TWENTY-EIGHTH
Damien is backstage preparing his guitar when he heard the door swung open. Agad siyang pumunta sa lamesa kung nasaan ang mga gamit niya at kinuha ang supot ng pagkaing binili niya para kay XZ. Paglingon niya sa nasa pinto ay mabilis na napalitan ng galit ang kanina lang ay masayang ekspresyon sa kaniyang mukha. Nereo.
“What are you doing here?!” Mabilis na tulak ni Damien kay Nereo dahilan para mabitawan niya ang hawak na supot sa lapag. He pinned Nereo to the wall, his grip on Nereo’s collar is so tight that Nereo feels like he’s trying to crush his neck even though he’s just holding his shirt.
“I—” Nereo tried to hold Damien’s hands to ask him to let go of him. When Damien got his message, he let him go.
“I just want to leave these for XZ.” sagot ni Nereo na nakahawak pa sa leeg niya at saka ipinakita ang hawak na bag ng mga pagkain.
“Akala ko ba tapos ka na sa kaniya? Ano ‘to, Nereo? Ano ‘to?!” Hampas ni Damien sa bag na hawak ni Nereo kaya nalaglag ito sa lapag. Tiningnan iyon ni Nereo at saka pinulot.
“Nereo, answer me.” Utos ni Damien habang nakatingin sa baba kung saan pinupulot ni Nereo ang mga supot ng pagkaing natapon mula sa bag.
“Damien,” tawag ni Nereo sa binatang nasa harap at saka tumayo. Nagulat si Damien nang makita ang mukha nito. He’s still the handsome Nereo Del Fierro but his eyes are different—they’re screaming pain, anguish, and misery.
“I miss her.” Nereo almost whispered.
“I miss her every second, every minute of the day.” mahina pa rin ang pagkakasabi ni Nereo. His voice is cracking and Damien knows he shouldn’t feel this way but he feels bad for him. Damien brushed off his feelings. He wants to hate Nereo. This is the same Nereo who treated XZ as if she was a toy that he could just get or discard any time he wants.
“Ano ba?! Ano ba talagang gusto mo? Akala ko ba wala na, akala ko ba lalayo ka na?” Frustration was all over Damien’s voice.
“I’m sorry, Damien... I really am. Just... one more day, please... just give me another day with her. She doesn’t need to know about this, I just want to see her, hear her.” Nereo pleaded with his strained voice.
“Even from afar.”
Napatingin si Damien sa mga mata ni Nereo nang marinig ang huling sinabi nito. Even from afar? What difference does that make if XZ’ still in love with him?
“I don’t want you anywhere near her, I don’t want you coming to her like this.” Damien said firmly and then let out a sigh.
“But those aren’t up to me.”
“Even if I want to take her away from you so badly, I can’t.” Ibinaba ni Damien ang tingin sa lapag at huminga nang malalim. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang performance nila pero nasistress na siya. Ano ba itong gulong kinasangkutan niya? Ganito ba talaga kahirap magmahal?
Sabay napalingon sina Damien at Nereo nang bumukas ang pinto. Sandali silang nagkatitigan tatlo at saka binasag ni XZ ang katahimikang namamayani sa kanila.
“Nereo,”
Napako ang tingin ni Damien sa mga mata ni XZ na nakatuon kay Nereo nang marinig niya ang pangalang tinawag nito. Damien’s mind is a mess. Why did XZ call Nereo’s name? What’s she gonna do? What’s she gonna say? Why does it have to be Nereo and not me?
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Stars
Teen Fiction[SMUG Series #1] XZ Martinez is a smart young woman. She was born to a rich and famous family but she doesn't seem to like it. Unlike her older brother, Valentine, XZ is and will never be used to the attention people are giving her but she guesses t...
