Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

I walked through the corridors of our school, carrying the things I needed for today's class. Kitang kita ko sa mga nakapaligid kong schoolmates ang ilang sa akin tuwing napapatingin ako sa kanila.

Ilang araw na rin ang nakalipas mula nang malaman nila ang totoo. Pyrrhus and Rico was the one who personally announced the truth. Hindi ko inakala noon na gagawin nila 'yon. It was only a day after what happened, and there they are, telling everyone that what they used to believe were all lies.

Isang malaking kahihiyan iyon kay Khea, lalo na dahil mayroong tumestigo na nakita daw siyang umiinom ng dugo ng isa pang bampira. Some of them reached out, saying their sorry's while also bashing Khea, kabilang na ang ilang dati ay kampi sa kaniya at galit na galit sa akin.

She even tried to save her face by announcing that the two future leaders were telling lies. Na ginayuma ko raw ang dalawa kaya ganoon na lang ang nangyari. I just smiled sadly at her, remembering the past that we both spent together. Natatandaan ko na na ako ang nawawala nilang kaibigan. Sinabi sa akin nila Mama na binura niya ang ala-ala ko noon dahil hindi ito maganda para sa akin. I was supposed to be taken away by my grandpa's men when I was young. Itinago ni Mama at Papa ang presensya ko para hindi nila kami matagpuan. We left Nemus and lived in Akua while I'm healing. At hindi ko naalala ang lahat lalo na dahil wala akong nakasalamuhang immortal.

Everything happened so fast. Nabalitaan ko na lang na may ginawang kilos si Tito Achilles at Tito Reilly kila Cedric at Khea dahil sa ginawa nitong kasamaan. I never wanted them dead because then, we'll be the same as them, killers and evil. I am satisfied seeing them behind the bars, where their immortal abilities have no use. They will suffer for the rest of their lives spent there. Karma will do its part.

Natanaw ko mula sa malayo si Ems. It's been a while since I last saw her. Hindi ko alam ang nangyari sa kaniya nitong nakaraan dahil parang mailap siya sa akin. I don't know the particular reason why though.

"Emy!" I called from afar. Nakita ko naman na tumigil siya nang marinig ako at nilingon ang pwesto ko, pero agad na tumakbo palayo nang makitang malapit na ako sa kaniya. I ran faster, tyring to chase her and have a proper talk.

Hinawakan ko ang braso niya nang naabutan, I was chasing my breath as I stopped her from taking another step. Nakayuko ako habang ginagawa iyon nang marinig ko ang mga hikbi niya. Sa gulat ko ay napatingala ako sa kaniya at nakitang marahas niyang pinupunasan ang luha niya habang nakatingin sa malayo pero tuloy-tuloy ang agos nito.

I immediately hugged her when I saw her looking at me. I don't know why she's crying but I was glad when she hugged me back. Mahigpit ang yakap niya sa akin at kahit hindi na masyadong makahinga ay hinayaan ko siyang umiyak sa balikat ko.

"Z-Zinnia!" tawag niya ng paulit ulit sa akin habang mas lumalakas ang pag-iyak niya.

Hindi ko alam pero parang sumisikip din ang dibdib ko habang naririnig ko ang malakas niyang iyak. I can feel how wet my uniform was but I did not care.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." iyak pa niya sa akin. Nagtataka man ay pinatahan ko muna siya dahil baka mamaya ay hindi na siya makahinga sa sobrang pag-iyak.

Nang mahimasmasan siya ng kaunti ay inalalayan ko siya para makaupo sa bench na malapit. She was still crying, but it's more subtle than earlier. When she calmed down fully, I asked her what was wrong only for her to cry again.

"Tahan na, Emy." I told her as I hugged her again. Tumango lang siya at pinilit na iayos muli ang sarili.

"Ano ba 'yan, self! Napakaiyakin mo naman!" she spoke to herself as she wiped her tears harder. She inhaled a large amount of air before facing me again. Kinuha niya ang dalawa kong kamay at hinawakan ito ng mahigpit. She stared at me for a long time before she hit herself.

"Gosh, Emy! Bakit ka ba nagtampo dito sa babaeng 'to! She's not at fault and she obviously doesn't know about it!"

"What's happening, Emy?" tanong ko sa kaniya nang patigilin ko siya sa pananakit sa sarili. She just smiled at me and gave me another hug.

"You'll know about it, soon enough, Zin. But please forgive me for drifting away from you these past few days," she told me while I felt her hug getting tighter.

Nalilito man ay tumango ako sa kaniya. "I forgive you."

I forgave her even though I didn't know what she's asking my forgiveness for, pero sigurado akong kung ano man iyon ay kayang kaya kong patawadin si Ems. I know she did that for a reason. At ilang araw nga lang ang nakalilipas mula nang muli kaming nagkausap ni Emy ay nalaman ko ang dahilan niya.

I felt giddy knowing about it. Now I know why I chose him, and left the other because I know that we are not meant to be and that there is another woman deserving of him as much as he deserves that woman. Pero gano'n na lang din ang panlulumo ko nang malamang may isa pang malapit sa puso ko ang masasaktan sa mangyayari.

"Zion..." I called him as we both watch the sun set. Nandito kami sa Colline, tinatanaw ang palubog na araw, sumisimbolong patapos nang muli ang araw na ito.

"How are you?" I asked him because it's been a while since I saw him. Umalis siya sa Nemus para bisitahin si tita na ngayon ay sa Akua na nakatira. I know it's hard for him to go somewhere else far from his mother, lalo na dahil sa mga nakaraang nangyari.

"I'm doing fine, Zin," sagot niya at nilingon ako, showing the same smile he gave me that day, pero pansin ko sa mata niya na iba ang pinapahiwatig nito, and though I know what it was, I'll keep my mouth shut dahil alam kong sa kaniya nakasalalay ang lahat ng ito. Whatever that person chooses will certainly hurt the other and give forever joy to the other, pero alam kong ano man ang mangyayari ay magiging maayos din ang lahat.

"Are you sure?" I asked him one more time, gusto kong siguraduhin na kahit hindi niya kayang sabihin sa akin ay nandito ako palagi para sa kaniya, kami ni Mama at Papa.

"I am." I nodded when he said that.

I know him; he'll be fine soon enough.

"Zinnia." Lumingon naman ako sa kaniya nang tawagin niya ako, sa pagkakataong iyon ay sa papalubog na araw na siya nakatingin. His side profile shows his sharp nose, plump lips and his long lashes. The orange hue from the sun only added to his beautiful appearance.

"How does it feel to be loved back?"

I was a little taken aback with what he said. I...I never expected him to ask me this kind of question. Napakurap kurap ako nang magtama ang paningin namin, he was showing me his smile again but I can see the longing behind it.

"I know you know it because you have Red." Saad nito at muling hinarap ang bayan sa ibaba.

"Nevermind," he said after a while, standing up from the bench and slowly going away.

I stood up too, calling his name.

"How does it feel to be loved? Sa totoo lang, Zy, hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko sa iyo. All I know is that I am happy everytime he shows me how much he loves me, and how I do too, everytime I show him how much my heart yearns for him. I feel like...after travelling for a really long time, I had finally arrived to my destination." I inhaled a large amount of breathe as I smiled.

Ramdam ko ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko habang iniisip si Pyrrhus. No one else can ever make me feel this way. It's only him, and will forever be him.

"I always feel like I'm finally...home."

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last 2 chapters, not including the epilogue, and we're saying good bye to SIB, I am not ready yet ಥ‿ಥ