Scent of Eclipse

Chapter 40: Villains and Alliance

"He fell asleep." Conard said in a cold voice while drinking water.

"Good thing that he'll take a rest." I gulped the water from my glass. "He's tired." Sagot ko.

He must be so tired.

"Mm... Go to bed." Utos niya sa akin. "It's getting late... We'll be off tomorrow, early."

Napaiwas ako sa mga tingin niya. His silver eyes are looking at me and I can't take it. It's so awkward to talk to him like this. He's a big bullshit in my life and now we're talking like friends? Damn, I need to get out of here.

"I'll go up, then. Walang kasama si Zion." Paalam ko.

Nang tumalikod ako ay gulat akong napatingin nang hawakan niya ang pulsuhan ko. Naiilang ko siyang tinitigan. May gulo sa isip ko sa tuwing nakikita ko siya. Wala na... Wala na pero ang anak ko ang naaalala ko sa tuwing nakikita ko ang mukha niya. Kung paano kung nabuhay siya?

Are we going to run in the woods together? I must've taught her how to howl whenever the full moon rises. I should've sang her a song every night... Give her my support in everything she does, hug her, kiss her... And give her the love I wasted on her father.

"Why?" Angat ko sa kilay ko. "Let go, I'm tired." Reklamo ko ngunit lalo niya akong hinigit palapit.

Nang magkalapit ang mga katawan namin ay inilihis niya pataas ang sleeve ng manipis na bestidang pantulog na suot ko. Doon napakunot ang kilay niya sa mga lumantad na pasa sa mga braso ko. Kabilaan.

Umangat siya at tinignan ako sa mga matang may halong pagtataka at awa.

"Whenever you love... Why are you always sacrificing? Hindi ka ba napapagod? You've done too much for me before." Haplos niya sa braso ko.

Hinigit ko iyon kaagad. Inalis ko ang mga kamay niya sa balat ko at lumayo sa kanya.

"Naaawa ka na ba sa 'kin?" Pambibiro ko.

"I never stopped feeling guilty about everything..." Napatikhim ako sa sinabi niya. "I may stopped loving you... And you stopped loving me... The both of us ended but it does not mean that I will not repent from all that I did. At least giving a care for you will sort my sins." Bigkas niya sa kalmadong boses.

Katulad ng dati, isinuklay niya ang mga palad sa kanyang buhok. My eyes went down to his naked chest, the name is still there. Nasasaktan ako hindi dahil nandoon pa rin ang pangalan ko... Kundi alam kong pangalan iyon ng batang sana ay nabuhay kung hindi kami naging makasarili.

"And you still have that?" Tanong ko.

"It's our daughter's name. I can't remove it, I'm sorry." Paumanhin niya.

"How about your family? Pangalan ko at pangalan niya ang nasa dibdib mo."

"I will not erase this name. This name is yours... And hers... Two women who became a part of my life, and will always be a part of my life. At least here..." tinuro niya ang dibdib. "I made you stay. I failed to protect you and our child, so let me have this name."

"I never said that you need to erase it." I silently laughed. "It's our daughter's name... Not mine." Iling ko ngunit tinawanan niya na lamang ako.

"What are you planning?" May bahid ng alala sa tono niya. "Sacrificing? You will leave us?"

"Will you miss me?" Pamimilosopo ko.

"What about Zion?" Biglang tanong niya.

What about him? I will die soon, protecting his soul from this world by not giving him the dangerous transition. If he will do it, there's no chance that he will survive the portal where he will do it. I will leave him, safe and sound... And for the last time, I won the fight.