"If you can't see then I'll tell you—you are fucking killing me right now, Eunice."
Lumunok ako at tila iniwanan ng mga salita.
"I just told you how I feel and you're right here professing how much you care for me—goddamn bullshit." Matapos kumawala nang halos walang buhay na tawa ay binasa niya ang labi. "Maybe this is fun for you but for me, it's not. So you better watch it before I completely lose my mind."
His arms slowly slipped away from propping on both my sides. Hindi nagbibitiw ng tingin, lumayo siya sa akin at tumalikod. Pinulot niya ang nabitiwang shirt at dire-diretsong lumabas ng C.R., leaving me dumbfounded. Para akong nasampal dahil sa mga sinabi niya.
Matagal bago ko nagagap ang sarili at sa wakas ay nakalabas do'n. Wala na si Terrence sa apat na sulok ng kwarto niya.
I found the five of us gathered on the veranda later that night.
"So what's the plan? Are we going back or not?" panimula ni Dina sa tabi ni Mike.
Terrence scoffed while sitting lazily on the latter's side. Natuon ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Ngunit nang magbaling siyang pabalik ng tingin sa akin ay agad nabuhay ang guilt ko. I had to look away from his intense gaze.
"No one's going back." Nagtaasan ang mga balahibo ko nang marinig ang malalim at matigas niyang boses. Ramdam ko ang mariin niyang tingin sa akin mula sa tapat ng inuupuan.
"But we need to at least be careful," ani Mike. "Especially you, Rence. You shouldn't be alone."
Terrence made a sarcastic scoff again. "I can manage, Mike. I'm not a fucking kid. Why are you all scared about a single coward fucktard?"
"I agree with Mike." Tuon ang mga mata ko sa kawalan nang magsalita. "You shouldn't be left alone for a long time."
"For good measure, dude," sang-ayon ng nasa tabi kong si Cali.
"So are you." Dina pointed a finger at me. "Didn't you say he threatened you too? That means you're a target as well."
Natahimik kaming lima sandali. Makalipas ang pagpatak ng ilang sandali ay binasag ni Terrence ang katahimikan.
"What a fucking farce," aniya.
"Or we could strategize a plan," suhestyon ni Cali.
"Anything in mind?" ani Mike.
"It's just one guy. Rence overpowered him at the locker-room so he might not be that big deal—unless he has accomplices which I doubt possible since Ainsley's gone." Sumulyap si Cali kay Terrence. "I'm thinking we should lure him out."
Tuluyan akong bumaling sa katabi. "How? And what are you planning to do once he showed himself?"
Nilingon niya akong pabalik. "We should give him easy access on his target. Then we sabotage him—get help from the authorities then. Easy."
"Yeah, you made it sound so freaking easy," sarkastikong kumento ni Dina.
"How many days left until we leave?" Ramdam ko ang muling pagbaling sa akin nang mariing tingin ni Terrence nang tinanong ko ito.
"Two days," si Dina ang sumagot. "Do you want to go back?"
Kumurap ako. Imbes na magsalita ay marahan lamang akong umiling. Sinalubong ako nang seryosong mga mata ni Terrence nang sinulyapan ko ang banda niya. He didn't say anything and just continued staring at me even when I tore my gaze away from him.
"Since his target is you two, then you should be together often while we lurk in the distance?" ani Cali.
Nang kapwa kami nanatiling tahimik ni Terrence ay dinugtungan niya ang sinabi.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Other 'I'
General FictionFed-up with Terrence's cheating on their more than a year relationship, Eunice decided to cool things off between them -- for she can't find the courage to end it in the midst of her indecision and overwhelming emotions. But as she struggled to try...
