Treacherous Heart 1: Ever The Same

Pahina 23

Leave him

Inabot ng nanginginig kong kamay ang pang-ibabang labi ko. Taking all the remnants of his kisses from my memory.

"We have to go..." Ani Anton.

I felt my tears fell.

Tumango ako. "Y-yeah..." malat na ang boses ko sa buong gabing pag-iyak.

"Ako na riyan..."

Kinuha niya ang hawak kong maleta.

"Hold this for now. Magpapadala rin ako buwan-buwan."

May inabot siya sa aking medium-sized black pouch. Kunot-noo ko itong binuksan at napasinghap ng makita ang nasa loob 'non!

"A-anton! May pera ako... at..." hinang-hina ako sa nakita.

Sa dami ng nangyayari, hindi pa nag si-sink in sa akin ang lahat, at ang makita ang perang inabot ni Anton ay nag papatunay sa lahat, na aalis kami ni Willow, walang kahit ano, pangalan at pribilehiyo.

"... mag ta-trabaho rin ako roon. You gave us a place to stay and protection, sapat na iyon..."

He firmly closed his eyes for a second but still shook his head at the end.

"This is the only way... so that I won't worry that much. Kung hindi mo ito tatanggapin, sasama ako sa inyo." Mahina niyang banta.

Pinag talunan na namin 'to ilang beses na at pareho kami ni Willow ng posisyon sa usaping ito. Ayaw namin sumama si Anton dahil ayaw namin na ihinto niya ang buhay niya para sa amin. Isa pa, madalas siyang bumisita roon, he visits the place every quarter, that's more than enough for us.

"T-thank you, Anton." I genuinely gave in.

Tumango siya at nauna na sa sasakyan niya para ilagay ang mga gamit namin sa likod.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-abot sa kamay ko at ang paghawak doon.

I twisted to face Willow. Her eyes were bloodshot, her nose was reddish from crying too... and she looks like she will faint any second. I got worried because of her condition.

"Are you okay? May kailangan ka ba? We can go to the comfort room first, kung gusto mo?" Nag-aalala kong tanong.

Her lips trembled as she shook her head.

"Kaya natin 'to d-diba?" She stuttered, her voice sounded begging... for hope.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam. I want to be real with her and tell her how scared I am but she needs me strong right now. And, I want to believe that yes, we can do this. There's no other way but to get through this, and I will never allow us to sink further.

Takot ako pero gusto kong maniwala sa desisyon namin. Natalo na kami, there's no way but to go up, and I will make sure we will go up.

We held our gaze with each other.

Pinilit kong ngumiti at tumango. I saw the fear in her eyes somehow decreased.

"Kaya natin. Basta magkasama tayo." I smiled more.

She reached for me and hugged me.

"I-I am scared, Ave."

"I know..." tango ko. "But I am here. Nandito ako palagi. I will help you, okay?"

She nodded profusely.

I felt another hug. Malaki at mahigpit. Anton's scent filled all the space around us.

"I am here. You can lessen your fears. I will help you both, I will protect you both with all I got." His voice sounded hoarse.

Nanikip ang dibdib ko habang pinapakinggan siya. Anton is usually unreadable, he doesn't express his emotions that well too, and to hear his words... meant a lot.