Painting the Hueless Sky (La Carlota #4)

40

"Norine! Where are you going?!"

With blurry eyes I looked around to find whose voice was calling my name. I gulped and tried my best to fix my dress and my hair that's already messed up. The same feeling of disgust was slowly occupying my body.

Nang makita ko kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng boses na 'yon ay lalong nanlabo ang mga mata ko. I felt relief but my chest wasn't feeling it at all. I keep on convincing my mind that Niko holds the truth. Because he has my trust.

Pero gusto ko ring paniwalaan si Kyne dahil alam kong hindi niya kayang pagsinungalingan ako lalo na sa ganoong mga bagay.

I can't... Think properly.

I can't stomach to think that... The people I trust can fuck me up this easily... Ganoon ba 'yon kadali?

"Norine! Hey! Where are you going? Where's my gift?" sunod-sunod na ani Lennox.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit na tinignan siya sa mga mata. He was smiling when our eyes met, but suddenly the smirk on his lips disappeared when he have examined my eyes.

"What... Happened to you?" he asked, brows furrowed.

Pinilit kong panatiliin ang ngiti sa mga labi ko't inabot sa kaniya ang paper bag na kanina ko pa hawak. "Happy birthday, Lennox!" I tried to sound enthusiastic.

Tinanggap niya pa rin naman ang regalo ko ngunit 'di pa rin nawala ang kunot sa noo niya. "Are you okay? You don't look so good."

"Are you low-key telling me that I'm ugly?" I told him with humor. I tried to make the air light because his stares were weighing me

He shook his head slowly, "'Wag mo akong pilosopohin, Norine... Hindi ka ba okay? Did I push you too hard just to attend my party? I didn't mean to, if you weren't comfortable you could've told me," sunod-sunod niyang ani.

"I'm fine," I said. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you."

"How's your party so far?" I tried to fix my posture.

"Good, not until nakita kitang nakabusangot at nagsisinungaling," tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "What happened?"

I gulped and looked away, hindi ko na napigilang sabihin sa kaniya kung ano ang sinabi ni Kyrone sa 'kin. Kasi kung hindi ko sasabihin, pakiramdam ko ikakabaliw ko 'to. The feeling was so close to drowning. I needed to breathe, this is how I'll do that.

I just need to do something... Or tell someone.

"Kyne... " I said. When I looked at him, mabilis na nagtahi ang mga kilay niya.

"Oh? Did he hurt you?" mabilis niyang tugon. His aura became more serious.

I shook my head in an instant. "No... "

"Then what? Don't go in circles for heaven's sake."

"He told me that he saw Niko... "

"Of course he'd see him. He has eyes, Norin-"

"Together with his ex," pagpuputol ko sa kaniya. "He said that they were in a flight going to Australia and Niko's with his ex, Lennox... " Sandaling umawang ang mga labi niya ngumit mabils ding nakabawi.

There was silence for a while, not until he heaved a sigh. I feel like his silence made me feel more suffocated, what will he say? Will he break the news to me that indeed, Niko might be with his ex in a foreign country?

That I am getting cheated on? Mas nanlamig ako sa posibilidad na sasabihin niya nga sa 'kin 'yon.

But my heart eased a bit when he said something else. "Did Niko tell you that he was going abroad?"