[Phraea's POV]
"Where are you going?" I heard Paige's sleepy voice when she felt me leaving the bed.
"I'll just get some water. I'll be back." The next thing I heard from her is a cute snore. Napangiti ako bago lumapit sa kanya at hinalikan ang kanyang noo.
Madilim ang buong bahay. It's past midnight, so I know for sure that everyone is asleep. Hindi ako makatulog, e. What I found out about Garen is keeping me awake. It makes me think of what else have he gone through.
Napaigtad ako nung makakita ako ng isang bulto sa kusina. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko sa sobrang kaba pero unti-unti akong kumalma nung mapagtanto kong si Garen pala.
"Y-you're here. Akala ko bukas ka pa dadating." Umiwas ako ng tingin at dumiretso sa ref para kumuha ng malamig na tubig.
"I also thought so, but the process had been fast unexpectedly." Tumango ako bago umupo sa isa sa mga counter stools na naroroon.
Nalaglag ang mga tingin ko sa bagay na hawak niya. Isang canned beer. He wasn't looking at me, so I grab the chance to stare at him. He's wearing a business suit, his coat was hanged on one of the stools and his necktie is slightly loose. Magulo ang buhok nito at halatang pagod.
"You must be tired, you should sleep." Agad na naagaw ko ang kanyang pansin dahil sa sinabi ko.
"Still need to finish this," tukoy niya sa beer na iniinom. "Go to bed now, Phraea." Tinalikuran niya ako at tinungga ang hawak na beer.
Hindi ko sinunod ang utos niya. Binasa ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko nung makita ang anim na empty cans ng beer sa kabilang lamesa.
"Verdant told me everything about you."
Napatikhim siya bago nilapag ang empty can sa mesa. Tumayo siya para kumuha ulit ng beer sa ref. I want to stop him but I stop myself.
"Verdant only knows the littlest part of the story." Napaayos ako sa kinauupuan ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I knew it. I knew there was something more.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I bet he told you how his Father raped my Mom. It was a lie that I told him. His Father didn't rape my Mom at all... it was me who raped my own Mother."
Napasinghap ako sa narinig. Napalunok ako at iniwas ang tingin. No, no, it can't be.
"You were eleven that time. How can you possibly think of raping your own Mother?" Halos pabulong na sumbat ko nang hindi tumitingin. I think my voice is about to give up after knowing it.
"They force me to put my penis inside my Mom's. I couldn't do anything about it. I was left with no choice and so I fucked my Mom with a gun pointing on her head." Walang kaemo-emosyong kwento niya. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang sarili sa paghikbi. I don't want him to think that I pity him, he hates that. Nung tumingin ako sa kanyang mga mata ay wala akong makita ni isang emosyon. Galit, pagsisi, lungkot, wala ang mga 'yun. His eyes look numb, numb from all the pain he went through.
"Why didn't you told Verdant? He lived half of his life believing a lie, a made up story!" Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil sa frustration. Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. I can't possibly point out the exact emotion i'm feeling. Only one thing is for sure, nasasaktan ako.
"I don't want Verdant to hate himself more. Kahit sabihin na nating hindi niya kasalanan ang nangyari at kahit alam niya sa sarili niyang inosente siya, he would still feel guilty for the rest of his life. That's the reason why he's serving me. I don't want to burden him more... he's a brother to me." His voice sound so soothing and calm to listen which is ironic. I can't help but to adore Garen. I can't help but to adore the man who abducted me and taught me how to kill.
"S-so that's the reason he follows you." Wala sa sariling sambit ko habang nakatulala.
"Yes, he still hasn't forgive himself. You see, Phraea... the world is much cruel than you think. Earth is a living hell... and you're an angel. You're too good for the world. The world doesn't deserve you."
I scoffed and looked away. "I'm sinful, Garen. We both know my darkest secret and it's a secret that a good person should never had. I am not good." Maluha-luhang iling ko at sunod-sunod na nagsipatak ang mga luha ko. I hate myself for keeping such a shameful secret. Wala akong utang na loob and yes, nakokonsensya ako.
"Care to join me for a walk?" Nagulat ako sa pag-aya niya. I looked up to look at him and he was staring at me using his gentle eyes.
"Y-yeah," sagot ko. I don't think makakatulog pa ako nang mahimbing dahil sa nalaman.
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay niya nung inilahad niya ito. Kusang gumalaw ang kamay ko hanggang sa hinayaan ko siyang hawakan ito nang maingat. Mainit at matigas ang kamay niya, malalaman mo agad na hindi naging madali ang buhay niya.
His hand felt rough but only in his hand where I felt safer than ever. He gently pulled me as he walk towards the door. Nung makalabas na kami ng mansyon ay agad akong sinalubong ng malamig na ihip ng hangin na nagmumula sa dagat. Napangiti ako nung marinig ang malakas na alon.
"Remove your slippers," aniya at agad ko namang sinunod. Nung inangat ko ang tingin ko ay nahuli ko siyang nakangiti nang malapad na parang aliw na aliw siya sa 'kin.
Tahimik kaming naglalakad sa dalampasigan. Hawak-hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko at parang takot siya na kapag bibitawan niya'y mawawala ako.
I feel the serenity in my heart. Walking in the middle of the night, barefooted at the seaside and with my hand being held by someone I never thought I would feel safe around with.
"You have done a lot of mistakes in your life, Phraea. You're imperfect but you're good." Huminto siya sa paglalakad at hinarap niya ako. Inayos niya ang buhok kong tumatakip sa kahati ng mukha ko dahil sa lakas ng hangin. "And I love you for that, Phraea. I don't let people in, but when it comes to you... you're an exception. The only exception I ever made."
BINABASA MO ANG
Island of Insanity
Misterio / Suspenso[COMPLETED] Phraea Chelsey Bautista has always been the top in her class and every professors' favorite. She has both beauty and brains, and everything a girl would dream to possess but her life is not entirely perfect. No one deeply cares for her...
