na muli ang atensyon ko sa presentation.

"Oh? Anong nangyari?" natatawang niyang tanong.

Gumalaw ang mata ko para tingnan siya.

His smile grew larger.

"Hindi na ako interesado sa binabasa ko." Sagot ko at sinubukang ibalik muli ang tingin sa presentation. Pero ang nagpipigil niyang tawa ang nagpalingon muli sa akin sa kaniya.

Kumunot lalo ang noo ko. Mas na-badtrip dahil sa makahulugan niyang tawa.

I feel like he's insulting me or something.

Nasa isang convention kaming dalawa sa Maynila dahil pinaghahandaan na nila ang panibagong settlement sa Dam na proyekto ng ama niya, ni Tito Aurelius, sa Leyte. I got bored with the discussions. Matapos kasi ang mga nangyari, may napagdegdesisyunan na iliban na ako sa grupo. The reason why I am here is because of an issue I will try to defend half-heartedly.

Wala na talaga akong pakealam. Hindi ko na kailangang gawin ito. But I was desperate to protect her and change my family's view for her. I was desperate. Was. With proper emphasis to the past tense.

Halos suntukin ko ang sarili nang mapangiti ng wala sa sarili.

Gago ka parin pala, Isaiah. Who are you fooling?

Inalis ko na ang pagkakabaling sa direksyon ni Ragnar dahil winawagayway niya ang kaniyang cellphone na alam ko agad kung ano ang laman. I just saw it in an advertisement from an article I was reading.

"Shup up." I hissed.

Iritado ang mukha ko pero hindi ko alam bakit lumalabas ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.

"It's Katherine," dagdag naman niya pero hindi ko na pinansin.

I knew my family has hated hers. Include me. But life was full of surprises.

It's like an adventure of a blind man. You don't see what's happening around you until you use your other senses. You have to feel through your hands the happenings around you. You must listen to the words of people guiding you. And need to smell and taste the air whether you're at the bitterness of your life. For our part, we only had the vision of a blind man. We were deceived by what we must see. We didn't know that hatred leaded us to where it almost broke us; because of me.

I still regretted staying late that morning. Dahil alam kong ma-pu-protektahan ko siya laban sa aking pamilya. I knew my family's hatred. But she threw her words like a fucking dagger to my heart.

"Isaiah, ayaw ko na!"

My eyes widened a fraction after hearing Katherine's words. I was trying to hold her that time, hugging her to my most intent, as if I could protect her against my raging lolo and Kuya Isaac. Alam kong gago ako pero hindi katanggap-tanggap ang hiwalayan ako ng babaeng gusto ko. Ang babaeng mahal ko. Dahil alam kong kaya kong magbago. Para sa kaniya. Para sa aming dalawa. And hell I was too shocked she got away from my body.