Therrie's Thirty Days of Temperamental Cycle

Chapter 15: Love

Therrie's cleaning the living room like she was supposed to do until someone behind her back grabbed her arm and covered her mouth so she wouldn't be able to scream or make any noise. When she look up to see the person who's holding her, nanlaki na lamang ang mata nito nang makita niya si Hernan. He looked so serious but showed a little bit of a smile when their eyes met.

"You'll be okay," he assured, kasunod nito ang malumanay na mga ngiti.

Nagsimula namang pumiglas si Therrie sa pagkahahawak sa kanya ni Hernan, but his arm gripped were so tight kaya wala siyang nagawa. Nakasalubong naman nila si Carmen at pinapakalma ang kaibigan.

Hindi makapaniwala si Therrie na kakuntiyaba talaga ni Hernan ang best friend niya. And she's already thinking that Carmen and Hernan could've done something and they're not just telling her about it. Napansin kaagad ni Carmen ang pamumula ng kamay nito na labis niyang ikipinag-alala.

They immediately brought Therrie inside his car and left her there locked. Agad na bumalik si Hernan sa unit ni Arkin kasama ang dalawang pulis at doon na napatunayan na nagsisinungaling si Arkin. Hindi kapatid nitong babae ang naninirahan sa kanyang kwarto kung hindi si Therrie. Si Therrie na dini-deny ni Arkin dahil sa pagkasasangkot niya sa kaguluhang ito.

Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang sumama sa presinto at ipaliwanag ang kanyang side. Sa kabilang banda naman ay nanatiling tahimik si Therrie sa biyahe. Hindi niya nililingon si Hernan.

She knew she ended things with him so she's wondering why is he doing here kung gano'n?

"Therrie, are you okay?" he asked, reaching for her hand pero agad namang nilayo ni Therrie iyon on his reach. Napabuntonghininga na lamang si Hernan. "But don't you worry about anything now. You'll be safe."

Napangisi naman si Therrie. She knew what he was talking about. That being safe is to keep her away from her normal life and be treated like a crazy pathetic woman.

"What's with the smirk?" Hernan wondered.

"If you're going to take me back to the mental health facility then go! If that is what's gonna make you happy, satisfy yourself because you only care about yourself. You're selfish, Hernan. I don't think you know that."

"What do you know now, Therrie?" he questioned. "What do you really know about anything? I may just say this, I think you're the one who's being selfish here. We're only after your welfare here and you're running away from us. You can just say something to us, but you keep saying you don't want this. You did this to yourself and we're just helping you get through this and if you won't also help yourself, you won't be treated."

Napataas ang kilay ni Therrie sa sinabi ng ex-boyfriend. "Anong to be treated? I'm not sick, Hernan. If you think I am, maybe you're the one who has a sick mind. You're becoming toxic that's why it's good for us not to be together anymore. I cannot stand someone like you. You're stupid."

"If that's what you really want then I'll give it to you," he said, clicking his tongue.

"Good..."

"But it doesn't mean I'm letting you go, Therrie," pahabol ni Hernan.

Therrie grunted, rolling her eyes. Sinubukan pa nitong buksan ang pinto pero dahil umaandar sila ay naka-lock ito. Napahalukipkip na lamang ito at bahagyang tinalikuran si Hernan at mawala ang inis dito.

"Be mad all you want, Therrie. You know that I have loved you so I care so much for you..."

"Loved?" she questioned, smirking. "I think you're lying, Hernan. That's what you always do. You're better at it. Every single day. You're mastering the art of lying so I must applaud you for that, but I don't think this is what you called love anymore. You just thought of me as a crazy woman and your conscience kept knocking you because you thought I was still your responsibility, but I must tell you, you don't have to bother caring for me. I can take care of my own."

"Okay, you say that, but I won't stop looking after you."

"Whatever, Hernan. Just dropped me off and I'll be better off somewhere without you."

"You're just saying that... but what did you lose today, Therrie, huh?" he questioned. His eyes landed on her hand which she tried to cover by her hand. "Oh, I see now." He smirked, nodding his head. "You don't feel any pain right now so you're talking to me like this. You know what, that'll pass off... you're going home with me."

"I'm not, Hernan. Just don't."

He shook his head. "You don't have any choice. You're in my car... it's my rules."

Hindi nito pinagbigyan ang kagustuhan ni Therrie na ihinto ang sasakyan at bumaba. Pinagpatuloy lang ni Hernan ang pagmamaneho nito.

"You know what, Therrie... hindi muna kita dadalhin sa health facility. And if you don't want it, it's alright. We can talk about it so please talk to me seriously so I won't change my mind."

Napangisi naman si Therrie sa sinasabi nito. "So, nakadepende pala sa 'yo ang magiging kapalaran ko, 'no? No, thanks! Kung gusto mo akong ibalik sa mental health facility, you should do it kung iyon ang sa tingin mong tama. Sarili mo lang naman ang iniisip mo at hindi ang kapakanan ng ibang tao."

"Do you really think of me like that I'm that kind of a person, Therrie?"

Therrie shrugged off.

"You're not sure?" he questioned, smirking. "See? You still love and care for me."

Bahagya namang natawa si Therrie sa sinabi ng ex-boyfriend. She doesn't want to make any reaction or statement anymore, but she thought it was funny to hear that from him.

"I might not lose my emotion to love you, it doesn't change the fact that you lied to me. I can still feel some love, just not with you. Not anymore. I don't feel the same thing I had with you before. I'm not sorry for it, Hernan... I just learned the truth that I don't need your love at all... you don't need mine either."

Hernan tapped the steering wheel, nodding his head after hearing what Therrie said to him. "Alright, if that's what you really think then you'll know where we would be heading by now..."

Agad na tumapon ang tingin ni Therrie kay Hernan. Kung ano-ano naman ang tumakbo sa isipan ni Therrie. Tutok lamang ang ex-boyfriend sa pagmamaneho.

"Where would they bring Arkin?" she asked.

Hernan smirked. "To the place he belongs," he said.

"He doesn't."

Ang sunod na lamang na nangyari ay pilit na inaagaw ni Therrie ang manibela at hinahawi naman siya si Hernan palayo rito. He's trying not to mess with her since he's driving and they could fall into an accident, but because Therrie's persistent and he can see that she won't stop unless she gets what she needs, he stops the car, but a second later, a car crashed behind them resulting them to bump their heads so hard and fell unconscious.

All black. Nothing, but blood dripping from their heads running down to their faces.

And a few hours later, Therrie felt so restrained as she couldn't move her body away from the bed. She open up her eyes to see where she went... and next to it, she saw her doctor.

"Hello, Therrie. Nice to see you back," she greeted with a smile on her face.

Napatulala na lamang ito. "O, puta. Ito na naman."