Midnight Momento (Astalièr Series I)

MDT 18

Chapter 18

I was left stunned that night.

Not because I get caught. But because of her revelation about Rohen. I know there's something fishy about his kindness. Every person has their own alter ego who lives underneath our skin. Impossible talagang mabait lang si Rohen sa akin dahil gusto niya.

Alam ko na iyon. Matagal ko nang naisip. Matagal na dapat akong handa, na kung umabot man sa ganito alam ko ang susunod na gagawin. Pero nang gabing iyon, ilang minuto akong tulala kung saan ako iniwan ni Avena.

I was flooded with my thoughts and my emotions are also acting up and it's not helping at all!

Dapat ngayon na na-pressure ako lalo akong maging rasyonal mag-isip. Pero anong nangyayari sa akin at para akong nasikmuraan sa narinig at hindi makapag-isip ng maayos.

So, what if Rohen was just kind to me because he has to?

Ano naman kung inutusan lang siya na makisama sa akin at ang totoo ay napipilitan lang talaga siya?

Anong pakialam ko kung alam ni Avena lahat ng plano ng mga Astalier?

At kaya ba prinesenta nilang dito ako sa mansyon manalagi dahil para mabantayan nila ako? Na naghahanap lang sila ng ebidensya na balak ko ngang bawiin ang lupa? Tapos kapag nakahanap na sila? Ano? Ipapatapon nila ako palabas ng probinsya? Ipapapatay?

See?! I should be alarmed right now!

Well! I am! But not as how I expected it to be. Parang nanghina ang buong pagkatao ko. I was as sharp as before anymore. Rohen tamed my tail and edges.

What if this is a part of his plan? Targeting my weakness? Which is his kindness towards me? Because he knows I'm a sucker for it. Because I was deprived of it by my family. He knows where to hit me. And if my speculation were true, then his plan is working.

Dahil kung tunay na labanan ito at nahuli ako bigla, napatay na muna nila ako bago ako makatakas dahil inuuna ko ang nararamdaman!

Dad was right. I am turning soft.

All because of that guy!

The next morning I took a shower early in the morning. So that I could think clearly. Lumabas lang ako ng kwarto para kumuha ng kape nang alam kong wala na si Rohen at busy na sa trabaho. Narinig ko ang katok niya sa pinto ko kanina pero hindi ako lumabas. Nagsawa na sigurong mag-antay at umalis na.

Kasi paano ko siya haharapin? Kailangan ko muna isipin. Paano kung inutusan niyang sabihin ni Avena lahat sa akin iyon? Para mahuli niya ang reaksyon ko? O titignan niya kung bigla na lang akong tatakas at huhulihin niya ako pag nagkataon?

Hindi ako kikilos basta-basta. Hindi rin ako aalis dito hanggat walang ibang nangyayari at wala sa kamay ko ang titulo ng lupa. Even if they'll torture me to death I will keep on denying it. As long as they don't have any solid evidence towards me I am not gonna yield.

I was raised on a battlefield. This will not make any difference.

At isa pa, hinding-hindi ko haharapin si Rohen na hindi pa matino ang isip ko dahil baka guluhin na naman niya! Isang salita niya lang madadala na naman ako sa kabaitan niya at baka tuluyan na nga akong mahuli kapag nangyari iyon.

So, I'll avoid him. As much as possible. Until I came up with a better plan.

Because the plan of finding his weakness was a failure, I found mine instead. And that is very risky.

If I am sharp, Rohen is sharper. He might play me in his palms if he sees any weakness I am feeling right now.

I stayed in my room for the whole day trying to brainstorm. Ni nakalimutan ko na mag lunch at dinner. Naka-ilang katok na sa akin si Aling Anita at kape lang ang lagi kong hinihingi. Hindi na rin siya nagtanong kung ano ang ginagawa ko dahil baka inisip niyang may tinatrabaho ako.