9
Obsession
AilseMy heart was pounding so hard, I couldn't scream or shout. I couldn't even move my body.
I don't want to admit to myself that I'm scared because I'm the scarlet queen—fearless.
But my body felt different.
Every breath I took seemed loud in the silence.
Sinasabi ng isip ko na lumingon paharap sa kaniya, pero hindi talaga ako makagalaw.
I hear his footsteps na mas lumalapit sa akin, bawat hakbang mas malakas, echoing in the stillness around me.
Nanigas ako, at hindi makagalaw. My body was frozen with fear.
Then, he hugged me from the back!
His arms wrapped around me, gentle but firm.
"Tinakot ba kita, baby?" Kahit hindi ko tignan ang mukha niya, alam kong nakangisi siya sa akin. Inamoy-amoy nito ang leeg ko na parang aso.
Pinagdikit ko ang dalawang labi ko dahil sa inis.
"All along I knew it was you, Joshua!" sigaw ko sa kaniya at malakas na siniko ang ari niya na nakadikit sa likuran ko.
Rinig na rinig ko ang impit na sigaw niya sa sakit. "What the fuck are you talking about?!" sagot niya sa akin at namimilipit na napaupo.
"Stop playing around! Hinding-hindi ako papayag kay Dad na maikasal sa'yo kahit ano pang gawin mo! Never in my life! Kahit mamatay pa ko o mamatay ka pa!" galit na galit na sigaw ko sa kaniya. Pinanlilisikan ko siyang tinitigan. "You are fucking obsessed with me! Akala mo ba hindi ko alam? You're the one who keeps sending me spam on email, the one who was outside Sole's house, and you're the one who sticks paper notes on the sleeves of my classmate just to get my attention! You are out of your mind! I will contact all of the police here, ipapakulong kitang tarantado ka!" nanginginig sa gigil na sigaw ko sa kaniya.
Nakaupo pa rin siya at nakahawak sa gitnang bahagi ng katawan niya. Kahit nanghihina, nakikipagsukatan pa rin ito ng tingin sa akin.
"Ail, you're the one who's out of your mind!" sagot niya, tumititig sa akin ng matalim. "Wala akong alam sa mga sinasabi mo. I never sent you any emails or followed you anywhere! I don't know anything about the notes either. This is all in your head! You're making up stories para lang may dahilan kang kamuhian ako. You're the one who's obsessed with making me the bad guy!"
He stood up slowly, holding onto his side, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. "I'm not the monster you think I am. Maybe it's time you look in the mirror at kung sino talaga ang nasisiraan ng ulo dito!"
Napatulala ako sa sinabi niya. No! I know he is lying! Sino ba namang matino ang aamin?! He is Joshua Tan, kilalang babaero sa school, so he's good at making up stories!
BINABASA MO ANG
Paint In Red
Mystery / ThrillerWARNING: MATURED CONTENT | R-18 "The Scarlet Queens," known for their beauty, power, and bad behavior in school. Following instances of bullying and abuse from these girls, a mysterious figure in a black trenchcoat and a baphomet goat mask starts to...