Feint (Royal Society #3) COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Escape

"You liar!"

Paulit ulit ko hinampas si Yves sa sobrang galit ko sa kaniya. He doesn't know anything yet he literally pushed inside the lion's den. I get that he is concerned but he should not have done that! Not without my consent!

Yves didn't block or avoid my attack. Nakatayo lang siya at hinayaan ako. When I got tired, I remained my fists on his chest, crying silently. It was like I was brought back to the past and I was suddenly stuck in there. Seeing Vini... makes me happy but the guilt is coming back.

How I pushed him away.

How I doubted him over a petty thing.

How I ended things with a lie.

"I'm sorry. Vince asked for a favor and... he's been waiting for you. I thought I could do something about it. May ginawa ba siya sa iyo?"

But still doesn't give him a reason to decide for me. His intention is good, but he should know better than we are still not ready for that kind of interaction. But when will we be ready anyway? Am I just really running away or am I not ready yet? Hindi ko alam, that's the awful truth I had to admit.

I shook my head at Yves as a response to his question. How could Vini do something in a span of seconds? And... Vini is not the kind of person to hurt someone physically. Pagkakita ko pa lang sa pamilyar niyang mukha ay bumaba na agad ako sa sasakyan. And here, I found Yves, few meters away from the car. It seems like he was prepared for the worst possible scenario.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago umayos ng tayo. I wiped my tears away and faced him. "Let's go?" I asked like I didn't cry a river a few seconds ago. I just want to escape for a while.

Yves sighed and looked behind me. Alam ko naman kung sino ang tinitignan niya pero hindi ako lumingon.

I was never fond of surprises.

Especially this kind of surprise.

The reason why I always want everything planned ahead. The reason why I was keen on doing things in order. The reason why I make sure I plan things beforehand.

"Come on," Yves said, dragged me behind me towards the car. I stopped walking when I realized na babalik kami sa sasakyan na iyon.

"This is his and that man of yours doesn't want you to walk kaya sumakay ka na," he said bago ako tinulak papasok sa sasakyan.

He changed? He prefers motorcycles over cars back then. Things must have changed, huh. Ang dami ko na sigurong hindi alam tungkol sa kaniya.

When Yves started the engine, I looked at the side mirror and saw Vini standing outside. Ngayon ko lang siya natitigan nang matagal.

I was too shocked earlier kaya hindi ko nagawang tumingin sa kaniya. But now that I have the chance, I noticed the changes. He still has the same face but he grew taller. I could also see that his body changed. Physically, he matured. But his eyes... look sadder. Maybe because we were both reminded of the past. We were back at it.

The pain. The regret. The wound.

"Do you want me to stop the car?" Yves said when he noticed I was looking at Vini.

I gently shook my head. "I don't have any confidence to talk to him," I said and faced Yves. "You see, there's a deep wound and it was just covered by a mere band-aid. It's not covering it all, just a temporary blockage para hindi makita ng iba."

I am calm now, the reason why I get to respond properly to Yves. It's just... I am already tired of being mad at something or someone. I'm done with that. And I know Yves got my message when I cried earlier. Because if Tallia is here, I won't push her into doing something she doesn't like. 

"Then remove the band-aid and cure it properly," sabi ni Yves.

Easier said than done. Kung pwede na ganon-ganon lang ang gawin, eh di sana matagal nang tapos ang issue. But that wasn't the case. Masyado nang natabunan ang totoong issue. It was like we were bombarded with never-ending problems that we finally got tied up with those.

Like a never-ending struggle in untying a rope.

"I'm sorry if you felt like I was intruding but Vince is my friend since I can remember. And I don't want him to experience what I've gone through just because of lack of communication. That was one hell of a ride."

"Is that what happened between you and Tallia?"

He shrugged. "Sort of." 

We were enveloped by silence, both wrapped around our own thought, when he decided to speak again.

"Amara," he called without looking at me.  "Nana might have already told you this but I'm telling you again."

"There's is no use of hiding again and again if fate really wanted the two of you together. You two have been running in circles. If one of you got tired of running and decided to just stop, you will end up like me. Don't waste your time craving for fear, hindi naman nakakabusog iyan."

I smiled while listening to him. "You really love Tallia, huh."

Hindi sumagot at tahimik na lang na nagdrive. It was a short drive, actually. But he seemed like he really wanted to talk to me kaya paikot-ikot kami. Akala niya siguro hindi napansin na nakadaan na kami sa bar kanina pero nilagpasan lang namin.

"Yves," I called him as he did earlier. "Hindi ka naman naghihirap. But why are you getting the rent?" I am just curious as to why he has to do that to people. Sure, nothing is free now, but Yves is different. I can see his empathy towards the people, that's why I don't see the reason why he has to do that. 

"Because I wanted her back." Iyon lang sinabi niya bago hininto ang sasakyan. Hindi na rin siya nagsalita kaya tumahimik na lang din ako at bumaba ng sasakyan.

Then I heard the closing of the door. When I was about to walk inside, he held my arms. Hindi ko man lang napansin na nakalapit na siya sa akin. "A bit reminder before we go inside the devil's place."

"Ano ako bata? For your infor-"

"First, if I, uulitin ako, kung ako, got drunk, leave the place," Yves instructed and gave me the car keys. "Don't bother to look for me or carry me, whatever. I know some people inside and they know what to do with me."

"What?" Naguguluhan na tanong ko sa sinabi niya.

"Second, the moment we enter, I can't guarantee your safety. And I bet you also want to be alone after that interaction earlier." Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya dahil iyon naman talaga ang balak ko. 

"And lastly, if you get drunk, call him. He'll take care of you," he said and finally, let go of my arms. But this time, I was the one who stopped him by doing the same thing.

"Nandito ba siya?" He sighed and removed my hold from him. 

"Give that man a break. He just wants to ensure your safety even from afar," iyon ang huli niyang sinabi bago pumasok. I was hesitant but I still went in. 

People are already drunk when we entered. Hindi nakakapagtaka dahil malalim na din ang gabi. I looked up and saw the VIP Rooms for the Royalties. I used to stay there... but I don't have any right now. Hanggang dito na lang ako sa baba. 

I went to the bar counter and asked for my usual drink. For some reason, hindi ako nag-aalala malasing. Maybe because I know Vini is around? That thought comforts me for a bit. The lights are making me dizzy kaya naman mas mabilis akong nahilo bukod sa pag-inom ko. 

And I immediately regretted that the next morning.

"Ahhh! Where the fuck am I?!" 

***

Hello :)) I thought I can update regularly na ulit since tapos na ang midterms, but I was wrong haha. Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading this chapter.