A Collision of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter 19

Clarissa's POV

Conflict

I was overwhelmed with sorrow and fury as tears continued to stream down my face. They've crossed the line. How could they let things escalate to this level? Why did they have to hurt each other? To prove love? That's fucking stupid. Hindi man lang nila inisip ang lalim ng pinagsamahan nila noon.

The arrival of the bouncers was a relief to me. They had taken hold of Gasper and Lyle. Nang tumama ang tingin nila sa akin ay parang doon sila kumalma. It was as though the gravity of their actions had already dawned on them. Their eyes were awash with guilt and regret as they stared at me, tearing up.

Pinahid ko ang luha nang marahas habang tinititigan sila nang matalim.

"Now you've done it," I said with gritted teeth before walking away.

I went home right away. Halos buong gabi akong umiiyak dahil sa bigat ng nararamdaman. As a result, my eyes were puffy when I woke up. I put on an aviator to conceal it before finally going to work.

Hindi ko inaasahang maunahan ako ni Gasper na pumasok. When I got to the office, I saw him already seated at his desk, reviewing his work. Nang naramdaman niya ang pagpasok ko ay nag-angat siya ng tingin. Our eyes locked with each other, and the first thing I noticed was the bruise on his face.

"Good morning," he greeted.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at dumiretso ako sa lamesa ni Mommy na parang walang narinig galing sa kanya. The nerve of greeting me with a good morning after what happened last night. My eyes are swollen, yet he expects me to have a pleasant morning?

I sent the files to his email for him to work on today. Instead of telling him directly, I just left a note asking him to complete it by the end of the day. Sinigurado kong kompleto ang detalye at instructions para hindi na siya makapagtanong pa sa akin.

"Should I follow this format, or make it more organized? Medyo magulo kasi," he said after checking my messages.

Pero nakalimutan kong perfectionist nga pala 'to pagdating sa trabaho. Nagtipa ako ng mensahe sa MacBook na siya na ang bahala kung ano ang preference niya.

"Alright then..." Sabi niya matapos mabasa ang reply ko.

Natapos ang trabaho na hindi ko kinakausap si Gasper. Though, he tried to approach me, I always walked away. Kaninang uwian nga ay sinubukan niya akong kausapin pero tuloy-tuloy ang lakad ko paalis kaya wala na siyang nagawa. Lyle also reached out to me, seeking forgiveness, but I'm unsure how to respond. I don't want to pretend that I'm okay with what happened because clearly, I'm not.

Pinakiusapan ko na sila na ayusin ang kanilang pagkakaibigan, pero anong ginawa nila? Pinalala nila ang sitwasyon at piniling mas lalong sirain ang relasyon nila.

Days passed and I chose to distance myself from them. Natatakot na rin kasi ako na kapag may pagkakataong magkasama kaming tatlo ay magkakagulo na naman. I don't want them to fight. Sobrang sakit makita silang gano'n at nakakabaliw.

It's been a week, and Lyle continues to message me. Their internship is almost over, and I don't want them to leave Manila with unresolved issues. After thinking thoroughly about it, I finally respond to Lye's messages.

anchacozta:

Apology accepted, but you guys should take note that violence doesn't validate anything: it cannot demonstrate love.

Sobrang bilis niyang na-seen iyon at kaagad na nag-typing.

lylraven_:

I'm deeply sorry. Nagsisi ako na pinairal ko ang init ng ulo. Galit na kasi ako ro'n sa lalaking nambastos sa 'yo... And I failed to control my emotions anymore, which I know was so wrong. Sorry talaga. Alam kong katarantadohan 'yon.