Midnight Momento (Astalièr Series I)

MDT 21

Chapter 21

I was prepared to leave.

But to leave with satisfaction and the title on my hand. And if I am delusional, then an agreement will do.

I thought things are starting to align with my plan.

But I felt like I was spinned around, and brought back to where I started. And everything I built for a couple of months crashed down right in front of my face.

How those deep, alluring and captivating eyes that made me almost stripped down myself to come clean and be honest to him, were also the same eyes who made every single strand of my being felt angry and betrayed.

Their stares made me feel like a lost child in the middle of a dangerous place. Everyone knew him. Everyone knew who he was. Except for me...

Pakiramdam ko sinadya ito lahat. Imposible. Imposibleng hindi. I came prepared. They came more prepared than they could ever be. They knew what I would do here so they played with my game, they played the way I do. And I fell for it.

I was staying here for almost half a year! Six months! Kalahating taon nila akong kasama at ni isa sa kanila walang nagsabi sa akin?! Imposible!

My hands start to tremble more when realization starts to hit me like a nonstop bullet. These past few months. I kept on sending requests alongside my letter for the Governor. And all of it was sent to the office of the Mayor of Tejeros. And come to think of it, I never met the Mayor kahit paulit-ulit akong bumabalik sa munisipyo.

He must have read everything because he knew it came from me. And now... they have solid evidence against me. They let me provoke and start the war. Para sa huli, sa akin lahat ng sisi. Because they knew... uuwi akong talo. They let me believe that Rohen was just a simple  haciendero with a powerful background. They never let me know about who he really is... that in this town. In this place.

He's powerful.

My heart starts to clench inside my chest that I will almost run out of breath. Parang may humuhugot at pumipiga sa puso ko habang nakatayo ako rito at ramdam na ramdam ko iyon.

Our eyes met again. And what made me lose my last tread is how tamed and innocent looking he is!

Maybe that's what he does best.

And it made me understand something. Kaya kong gawin lahat ng gusto ko, kahit ubusin ko lahat ng kakayahan at lakas ko, pero hinding-hindi ko siya maiisahan. Hinding-hindi ko siya matatalo. Na sa laban na ito, even if he won't lift his finger he'll win and he will gladly watch me lose the battle I gave up everything with.

At kung ako ang pinaka-magaling na representation ni Daddy. Wala na kaming laban sa mga Astalier.

They're always one step ahead of the game.

Now I understand why they rule this province.

"I was so delighted to come back here and see my folks!" Atty. Murilo faced Rohen, who's now carefully watching me. Concern was plastered on his face when I didn't respond earlier and was about to lose my consciousness. "Your term was great! It's just so sad ayaw ko nang tumakbo sa susunod na eleksyon. Naalagaan mo ang buong bayan." patuloy ni Atty. Murilo, and to be honest wala na akong naiintindihan.

Kanina pa nawala ang pakialam ko sa paligid.

Pakiramdam ko kahit anong oras may sasabog na bulkan sa loob ko.

We never left each other's eyes as I balled my fist tightly. I was furious that they all made me believe what they wanted me to believe. They made me see what they wanted for me to only see. They manipulated everything so I won't figure out their real plan.