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

Thirty Ninth Trial

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

"Let's break up."

Parang nabingi si Candace sa narinig. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin, at para bang nanigas sa kinatatayuan. As if her ears were playing tricks on her...at what she heard.

"W-what did...Anong sabi mo?" mabagal niyang tanong. Kasing bagal ng tibok ng puso niya sa gitna ng ulan. As if this moment is taking its time, leveling at her pace so she could cope up. So, the idea, so what Bryson said to her would sink in, in an instant.

Ikinurap niya ang mga mata dahil sa pinasabay na malalakas na patak ng ulan, dahil sa lamig, at dahil sa narinig. Higit sa lahat...dahil sa sinabini Bryson na para bang hindi siya makapaniwala. Para bang hindi totoo. She needs to blink her eyes to check the reality.

To see Bryson clearly...and to check if she's hearing him right.

"Maghiwalay na tayo."

It felt like she was stabbed from her side. With those three words, it was more painful than what she'd been through. It was more painful...because this is not what she expected from him. Hindi ito ang gusto niyang marinig. Hindi ito ang inaasahan niyang bungad kay Bryson. This is not what she wants from him... not what she needs.

This is far from it.

"B-bryson...a-anong—"

"Hindi ko na kayang mag-tiis." Matalim itong tumingin sa kaniya. Halos mapa-atras siya sa paraan ng pagtingin nito. As if he was looking at his prey angrily. "Hindi ko na gusto 'to... hindi ko naman ginusto 'to, Candace...kaya ayoko na. Tama na..."

Umiling siya. Paulit-ulit na umiling bilang pagtanggi. Hindi siya papayag. Pilit na ginagawang bingi ang sarili dahil sa mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig nito. Ayaw niyang tanggapin.

"H-hindi...hindi ka si Bryson..." nangangatal ang ngipin na sabi niya. She's starting to shiver from the cold, but nothing beats what she's feeling right now. Nothing beats what she's feeling inside right now.

Napabuntong hininga si Bryson. He distanced himself even more, away from her. Napatitig si Candace sa ginawang iyon ni Bryson. He never takes a step back. He always takes a step closer to her. He never distanced himself. Not even once... just now. Ngayon lang.

"Bryson..." she calls.

"Tama na, Candace—"

"Bakit..." her tears started to mix with the rain. She rarely cries. Even she convinces herself that she needs to cry, that she wants to cry her heart out to let out the pain...and even with the most heart-breaking situation she's in...she won't...her tears just won't fall. She can't cry...because she's not normal.

But now...

Her tears just fell automatically. With no inhibitions. As if it was normal for her to cry. No need for self-convincing. No need for heart breaking situation in front of her. No anything... but just...

Him.

Bryson.

Sa iisang tao lang siya nagiging ganito. Na para bang normal ang emosyon niya. Ang pag-iyak...ang lahat... at sa kaniya... kay Bryson siya pinaka-madaling masaktan.

"Bakit?" Bryson sounded sarcastic, as if she should know the answer. As if she's at fault, why he wanted to end things between them. "Tinanong mo pa, Candace?"

Napayuko siya. Mas lalong nalaglag ang mga luha...at kaunti na lang ay hihikbi na. Hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili. Unti-unting hinihiling na sana, sa ibang bagay siya madaling iiyak, at kay Bryson niya mai-tatago ang ganito. Sana...baliktad na lang.