The Midnight Lies (THE PRESTIGE 3)

28

Kiss

I stared myself back in the mirror. My tears dwelled up in my eyes when I realized something.

Love.

What do I know about love? I'm just a little girl who liked to explore and do relationships just to gain experience. Ika nga nila, enjoy while it lasted. Enjoy everything as long as you are young.

Back then, I asked Justice what it feels like. He told me that it'll just come like a lighting. I didn't believed him. Not until I experience a different kind of pain when I lost someone I never expect that'll affect me like someone I treasure the most died.

With all one's heart, I had no idea what to expect at first. It struck me all at once like a thousand tendrils. For some reason, I ignored it and used it as if it were against the law. Even when we weren't together, he was always there. My mind and heart began to hurt as well as my body as it started to long for him. Unconsciously, because I was so consumed by his presence, I began to seek him out in everyone else.

Kaya kahit nitong mga nakaraang taon, walang nagtatagal na relasyon sa akin. Hindi rin naman ako nasasaktan. Parang. . .wala lang. Wala akong maramdaman na kahit ano. Kung hindi lang kami ulit nagkita ni Sorin, hindi ko pa mararamdaman ang pakiramdam na hinahanap hanap ko.

Tinanggi ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko siya mahal. Na puro guilt lang ang lahat. Pero nang marinig ko ang usapan nila ni Pancho, doon ko napagtanto na mas malalim ang nararamdaman ko.

"Ayan na! Ayan na si Madam!"

Boses ni Migo ang unang bumungad sa akin pagkadating ko sa FDT.

Nakaupo sila sa pahabang sementadong upuan doon. Ang mga pagkain ay nakahain na. Akala mo ay nasa buffet dahil sa sobrang dami!

"What took you so long?" Hugo asked me.

Inabutan ako ng panyo ni Hugo. Tinanggap ko iyon.

"May bago tayong recruit."

Kumunot ang noo ko.

Tinuro ni Migo iyong dalawang bagong mukha. Magkatabi silang dalawa. Isang babae at isang lalaki. Iyong babae, porselana ang kutis at mukhang mahinhin. Mahaba at pino ang straight niyang buhok. She waved at me and smiled so I did too.

"I'm Rebekka."

Ako na ang naglahad ng kamay ko. "Elene."

Inakbayan ni Layana iyong Eka. "Ka-org ko. Ang ganda 'no?"

Namula si Eka pero wala nang sinabi pa. Napatingin ako sa isa pang bagong dating.

Chinito, maputi at mukhang atleta. He has muscles on the right places. His brown hair is curly. The mole on his temple is very eye catching. And his skin, it was fair white!

"Abes. The OG. " Sabi nung lalaki.

Natawa ako.

"Nakasama ko sa quiz bee." Si Migo. Confirming that Abes is also an engineering student.

"Napilit lang nga ako doon, pre." Sabi ulit nung Abes at tumingin pa ulit kay Layana na ngayon ay sinisimulan nang ihanda ang mga paper plate at utensils sa mesa.

"So, Engineering?" Tanong ni Layana kay Abes. "Same kayo nitong si Lene."

"Engineering?"

Binatukan siya ni Migo. "Kakasabi ko lang inulit mo pa."

"Civil." I answered while chuckling.

Umakto iyong Abes na tila nag-b-bow sa mga anito. "Saint Lene, patnubayan niyo nawa ako. Pahinga talino."