[3] Under Her Scars

33

Fourteen: Who is Rouisa Iona Lariosa to you?

Eleven: Girlfriend

Fourteen: How did the two of you met?

Eleven: She just appeared out of nowhere. Scarlet and I were still in a relationship that time. I tried to avoid her but when Scarlet left, she appeared again.

Fourteen: How did your feelings with her developed?

Eleven: She was just there when I needed someone.

Fourteen: Was Sirius with you?

Eleven: No

Napahinto ako sa pagbabasa nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. Sunod-sunod silang pumasok na apat. May conference ulit at nauna na akong pumasok habang binabasa 'yung Confession ni Arius.

Ramdam ko kung paano sila tumingin sa akin pero hindi ko sila pinansin. I skipped some parts and didn't bother to read it all. Lalo na't nandito na siya at baka makita niya pa ang reaksyon ko.

Ayokong magmukhang nasasaktan. I'm stronger than that.

I tried reading the minutes but it's just breaking me to know that Arius didn't wait for me and cheated with that woman. Sabi niya maghihintay siya kahit ilang taong pa. Paano na lang kaya kung umuwi ako noon at sinabi sa kaniya ang katotohanan patungkol sa mga magulang niya?

I would really be left alone.

If only Diane didn't spoke, I would probably tear this document off.

"Scarlet," she called.

"It's Six." I hissed but she still managed to smile. I know everyone's listening, medyo malayo rin kasi ang posisyon namin ni Diane kaya kailangang lakasan ang boses.

"What's the thing underneathe your scarf?" She asked innocently.

Nakalimutan kong nakikita niya pala kung may sugat o peklat ang isang tao kahit natatakpan ito ng mga tela o ilusyon. Sinabi niya ito sa confessions niya. I unconciously shifted the scarf in my neck when I felt them looking at me.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim at tinanggal 'yung scarf sa leeg ko, agad silang napatingin sa bakas ng naghilom na kagat. "When I was in that island to forge an alliance with the Coven, I let them bit me to swore my loyalty for securing the information about them and only tell the members of Sable."

"A scar?" Sirius asked, "You can have a scar?"

"It's sort of like this." Pinakita ko sa kanila ng kanang kamay ko na hanggang ngayon ay may sugat pa rin, "I guess. . . Hindi na mawawala 'yung mga bagay na importante so. . . Yeah, it's already a part of me."

Sa loob ng islang 'yon, marami rin akong natutunan tungkol sa mga kakayahan ko at sa mismong pagkatao ko. Hindi naman big deal pero minsan hinihiling ko na sana hindi ko na lang nalaman.

"You let them?" dahan-dahang tanong ni Saki. Hindi ko namalayan na natulala ako bigla kung kaya naman nasabi ko ang sagot.

"It was one of my task." Napalunok ako at binalik na ang scarf sa leeg ko.

"Who bit you?" Arius asked in a low voice, almost like he didn't want me to hear it. But I heard it anyway.

"Someone you'll never know." Mabilis na sabi ko at bumalik sa pagbabasa. Tinakpan ko pa ang mukha ko ng folder na binabasa ko para hindi makatingin sa akin si Diane.

Nagbasa pa ako ng folder patungkol naman kila Sirius, Saki, at Diane. Pinilit ko na basahin 'yung documents pero hindi na ko mapalagay dahil alam kong may nakatitig sa akin. Sinara ko na lang 'yon at tumingin sa pinto. I was even tapping my feet on the floor and looking at my wristwatch because Haymitch and Maeve were taking too long.