A Collision of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter 15

Clarissa's POV

Tournament

Alam kong ang pagmamahal ay may kaakibat na sakit, ngunit hindi ko pa naranasan kung gaano ito kahapdi at kung hanggang saan ang makakaya kong tiisin. I never knew the extent of heartbreak until this... Until I fell in love with him.

I feel like I'm being suffocated, and the threatening tears that have been welling up in my eyes are ready to burst. Nang hindi ko na nakayanan ay tumayo ako para makaalis. I heard Kuya Emerson called me, but I was too devastated to even listen to anyone. The tears that had been longing to escape from my eyes immediately flowed the moment I turned my back. I swiftly wiped it away to get a better view of the pathway ahead.

I don't know where I am heading, but I did not stop walking until I reached the back of the building. Isang ilaw lang ang narito kaya medyo madilim at hindi kita ang kabuuan ng lugar. I took a seat to a wooden bench, leaning my elbow on the table, before covering my face with both of my palms. Wala na akong pakialam sa paligid. Gusto ko nalang ilabas 'tong lahat hanggang sa magiging maayos ang pakiramdam ko.

"Tangina, ayoko nito, please," I muttered.

Kulang nalang ay humikbi ako dahil sa sobrang sikip ng dibdib ko. But all I did was feel the pain and cry in silence. With every teardrop that fell from my eyes, I hoped that each droplet possessed the transformative power to wash away the deep sorrow that enveloped my being.

Sobrang basa na ng kamay ko ngayon dahil sa walang tigil na pagbuhos ng luha. I took my hands away from my face, leaned back in the chair, and stared at nowhere while tears continued to stream down my cheeks. Gusto ko nang mawala ang hapdi at gusto ko nang tumigil sa pag-iyak, pero ang sakit na nararamdaman ay pinipigilan ako sa gusto kong mangyari.

"Nandito ka lang pala," it was Lyle's voice I heard.

Walang anu-ano'y tumayo ako para yumakap sa kanya nang makalapit siya sa akin. I can feel him stiffened due to my sudden move and burst out. Sobrang higpit ng pagkakayakap ko sa kanya na parang sa pamamagitan nito ay mas lalo kong nailabas ang sakit na nararamdaman.

"A-anong nangyari sa 'yo?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong pero bakas sa tono ang pag-alala.

I did not answer him. Patuloy ako sa paghikbi at sa ilang segundong lumipas ay niyakap niya ako pabalik, hinahaplos ang buhok ko nang marahan. I was leaning on his chest, like a child seeking solace in her father's warmth. Minsan ay hinahagod niya ang likuran ko o kaya 'yong buhok ko. He just let me release my pain until when I calmed down. Pinaupo niya akong muli at tumabi siya sa akin.

"I'm sorry, I didn't bring a handkerchief." Aniya.

Hindi pa rin ako nagsalita. I wasn't crying anymore, but my face was still wet because of the amount of tears I released. Lyle faced me.

"I'll just dry your face with my hands. H'wag ka mag-alala hindi 'to marumi. Naghugas naman ako ng kamay last week," he even laughed a bit.

Gusto kong mainis sa kanya pero napangiti nalang ako nang konti.

"'Di joke lang, malinis 'to. Naghugas ako kanina after ko tumae."

Hindi ko na napigilan at hinampas siya. Pairap akong napangiti sa kakulitan niya.Kainis, e!

"Ito na mag-seryoso na," there's still a hint of amusement in his tone when he said it.

He gently cradled my face in his hands, tenderly erasing the lingering tears and ensuring my face was completely dry. Afterward, he carefully removed some strands of my hair that were covering my face.

He leaned his back silently the moment he was finally done fixing my hair. Nakatitig lang ako sa harapan, hindi nagsasalita. He did not talk again anyway. The only audible sound is coming from the event, but it's not very loud as we're situated at the back of the building.