The Senses

Chapter 14

Xavier

I was walking in the street for the excuse of buying things but the true reason was that the atmosphere in the apartment was much too heavy for me. Ever since we went home from Serene's mansion, there was tension between my two companions.. I don't know if they had a fight but something was wrong. Zero was still the same, the goofy smile and laughter, but Seine became silent and she wouldn't meet our eyes.

I stopped at a store that sells fruits, I was about to pick an apple when someone called my name, I looked around and saw Mary Therese Calta.

"Xavier, what a coincidence."

Suot niya pa rin ang mga benda niya sa katawan at hindi rin siya makalakad ng tuwid, gumagamit siya ng saklay upang masuportahan niya ang buong katawan niya. Sumasakit ang dibdib ko kapag nakikita ko siya ng ganito. Hindi naman ako sinisisi ni Mary pero alam ko sa sarili ko na kasalanan ko ito.

"Bakit ka nakatunganga diyan? Bumili na tayo."

I bit my lip. "Of course, bumili na tayo."

"Hanggang ngayon ba sinisisi mo pa rin ang sarili mo sa nangyari sa akin?"

Napatigil ako sa mga salita na nanggaling sa kanya, unti unti akong tumingin sa kay Mary, sa mga benda niya sa katawan, sa saklay na hawak niya, sa ngiti niya na nagsasabing hindi ko dapat sinisisi ang sarili ko.

"Wala kang kasalanan, Xav. Ako ang gustong tumulong sa iyo."

"But if only I hadn't been stupid..." Tumigil ako sa pagsasalita, natatakot ako baka hindi ko na kaya pang pigilan ang luha ko.

"I made a choice Xav, I chose to save you and I don't regret it for a single moment."

I gritted my teeth and looked down, nagtataka na siguro ang tindera bakit ang tagal naming pumili ng prutas.

"I'm sor-," I stopped, choosing my words. I held my face high and said the words that was stuck within me for the longest time. "Thank you."

She gave a heartwarming smile, "You're welcome."

***

Nauna nang umalis si Mary dahil pupunta pa raw siya sa orphanage, naglalakad na ako sa daan nang may humawak sa balikat ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko kung sino ito.

"I-ikaw yung kumuha kay Miss Minerva..."

Ngumiti siya sa akin, his face was the same as the one described by Marcus. A man in his middle forties, he still wore his chosen garb of long coat and a hat but this time, I could clearly see his face.

"What do you want? Huwag mong sabihin na gusto mo rin ako kunin kahit na maraming tao ang nakapalibot sa atin?"

"Not that, I just came here to have a little talk. Come with me."

Pumasok siya sa restaurant na nasa tabi namin, marami namang tao sa loob at baka may malaman pa akong importanteng bagay mula sa kanya. I followed him inside and sat at the chair opposite of him.

"Well, those guys don't believe that we could settle this with peaceful talks but you are willing," he said with a smile.

Those guys? Does he mean Erebos? Mahirap nga paniwalaan na gusto niya lang ako kausapin pagkatapos ng ilang ulit na halos mamatay kami dahil sa kanila.

"I'll get straight to the point, little boy of Sight," he paused as he took off his hat. "Give up the Sense."

"No," I strongly answered. "After all the things that you have done, gusto niyo lang na ibigay ko sa inyo ang Senses? Maraming tao ang nadadamay sa ginagagawa niyo."