A Diamond Between Us

CHAPTER 36

"Jino, can we talk?"

Nasa corridor ako ngayon naglalakad galing restroom pabalik na nang classroom ng marinig ko 'yon. Napalunok ako at nakaramdam ng kaba dahil kilala ko kung kaninong boses 'yon.

Hindi ko sana siya lilingunin pero bigla na lang niya ako hinatak at dinala sa carpark ng school.

"I don't want a chaos please." Lumayo ako sa kaniya nang bitawan na niya ang kamay ko.

"You know, I was the one who told Zoe where you were that time, right?"

"You are the reason why I almost died. But you still have the courage to talk to me. Just be thankful I didn't tell my boyfriend or my friends about it. If eve-"

Naputol ako magsalita nang bigla na lang siya umiyak at lumuhod sa harapan ko.

"Please accept my apology. I... I don't mean that. I just don't have a choice."

Napakurap ako ng dalawang beses, itatayo ko ba s'ya?

"Stand up, Miller."

Pero hindi niya ako sinunod he was still on the floor, crying. I bit my lower lip and looked around.

No one was here, so I insisted on helping him up. Nakakahiya, hindi niya kailangan lumuhod.

"You don't need to do that." Pinaharap ko siya sa akin, he still crying.

"I'm sorry, Jino."

"I'll listen. Tell me everything." Pinunasan ko ang luha niya gamit ang panyo ko.

"When I heard what happened to you, I understood if you didn't believe me, but I swear I feel guilty. I couldn't sleep because of that. It keeps bothering me... There is so much what if in my mind. What if you die? And that was because of me. I was very anxious and worried..."

"Why did you do that? Are you one of them?"

Umiling siya kaagad.

"Zoe scared me... I was on my way to our room when someone grabbed me and forced me to follow them,"

"They took me to the music room, and there I saw Zoe. I knew her because I'd been at this school since primary. I was so scared to see her, so when that time comes for me, I don't have any choice now even though I don't like what she wants me to do. She commands me to look after you, to look at what action you will take... I don't know you yet that time, so I was confused about her command."

"Then how does she know that I'm in that particular restroom?" he sighed, so heavy.

"When you told Dr. William that you'd go to the restroom, I immediately told Zoe about it because she keeps bothering me with what you are doing and so on. So when that happened, I just told her about it and blocked her. My brain was in turmoil in fear of her."

"I didn't expect that she could do that for you. I was aware of their initiation, but no one had ever experienced anything like what happened to you, which is why I felt such intense remorse.... Because of me, because of my fear, you almost died, and I'm sorry for that, Jino." He cried again.

"Miller..." he sobbed, looking at me. I swallowed, still in the process of understanding. "Is that real?"

"Yes, Jino. I'm telling you that were all true." I nod.

"So, Zoe is really the foe here. She scared you. She's really insane, for hell's sake. "

"I'm really sorry, Jino." Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko, para niyang chinicheck ang buong mga kamay ko. "Your bruise is still visible on you." Binitawan na niya ako.