Still Into You

CHAPTER 4

W: offensive words, self-harm

MAX'S P. O. V.

Halos magwala na 'ko sa galit pero nakalma ako ng hinawakan ni Shyr ang balikat ko. Marga was staring at both of us. Isa pa 'tong babaeng 'to. She's a pain in the ass. I was always telling her not to go to my condo unless I said so. But, she never listens. Kasalanan mo yan, tanga! A part of my mind says. Darn! Kung hindi ko lang talaga sagutin 'tong babaeng 'to, matagal ko ng pinabayaan 'to. I already called Shyon and he's on his way here. Of course, he's fuming mad. Baka nga masapak pa niya 'ko e. Tahimik lang si Shyr habang si Marga naman talak ng talak.

"What is she doing here, Cole? Are you cheating on me with her? Seriously, Cole? Nasaan ang standards mo? God, I can't believe you." Sunod-sunod na tanong niya sa akin. Nakakarindi, kingina.

"Pwede ba Marga? Stop talking! And I also told you to stop calling me by my second name. Stick to my first name, Margaut Polen." I said with the coldest of voice. Nakakainis talaga 'tong babaeng 'to.

"Ugh! I can't believe you're really defending that girl! God, Maxwell! You could've picked a random girl. Not with that bitch. At ikaw? Akala ko ba may delikadeza ka? Ba't kumakabit ka sa may karelasyon? Jeez! You're a slut! You're so—" nabigla ako ng bumulagta sa sahig si Marga, hawak-hawak ang kanyang pisngi. May dugo sa gilid ng labi.

"Tatahimik ka rin naman pala e, pinatagal mo pa. Ang baho ng bibig mo." Untag ni Shyr. Umangat ang gilid ng labi ko. That's my girl! Bumaling si Marga sa akin at nanginig, nanghihingi ng tulong. I just gave her the cold shoulders and went to Shyr na ngayon ay nakaupo at minamasahe ang paa. She must've used so much force.

"Shy, are you okay?" I said. She looked up to me at tipid na ngumiti.

"I'm good. Go check her." She said and went straight to her bag na malapit lang sa inuupuan niya. Pinuntahan ko si Marga na naglalangitngit sa galit. Pagsasalitaan ko pa sana siya ng bigla niyang hinawi ang kamay ko at tumakbo kay Shyr. Akmang sasampalin niya ito pero agad nahawakan ni Shyr ang kamay niya at pinilipit patalikod kaya napatili si Marga sa sakit. Nakatalikod na si Marga kay Shyr at mas pinilipit ni Shy rang kamay niya. I'm already uneasy kasi nagiging marahas na si Shyr. I can't see the sweet and understanding Shyr na andito pa kanina nung nakaupo palang kami. All I can see is the feisty demon who eats her sanity everytime she gets mad. I have to do something, I thought. When I saw her pinning Marga down, I took her on top of Marga. She was breathing aggressively. Pinihit ko siya paharap sa akin. I cupped her face and made her look at me. She didn't look, though. Her eyes were like fire. It was as if something within her ignited. I tried to take her hands off of Marga's wrist. Namumula na at nagmarka ka dahil sa tindi ng pagkakahawak niya kanina. Wala pa rin akong nakikitang maayos si Shyr kaya niyakap ko na siya.

"Hey, it's okay. You can calm down now. I'm here. It's okay." I kept on repeating that to her. After a few seconds, her breathing starts to get calm. She then curled her arms on my waist. She's crying. I tapped her shoulders lightly, comforting her.

"Tahan na, okay na. Andito ako. Di kita pababayaan."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry." She cried even harder.

Then my door flung open, revealing Shyon and Mixie. I immediately let go of Shyr and wiped her tears. Lumapit ang dalawa sa amin at niyakap ni Shyon si Shyr. She cried again and she even said sorry sa kuya niya ng paulit-ulit. I saw my sister teary-eyed kaya nilapitan ko siya at hinawakan sa braso.

"I'm sorry, Mix. Napabayaan ko si Shyr. It's my fault." I said in an apologetic voice. She wiped her tears and said nothing. Luminga pa siya sa paligid na parang may hinahanap. And right there, I know what's going to happen.