Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The night ended with the two of them catching up. Hindi na naming nasubaybayan ni Mama dahil sa hindi malamang dahilan ay pagod na pagod kami nang araw na iyon. Dad even scolded me for not telling him that someone's pretending to be the witch but I assured him that everything was fine.

Zion told me that he was already enrolled in the university. Kaya siya naroon kahapon dahil doon at wala siyang pinagsabihan na kahit sino. He was planning to visit me yesterday, too but on his way to me, he overheard people talking about the 'witch' kaya hinanap niya kung sino ang tinutukoy nila.

When I asked him about how he knew I was the witch, he told me that he can feel what an immortal is, but like everything, it has limitations and exemption. Noong nakita daw niya si Khea ay alam na niya agad na bampira ito. He felt how she thirst for blood that's why he put a barrier around the premises he and Khea was in that only those that aren't vampire, wolves, siren, or human. Only one person can enter and that's the witch.

"May matitirahan ka ba dito, Zion?" tanong ni Mama bago kami matulog. Papa looked at my cousin too, waiting for his answer.

"Dito po, 'di ba?" ngiti niya at tumango si Mama bago siya ginantihan din ng ngiti, probably not even noticing the slight glint of pain he had shown for a short time. I wanted to ask him about it, but he immediately masked it by laughing about something only him and dad can understand.

Ilang araw na ang nakalipas mula nung dumating si Zion dito at habang tumatagal, napapansin ko ang lalong pagsikat niya. He's so famous in neither of the genders. The girls love him for his looks and attitude. Ang sabi pa ng iba ay mas gwapo daw para sa kanila ang kaugali ni Zion, compared to the two future leaders, he looks more carefree and approachable. While the boys juts love his fashion and all the things guys like.

"Ano ba?!" sigaw ni Emy kay Zion na pinaglalaruan na naman ang buhok niya. He's always like this towards her.

Tumawa lamang si Zion sa nakakunot na si Emy at tinalikod ang upuan bago siya umupo roon ng pabaligtad. He leaned his chin towards his arms that's on the chair's backrest bago tumitig kay Emy.

Inirapan na lang si nito at hinarap ako. I find the two of them really really cute! Parang mga aso at pusa lang kung mag-away pero lagi pa ring magkabuntot.

"Zin!" I looked at the door and saw Red and Rico there. Ngumiti ako at kumaway sa dalawa. They both smiled at me and walked towards us. Napansin ko ang biglang pag-ayos ng upo ni Emy nang tuluyan na ngang makalapit ang dalawa. Napaayos din siya bigla ng buhok.

Nangunot ang noo ko at napatingin kay Zion na bigla namang nagseryoso. I saw a lump on his cheeks and realized that its his tongue. Galit ba siya?

Red went and sat at the vacant chair beside me at si Rico naman ay umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa gitna ni Red at Emy. Si Zion naman ay agad na iniusod ang upuan papunta sa tabi ko. I saw how he glared at the man beside me and smiled when he noticed that I'm looking at him. Nilingon ko naman si Red at nakita kung gaano kalamig ang tingin niya kay Zion. He then glanced at me and gave me a little smile when he saw me looking.

"How are you?" sasagutin ko na sana si Red nang ilagay ni Zion ang braso niya sa likod ng upuan ko kaya mukhang nakaakbay siya sa akin. I didn't mind what he did dahil sanay na ako. Kahit sa bahay ay ganito siya at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Napadako naman ang tingin ko kay Rico na nakatingin sa aming tatlo. He smiled at me then mouthed the word 'sorry' for the nth time. Paulit-ulit na lang.

"Zinnia!" I didn't bother to look behind me dahil alam na alam ko kung kaninong boses iyon. Kay Rico at wala akong panahon para makinig sa kung ano mang sasabihin niya.

My view about him and Red changed big time because of what happened. I figured, they might have been really close to Khea that they would believe every single thing her filthy mouth would utter. I continued walking and ignoring him pero ang hirap nga atang tumakas sa taong matangkad at mahahaba ang binti because just a few seconds of walking away from him, I felt him grabbing my wrist and making me face him.

Nakakunot ako nang magsalubong ang titigan namin. He looks so serious as he look at me too.

Hinila niya ako palayo sa corridor kahit na nagpupumiglas ako sa hawak niya. Ayaw kong sumama sa kaniya! I know it's childish to act this way and to not listen to what he's about to say but the things he did before really hurt me. Hindi man lang ba nila naisip na i-confirm o kaya ay tanungin muna ako bago mag-akusa? They just straight up believed her at naiinis ako sa parteng itinuturing ko silang kaibigan tapos ay hindi naman pala nila ako pagkakatiwalaan? That's painful on my side!

Hindi niya ako bintawan kahit na tumigil na kami sa paglalakad. I looked around us and noticed that we're currently in the woods behind the school. Ramdam ko ang lakas ng hangin dahil nalilipad nito ang buhok at uniform ko. It's not the kind that becomes annoying, though.

"Zinnia," he called me.

I gave my attention to him even when I don't want to. Now that we're here, with his tight hold, wala na akong maggagawa kung hindi ang making sa kaniya. Aside from the fact that I won't be able to get away from his grip, running won't be a good choice because I know he'll immediately catch me.

"I'm sorry." Those were the first words he uttered. Napangisi na lang ako sa sinabi niya. He has the guts to tell me that now?

"Red and I...we both know how we judged you without even asking you and were both sorry."

Wow! Wow talaga! Ang kapal ng mukha nilang sabihin sa harap ko iyon at ngayon ay magso-sorry sa akin? At lalo na iyang si Red! Is he that sorry that he can't even face me right now and say sorry personally? Si Rico pa talaga ang pinag-sorry niya para sa kanilang dalawa? Ang kapal!

Tumitig lang siya sa akin matapos niyang sabihin iyon. Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay habang nakatingin siya sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang masasabi ko sa kaniya kung magsasalita ako.

"I'm really sorry, Zinnia." I shook my hand at napansin kong mahina na ang hawak niya sa akin kaya ang bilis kong nakawala. I inhaled large amount of air to calm myself. Kailangan kong maging kalmado para makapag-isip ako ng tama. I don't want to just speak and utter some offensive words.

I crossed my arms around my chest after. "Is that all you're going to say?"

The tone I gave him...I know its as cold as ice. I saw how he bit his lip when he heard me and looed away. Kinuha ko na iyong senyales na wala na nga siyang matinong sasabihin sa akin.

I back away from him and started walking away. Pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makalayo ay sinabi ko sa kaniyang tinatanggap ko na ang paghingi niya ng tawad kahit na gaano pa man kasakit ang naggawa nila. Though, I know I won't be able to forget what they've done. That's the decision I had made after putting myself together. I can forgive but I won't forget.

Aalis na sana ako ng tuluyan pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makaalis ay may narinig ako sa kaniya na ikinagulat at bahagyang ikinatuwa ng puso ko. I stopped on my tracks, listening to what he's about to say.

"I'm not supposed to say this but I don't want you to remain mad at us without knowing the real reason behind what we've done." I heard him inhale a large amount of air.

Ramdam ko kung gaano kabilis ang tibok ng puso ko. My heart was beating so fast, waiting for him to finally let his words out.

"Zinnia, we know. We know. So, please, give us your trust one more time."

And I did. 

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thank you so much for waiting! happy 650 reads, SIB 🥳