The water is way too deep for her,
A place she can't escape, not even stir.
If not only for the drive for revenge,
She will not resurface again.
The forest is an endless maze for him,
A place he knows he must not miss.
He will hunt for as long as it...
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Chapter Eight
ILYA
I didn't just go dramatic on this guy, right? Right?
Fuck. Bakit ko ba iyon nasabi? Sa hiya, sinubukan kong alisin yung mahigpit na hawak niya sa aking kamay. But Killian took another puff of smoke in his beautiful lush lips--ugh. I shouldn't be staring at his lips! Nilingon ko yung kanyang kapatid sa gilid para humingi ng tulong, pero pinapanood lang niya kami na may mga ngiti sa mukha.
Sinubukan ko na naman magpumiglas, pero no match iyon sa kanyang hawak. Yung panic na nasa likod ko ay nakaabang lang para lumabas, pero hindi iyon dumating at mukhang hindi naaalarma sa ginawa ni Killian.
Rather, what I'm feeling right now was like the lighter we both ignited: I helped him light the spark to his fire and now he's fully accepting the flame. The warmth of the connection spreads through my veins, melting away the last traces of fear that lingered.
Hindi man natuloy ang aking panic, my eyes were still round from the shock, so he slowly let go of my hand. Killian's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he saw the sudden shift in my expression. Shit.
Now free from his hold, kinuha ko yung lighter sa kanyang kamay at inihagis yun pabalik sa kanyang kapatid, at nasalo naman niya ito. "Thanks for the lighter, Cal." I smiled sweetly at him. "And I'm sorry for snatching it away from you."
Nagkibit-balikat lang ito at nginitian ako muli pabalik.
Napatingin ako kay Killian na nanatili lang tahimik. I wonder what he's seeing in me right now? Because it felt as if he is seeing right through me, just like he saw right through my absent painting at the gallery. And I don't like it. Lumayo ako ng ilang hakbang sa kanya in defense, nang para naman matutulungan ako noon.
"So, can I have it back?" I say, as I broke the silence.
Umiling siya. "No."
"Can I buy it out from you?"
"Name your price."
"Five million?" Yun lang ang kaya kong ibayad sa kanya, dahil mauubos ang ipon ko if I even go higher from it. Lalo na't ayaw pa ako pahiramin ni Sergei ng malaking halaga. Parang ibabalik ko lang naman sa kanya ang binayad niya eh.
As I wait for his answer, maririnig ang hiyawan ng mga tao sa isang malaking space ng parking lot. Hindi kalayuan sa aming pwesto, makikita ang isang puting sasakyan na nagdi-drift, at nagsusunog ito ng gulog, the smell of burnt rubber and smoke emanating in the air. Killian's eyes got distracted at napatingin kaming dalawa doon sa exhibition.
Noong matapos ang kasiyahan nila, he faced me again.
"No." Simple lang niyang sagot, at humithit na naman ng usok mula sa sigarilyo. Napansin kong napailing si Cal sa tabi namin at umalis, iniwan kaming dalawa.
