Chaining Lockets

Kabanata 20 (Part 1)

Happy Anniversary, Archers! Ihahabol ko sa anniv natin ito ngayon HAHAHA! It is supposedly a one part chapter but I failed, as usual. Super dami ng word count so I decided to separate them by parts but still same Kabanata. We can use hashtags #CLKab20 in here pati sa part 2.

Sorry for the lates UDs since I am very busy these days, sad to say but for now, ito lang muna siguro talaga ang last UDs. Baka ang next mga months after pa. Dinalawa ko na para happy tayo! Happy Anniversary, Archers ko!

This is unedited. May mga errors kayong mai-encounter kasi di ko na re-read and edit. Enjoy!

My apologies for the errors for the court scene. I'll fix it soon.

Warning: May contain sensitive topics. Please beware.

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Kabanata 20 (Part 1)

"I don't even know if I'll believe you, Dei." I chuckled blankly while staring at my cousin during our session. "You know, I've been telling myself I am so strong and brave before pero ngayon..." I sighed.

"Why not?" he asked and tilted his head, staring at me.

"Kasi...I felt like I'm getting weaker now, I don't know, I couldn't explain. My nightmares subsided but I feel like I'm an empty shell at times and it's scaring me."

"Do you think our session is helping you?" he asked me gently at marahan akong tumango at ngumiti.

"Oo naman, because I opened up, nabawasan na ang bigat sa puso ko, my nightmares are rare nowadays and you helped me a lot pero s'yempre, hindi naman kaagad, I am still feeling empty at times and there are times na naiisip kong mahina ako."

"You're one of the strongest woman I'd ever known, Crest." Dei said, stopping me.

"I am?" I asked and he nodded.

"You wake up every morning to fight the same monsters that left you so tired and sleepless the night before. That's bravery for me." He said and my heart felt warmth at his words.

"Dei..."

"You are a strong woman, Crest. You are so brave and fearless and honestly speaking, I admire and salute you for that. You can just give up and end it all but you didn't, instead of getting drowned to the misery, you decided to stood and fight." He said kaya napangiti na ako at inabot ang juice sa lamesa niya at ininom.

"Thanks, Dei." I sighed, "your words could really lift the heavy thing off my chest."

"Sino kasama mo sa bahay? Are you alone?" he asked kaya umiling ako.

"I am sleeping with Adira these days," I said. "Siguro dahil katabi ko ang kapatid ko kaya madalang lang ang panaginip, and of course, the meds you gave me and our session helped a lot too. Nga lang, ang dami ko pa ring naiisip at madalas pa ring nada-down. I wanted so bad to be better, Dei, kaso ang hirap."

"Healing takes time," he said and rested his head on his swivel, brushing his hair and fixing his eyeglasses while staring intently at me. "It couldn't be done overnight, it's a long process, it's painful at times. Being better isn't a race, Crest, it should be a walk in a park, slow but careful."

"Sabagay," I chuckled. "If I ran and rush things, I might tripped and fell."

"That's right," his eyes brightened and a proud smile left his lips.

"I know right? Ang galing ko, ano?" I raised my brow, "high-five nga diyan!" I exclaimed and he chuckled, accepted my high-five before standing and messing with my hair.

"Parehas kayo ni Chiel, hilig niyo manggulo ng buhok, ano? Alam mo bang nagising ako ng maaga para lang magkulot?" I frowned and smacked his hand at natatawang naupo siya pabalik sa swivel at nailing sa akin.