UNDERDOGS AND DEMONS

Part 40

AUTHOR'S POV

It's a windy day. Though the sun shines brightly, the wind blows as if its breeze covers the heat.

And there she goes...

Walking away from him.

Just how the breeze covers the heat of the sun, the atmosphere between them seems to be beginning to be as cold as ice.

Go..

Chase after the girl you love.

And he ran towards her direction as fast as he could, shortening the distance between them.

And he holds her hand to stop her.

"Rex.. ," he called her name.

But she don't want to face him.

"Tatakbo ka na naman bang palayo sa akin? Mag-usap tayo, please ," Florian pleaded.

And there, she decided to look at him.

"Its fine, Florian. You don't have to ask for my permission to let you go because I will do it freely ," sagot ni Rex.

She talks calm. Pero mararamdaman mo ang panginginig sa boses niya.

"Ano ba'ng sinasabi mo? ," tanong niya.

"I know that you love her. Kaya nga kahit pinapakita mo sakin na nag-aalala ka sakin, siya pa rin yung naiisip mo."

He's quiet.

"I know that you love her because I know you loved me since I look exactly like her."

Hindi siya makasagot.

"I know that you love her.. because I saw you that day... that when you realized she was your father's hostage, you didn't hesitate to kill him to save her."

And he..

"If that person was me, will you do the same thing? I'm drowning, Florian. My heart keeps sinking down the river because I know you love her. Not me."

"If that person was you, I will not do the same thing."

Sa mga salitang yun, napahinto si Rex. Wala siyang masabi. Sobrang bigat para sa kanya na marinig yun mula mismo kay Florian.

"Do you wanna know why? ," he asked.

He looked at her.

"I will not do the same thing because I don't know how to swim. I don't know how to react. I don't know what to do."

And he bitterly laughed.

"Nakakatawa, Rex. Sabi nila ako daw yung pinakamalakas na pinuno sa Underground, but I don't think I really am. I'm dumb."

She's speechless.

"But..."

Napahinto siya.. hindi dahil wala na aiyang masabi kundi dahil hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin.

Tumingin siya sa mga mata ni Rex at sinusulit ang bawat sandali bago muling nagsalita.

"I know that I love you. Kaya nga kahit lumalayo yung utak ko, paulit-ulit akong bumabalik sayo, because my eyes recognizes you. My nose smells your scent. My ears wanna hear your voice everyday. That's when I know my heart beats for you."

She just quietly listened to him, unable to move her lips to say a single word.

"I know that I love you because I know you loved me kahit alam mong kapatid mo pa ang mahal ko. And you even wanna set me free so that I could be with her."

Hindi siya makasagot. Alam niya sa sarili niya na yun yung sinusubukan niyang gawin.

"I know that I love you, Rex... because before I saw her that day... I have decided to kill him to save you. Handa na akong bitawan ang lahat para lang makuha kita."

"Pero mahal mo si Irene, di ba? ," tanong ni Rex.

"I used to love her."

"Masasaktan si Irene, Florian. Paano naman yung kapatid ko? ," tanong ulit niya.

"Alam ko. Alam na alam kong masasaktan siya pero mas masasaktan kaming pareho kung ipipilit pa naming bumalik sa dati."

"She loves you, Florian."

"Pero ikaw, Rex.. mahal mo din ba ako? ," tanong niya.

"Florian..."

"Una kong kinausap si Irene, Rex. Sinabi kong palayain niya ako para malaya akong mahalin ka. So tell me, do you still love me? ," he asked.

"Mahal na mahal kita, Florian ," ang tanging mga salitang lumabas sa kanyang mga labi.

"Do you see it now, Lhorence? ," tanong ni Irene habang nakatingin mula sa malayo at katabi ako.

Lihim nalang akong napangiti.

"Ayos na ba talaga sayo na hindi ka niya nakikilala? ," tanong ni Rin.

"Its fine."

"So I guess this is the ending, right? Maging masaya ka nalang para sa kanila."

I never knew that one day I will agree with you, Rin. I believe this is more than enough. I'm happy for both of them.

Masaya akong makita kang masaya, Rex. Kahit hindi mo na rin maalala kung sino ako.