The Unseen Trial [Ace Lucifer's Series Three] ON GOING

Thirty First Trial

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 12

THE SONG ENDED even before Bryson could react. The whole place went silent, and the students around the dance floor are already walking away to go back to their respective tables while Bryson was rooted in place, as well as Candace. Both are locked in their own world, and it seems like the people around them are gone, and the two of them in another dimension.

Kahit si Candace ay parang hindi nahihiya. Wala na 'rin siyang pakialam sa paligid. Halos marinig ang sariling tibok ng puso. She's catching her breath, and trying to stabilize it. Bryson's in the same thing. Damang-dama niya ang kalabog ng dibdib niya, na sa tanang buhay niya ay ngayon lang naranasan. Given, his heart always react to Candace, but this is in another level.

'Mahal kita, Bryson.'

It echoed in Bryson's mind. Parang iyon lang ang laman ng isip niya, at wala ng iba. He's not aware of his surroundings anymore but Candace, and what she just said. That's is focal point right now. His focus. Nothing more—nothing less.

"Candace..."

Kami na?

And while both still on trance of sorts, Arrow and Macey became their rescue. Ang parehong kaibigan nila ay ang tanging naiwan sa gitna pero walang pakialam o hindi aware. Alin man 'don ay hindi na sila nag-aksaya ng panahon at hinatak na ang dalawa paalis.

Candace and Bryson were pulled out of their reverie but still cloud minded.

First, because Bryson can't believe he heard it. It was too good to be true to hear. This easy. This instant. Without him, courting her. He didn't do anything do deserve this kind of reward from Candace...baka... nagkamali lang siya ng dinig, o dahil pagod siya, at walang maayos na tulog. Alin man sa mga dahilan ay hindi niya alam kung ano ang totoo sa hindi. O kung niloloko ba o totoo ang narinig niya.

While Candace's cloud minded as she can't believed she was able to say it. Hindi niya inakala na masasabi niya iyon kay Bryson, na mahal niya ito higit pa sa isang kaibigan, at kapit bahay. Hindi niya inakala. Hindi niya inaasahan na mararating nila ang punto na ito... idagdag pa na nakatulala lang si Bryson sa kaniya at walang kahit anong sagot.

Tama ba ang ginawa ko?

Ayaw niya ba?

Nanguna ba ako?

"HOY MGA BEH!" Candace snapped from her trance, as well as Bryson when someone clapped in front of them. Napatingin ang mga tao sa katabing table nila pero ni isa sa kanilang apat ay walang pumansin. Napaiwas ng tingin si Candace, pero kusang bumalik iyon kay Bryson, at inignora ang dalawang kaibigan.

Unti-unting bumalik sa katinuan si Candace—ang hiya na parang bulang naglaho ay unti-unti nang bumabalik, habang si Bryson ay tahimik lang, pero unti-unti nang nag-si-sink in ang sinabi ni Candace... at mas lalo pa nang marinig ang tanong ni Macey kahit hindi para sa kaniya iyon.

"Candace, ano? Nasabi mo?" Macey asked Candace even though the two are silent as it is.

"Mi sorellina, panigurong nasabi dahil para silang nasabugan ng bomba. Parehong nakatingin sa isa't isa na akala mo sila lang ang magkasama."

Alam nila.

Planado.

Kaya pala halos paiyak na siya kanina.

Malalim na napalunok si Bryson, habang si Candace ay napayuko nang tuluyan na siyang nilamon ng hiya. Parang kanina ay malakas ang loob niya, kahit pa ninenerbyos, at mali-mali ang sinasabi ay nagawang labanan, pero ngayong nasabi na niya, at mukhang nag-sink in na kay Bryson ay nahihya na siya.