DEREK ARKE: In Dark, I Saw Light [Arke & Serenity]

Kabanata 4

I was trembling so badly all the while we were having dinner. I meant them because I could not even chew my food properly. Pakiramdam ko pa ay bumabaligtad ang sikmura ko, nahihilo at nasusuka sa lahat ng ito. Because of all the empty seats around the huge dining table, the damn fucking mayor chose to sit beside me.

Every nerve in my body tensed up as his arm inadvertently brushed against mine, a gesture that felt anything but innocent. Hindi na talaga ako mapakali pa. Hindi na makahinga. The mere proximity to him was triggering a surge of panic and anxiety to me, bringing back haunting and traumatizing memories I had desperately tried to bury over the years.

“Dad, have I told you that Serenity is back in town?” ani Vivienne sa walanghiyang ama niya.

“I see, honey,” the fucking mayor replied, and from the corners of my eyes, I saw him tilted his head to my direction. “Long time, no see, hija.”

Nanginig ‘yong kamay ko na may hawak na tinidor at kutsilyo, walang ibang nais kundi isaksak sa kaniya ang mga ito. Nagpasalamat na lamang ako noong inagaw ni Millie ‘yong atensyon niya.

And I hated myself for hating my best friend right now. Alam kong wala siyang kaalam-alam ng tungkol sa masalimuot na nangyari sa akin sa kamay ng mayor na ito noon, pero pakiramdam ko ay pinagtaksilan niya ako sa pagkuha sa kaniya bilang ninong nila sa kasal. At isama pa ‘yong tanginang fiancé niya!

“Thank you for accepting our invitation and making it here tonight, Mayor Almendras,” Millie happily told him.

“It’s my pleasure, hija. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. My daughter and I are so grateful to be part of your wedding,” the fucking mayor replied, portraying an image like he was nice and all, when in fact, he was evil reincarnated.

The table was filled with chatters later on, Millie could not contain her excitement for her wedding, oblivious of the horror I was going through. At ang sakit-sakit lang sa damdamin dahil sa lahat ng naririto ay siya lang ‘yong mayroon ako pero wala pa siyang alam. But again, I could not blame her because she was clueless.

I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin at dahil magkatapat lang kami ng silya, ay ‘yong kunot-noo at naniningkit na mga mata ni Arke ang sumalubong sa akin. For a moment, I thought he was being concerned at me, that he still knew it whenever I felt uncomfortable, kasi ganoon siya, e. Kilalang-kilala niya ako, alam na alam niya kapag masama ang pakiramdam ko, but he quickly schooled back his expression to annoyance, breaking me into pieces once again.

He was really not my Derek Arke any longer.

He was already a stranger.

Dumaan ang mga sandali at habang mas tumatagal ako sa silya ko ay para bang kakapusin na ako ng hininga. I desperately wanted to walk out and just lock myself in my room, but I did not want to appear rude, especially to Millie. But God knew how much I wanted to stab the mayor sitting next to me, who would occasionally brush his arm against mine, along with Millie’s fiancé who was staring pervertly at me.