Alluring Mask

CHAPTER 43

CHAPTER 43

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

Sobrang gaan ng pakiramdam ko nang magising ulit. Na para bang lahat ng bigat na nararamdaman ko sa katawat at sa dibdib ay naglaho na... ngayong nalaman ko na ang katotohanan at kung anong meron kay Rafael.

Pikit matang napakapkap ako sa kinahihigaan ko. Trying to search for Helios' warmth, pero wala siya. Why did I feel like the surface was moving? It felt shaky yet smooth as it moved swiftly.

I quickly opened my eyes and realized that even Helios was no longer there. That's when it hit me... I was in a moving car.

Nang tingnan kung sino ang nagmamaneho, nakita kong si Oceanus pala 'yon.

"Oceanus," I called out to him softly.

Agad na namuo ang mga luha ko habang nagmamadaling maupo. Hindi naman na masyado makirot ang sugat ko sa likuran, pero may kaunting sakit pa rin akong nararamdaman.

I peeked out the wide window of the backseat. I couldn't stop myself from sobbing when I saw we were no longer in Helios's mansion. Nasa kalsada na kami at paalis na sa teritoryo nila.

"Bumalik na tayo..." naiiyak kong sambit.

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Oceanus kept his eye on the road, driving seriously. Habang nakatitig lang ako sa kan'ya, doon ko na rin napansin ang kalagayan niya. He seemed to be doing much better, except for the bruises that hadn't completely healed and the large scar on his face from being whipped.

"I need him," I said, tears streaming down my face. "Please, Oceanus. Let's go back there. I need him. I need Rafael... I need Helios."

Isang buntong hininga ang narinig ko sa kan'ya bago ito magsalita.

"I'm sorry, Hexia. We can't go back there yet. I already sent a signal to Atlas that we managed to escape, kahit na si Helios ang nagpatakas sa atin. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sainyong dalawa ni Helios, but... going back there would be even more dangerous."

I cried harder, my sobs filling the entire car as we drove back to Atlas's warehouse.

"P-please..." I begged.

Oceanus sighed deeply and met my tear-filled eyes briefly. He shook his head and sped up the car as if someone were chasing us.

"I'm really sorry, Hexia. It will only make it harder for Atlas to rescue us if we go back just so you can see him. The situation is still complicated and chaotic, and I believe only Atlas can fix it."

Mas lalong sumikip ang dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I clutched at my chest as I felt it constrict and ache, slowly sinking back into the seat.

One night together wasn't enough if we were going to leave so soon. I knew it was difficult, but I felt like I was losing my mind. Five years apart, thinking something was true, only to find out it was a lie.

Ngayong nalaman ko na ang totoo. Parang ang hirap na mahiwalay ulit ako sa kan'ya. Pero alam kong wala naman akong magagawa. It's like there's a massive wall between us and a weight pressing down on me. Kahit magkasama lang kami kagabi parang gusto ko pa rin siyang makasama ulit ngayon.

"We're almost at the warehouse, Hexia. Atlas will meet us at the underground parking lot," Oceanus said.

Pero hindi ako nakasagot, masyado akong nilalamon ng emosyon ko ngayon. Mariin kong pinikit ang aking mga mata at huminga ng malalim.

"Why? B-bakit mo pa ako sinundan doon, Oceanus?" nanginginig ang boses ko ng tanungin siya nang maidilat ko ang mata ko. "Look at what happened to you. You got caught up in what they did to me in the torture chamber."