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

Forty Fifth Trial

Note: 3 chapters left+epilogue

PRESENT TIME

"Mayroon." Maikli ang sagot ni Candace kasabay ng pagtango nito.

There's an evident hesitation in her eyes but then, Bryson knows that Candace will continue, one way or another, not unless she will learn that he's in front of her, and listening to every word she's saying.

Bryson doesn't know what to react or what he should say. They had a child. Candace was pregnant. Kailan? Bakit hindi niya alam? Bakit hindi niya sinabi? Bakit... Anong nangyari? Nasaan ang anak nila?

Pakiramdam niya ay nanghina siya. If not because of Kaiden's glare at him—ang tingin nitong palipat-lipat sa kanilang dalawa ni Candace, nonetheless, upon seeing Bryson's facial reaction, Kaiden must say that Bryson doesn't know a single shit. Para itong tinakasan ng dugo, at na-estatwa. Biglaang namula ang mga mata nito.

There was an evident hint of betrayal, surprise, and hurt on Bryson's face.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit pa siya nakiki-alam. Kung bakit pa niya pinapatahimik si Bryson kahit kay Bryson mismo sabihin ni Candace ang mga sasabihin pa sa kaniya, but he has a gut... a sure gut feeling that once Candace will figure out that Bryson's in front of her, and listening, Candace wouldn't tell anything. She will stop talking. She will stop opening up.

So, anong silbi ko rito?

Spokesman?

Napailing na lang siya at tinanong si Candace ulit. "What happened then? Kailan kayo naghiwalay? Nasaan ang anak niyo na tinago mo?"

Bryson was the one who answered silently, in his mind. He's trying to calculate the years... the time. The events. Kung paano, kailan... he's trying to find answers silently as he waits for Candace upcoming words, confirming his every thought.

Where's... where is my child?

"I turned eighteen, legal age. Sobrang mahal ko si Bryson kasi siya lang ang meron ako. Siya halos ang tumayong magulang ko kasi wala ako 'non. Kahit magka-edad kami, siya lahat. He's my moral compass. Life compass. Lahat-lahat... at dahil doon, paulit-ulit na may nangyari sa amin. Kahit noong nagluluksa siya, at kahit nagluluksa 'rin ako... pumayag ako. Kasi... wala ako sa posisyon niya. Kailangan niya ako... kailangan kong gawin lahat para maibsan ang lahat ng sakit ng nararamdaman niya...I-I...I used my body. Kasi mahal ko siya... at wala akong nakikitang mali noon."

"So, what are you? Anti-stress material? Stress balls?"

Napayukom ang kamao niya sa sinabi ni Kaiden. Sarcastic, but true. What happened in the past came rushing back to him, especially what he did to Candace. To what happened that month. He was too focused on his pain. He was too focused on himself, forgetting and neglecting everything around him, not knowing that the things are getting worst, and he's needed but he's selfish.

Alam niyang bata pa siya. Damn. He was just 19 that time, while Candace was 18. Bago sa mundo. Sariwa sa mga bagay-bagay. Nasa kalagitnaan ng mga pagtuklas ng mga bagay-bagay, at mga emosyon. Lalong-lalo na sa emosyon, kung paano iyon tatanggapin, at panghahawakan.

But fuck it, no matter what his age is, being responsible should not be a stranger to him that time! Dapat ay alam niya, dapat ay tanggap niya. Dapat hindi siya naging gago, pero lahat ng iyon ay kabaliktaran ang ginawa niya. He became an irresponsible asshole.

"Hindi kami gumamit ng proteksyon. Kahit kailan... hanggang sa finals. Graduating kami pareho. Palaging masama ang pakiramdam ko, akala ko dahil puyat lang ako. I was doing Macey's and Bryson's paper so they could graduate not just on time, but to graduate with high honors. Valedictorian, at Salutatorian kasi silang dalawa... kaya akala ko, pagod lang. Iyon pala... iba na."