Lost University (BOOK 2)

8: Breath, Devil Breath

EHROS

Kahit nagawa kong isumbat sa kanya ang iilan sa gusto kong sabihin, it was still not enough to make me feel better. Maybe hearing her explanations will make me feel better.

But when?

I quietly followed her. From the canteen, from the time she slapped me, I heard nothing else from her. I want to leave her here, she totally has companions. But why can't I do that? She was sad, and even though she was hurting me, I still wanted to be with her while she was sad.

Lihim kong minura ang sarili ko. Kailan pa ako natutong maging marupok? Siguro ngayon lang.

Bumalik siya sa emergency station at sumunod pa din ako sa kanya. Huminto siya nang bahagya at sumilip sa loob. Tahimik lang ako na nagmamasid sa kanya.

"France," Tawag ni Ella habang nakatayo sa tapat ng emergency station. "Nilipat na si Kitty."

I saw her nod. Alam kong alam niyang nakasunod ako sa kanya pero hindi siya lumingon sa akin.

I leaned against the wall next to the room Kitty had moved into. While mumbling I did not take my eyes off her.

"France!" May dalawang lalaking tumawag sa kanya na kararating lang. Hindi ako nakikita ng mga ito agad dahil nasa likod ako ni France pero ako, kitang-kita ko sila.

"Pyry." Sambit niya sa pangalan ng lalaki at niyakap ito nang mahigpit.

I couldn't help but clench my fists because of what my eyes could see. Masyado akong nadadala sa eksena kaya hindi ko napansin agad ang pagtitig ng isang lalaki sa gawi ko.

"France." Buti nalang dumating ang isang kaibigan ni France, dahilan upang maghiwalay sila mula sa pagkayakap. Well, it hurts the eye too much.

"Amanda."

"Kumusta si Kitty?"

"She's stable. We're just waiting for her to wake up." Sagot ni Ella sa tanong ni Amanda. "Pumasok na muna tayo sa loob. Baka magising na si Kitty, paniguradong hahanapin si France non."

Pumasok sila sa loob maliban sa lalaking nakatingin pa din sa akin. Wala nang tao sa labas, maliban sa aming dalawa.

I WAS STANDING in the hospital lobby where there weren't too many people. As I looked at the glass wall where the outside could be seen, I felt the presence of someone.

I heard him step forward to approach me. "Prime."

Napatiim bagang ako t'saka pumikit. "Titan ang pangalan ko. Hindi Prime."

"Whoever you are now, you're still the Prime Master that I used to know."

I clenched my fist before taking a deep breath. "Whoever I am now, I still don't care what you're talking about, and your opinion."

"How are you? What happened to you after you left?" Hindi ko alam kung matawa o maasar ba sa tanong niya. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman nila ang nangyari sa akin.

"Breathing, and still kicking. What do you expect?"

"To be like that. I know it's not easy, but hopefully, you won't make France suffer."

Bigla akong natawa sa sinasabi niya.

"Pahihirapan? Of all people, ako pa talaga ang magpapahirap sa kanya. Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo?" Tarantado to ah. Anong karapatan niyang sabihin 'yon sa harap ko pa mismo.

"Whatever happened to you, you still a man. At hindi nakakabawas ng pagkalalaki mo ang magpatawad. Nagiging miserable siya, at hindi mo alam 'yon."

"Did you ask me what I went through? Pwes kahit hindi mo tanungin, sasabihin ko sayo. Wala nang mas nahihirapan sa nangyari maliban sa akin. Nasira ako, Agares!" Hinarap ko siya. "And now you're talking to me like I'm a destructive thing?"