Nefarious Love

Epilogue

Thank you for reaching this far. Writing this story has been a roller coaster ride for me. It was very challenging but I'm happy I was able to write it the way I wanted to. I hope the message that I wanted to convey through this story reached your hearts. Please do look forward for the next instalment: Orphic Love. Enjoy reading the last part of this story!
    
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Epilogue
    
   
   
Ever since I was young, I've always had this weird hobby of watching other people. I'd watch and stare at almost every person I meet, that sometimes, I can easily predict their next move or how they will react just by their body language and facial expression.

For me, it was a harmless hobby. But others take it differently, as Mama told me one time, after she caught me staring at someone while we're attending a certain gathering.

Holding my hand, Mama excused herself from the crowd and took me with her. Lumingon ako habang hila-hila ni Mama. I saw the old woman hiding her daughter behind her back while glaring at me.

Mama stopped and turned to me when we reached the quiet corridor of the hotel where the event is being held.

Tiningala ko siya. She smiled softly before bending her knees, nilebel ang sarili sa akin upang magtama ang mga mata namin.

Mama caressed my cheeks. "Sam, you can't stare at others like that," banayad niyang sinabi.

I blinked. "I was just looking, Mama,"

Kumunot ang noo niya, nguni't nanatili ang ngiti sa kaniyang mapulang labi. She combed my hair gently.

"Yes, baby. But others find it rude when you stare at them that way,"

"Why?"

"They think you're judging them or something. Hindi ka pa naman pala ngiti," she chuckled a little for the last sentence.

Yumuko ako at marahang tumango. Nag-angat ulit ng tingin kay Mama. Nguling pinasadahan ni Mama ang buhok ko gamit ang kaniyang mga daliri, pushing back my hair. Napapikit ako sa ginawa niya.

"It's not bad to stare, Sam. Just don't overdo it, and don't keep on staring at someone with a blank face even when they're looking back at you. At least try to smile at them to let them know that you're a good boy, okay?" malambing niyang sabi.

I nodded. "Yes, Mama."

I agreed to her kahit na ang totoo, hindi ko pa rin lubos na naiintindihan kung bakit minamasama ng ibang tao ang pagtitig ko. I just can't understand why they were taking it badly.

Lying on the floor, I stared blankly at ceiling. The chandelier was swinging a bit caused by the wind coming in from the broken windows. My ears were filled by the sound of sirens, as the colors red and blue danced across the room.

Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang aking kamay. I was breathing heavily, hindi makahinga ng maayos dahil sa mabigat na nakadagan sa akin.

At first, I thought it was just the red colored light from outside reflecting on my hands. Pero nang titigan ko ang sariling kamay, I realized it was... blood.

I gasped loudly in shock. My hands trembled by the sight of blood on my hands. Panicking, I tried to stand up but the heavy thing above me won't budge. Hinawakan ko iyon upang itulak palayo. I froze. When I saw her face, all of my memories with her flashed right before my eyes.

With trembling hands, I held her shoulder and shake it a bit. Malakas akong napasinghap nang bumagsak ang kamay niyang kanina ay nasa dibdib ko. Hot tears quickly gushed from my eyes. I shake her shoulder again.

"Ma...ma..." nanginginig ang boses ko.

My mother's lifeless body was above me. Her left arm was wrapped around my head, remnant of how she tried to protect me until the last breath of her life.