Wounds Of The Hearts, Justice Of The Mind

Chapter 7

It had been days since prom, but the memories still lingered, clear as day. I couldn't shake off the feeling—the way everything seemed to revolve around us in that moment, with the lights dimmed and that law student standing beside me. There was magic in the air, and for a second, it felt like something new, something real. But along with that magic was a nagging feeling I couldn't quite place.

I was sitting on the courtyard bench, letting the sunlight hit my face, trying to make sense of it all. Honestly, it was exhausting. Then, like clockwork, Lance showed up beside me, grinning as he always did, as if he knew exactly what was running through my head.

"Malalim ah, ano ba ang iniisip mo, Isaiah?" he teased, nudging me lightly. 

I shrugged, chuckling a bit. "Wala naman... just thinking about prom, I guess." I turned to him, noticing that familiar mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Sino ba naman mag-aakala na bigla akong mapupunta sa spotlight?" 

Lance laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, prom night star ka talaga. Nagulat din kami! Gago! Lahat ng tao, nakatingin sa inyo ng law student na 'yon. Akala ko nga buong school, may moment of silence sa sobrang pagkabigla!" 

I chuckled, rolling my eyes, but deep down, I knew he was right. That whole night had felt surreal, like something out of a movie. And yet, hearing Lance laugh about it, I suddenly felt a pang of guilt that I couldn't quite explain. There's something from his laugh. 

"Ano, nasiyahan ka ba?" Lance asked, his tone light, but there was something there, a hint of something I couldn't place. 

"Yeah," I admitted, but my voice was softer than I intended. "It was...different. I didn't expect it to be like that, to feel like that. It feels strange."

Lance grinned, but this time, it felt a bit forced. "Eh, sana pala ako ang nandoon sa gitna kasama mo. Planado ko na nga, e, 'di ba? Naisip ko na matagal na... pero may sumulpot na lalaki sa pwesto ko."

Napatingin ako sa kanya, and for a moment, I felt this strange tug in my chest. He was laughing, trying to brush it off, but there was something sad in his voice, the sound of bitterness. 

"Dude? Talaga?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Ikaw?"

"Yep." Lance laughed, but it wasn't as lively as his usual one. "Akala mo lang wala, pero nandoon nalang ako sa gilid, pinapanood kayo. Honestly, iniisip ko na rin dati pa, na kapag prom, ako ang magsasayaw sa'yo. Pero—" He shrugged, looking away. "Ewan. Hindi ko akalain na bigla na lang may dadating...na iba at eeksena."

Tahimik lang akong nakatingin sa kanya, unsure of what to say. The realization was slowly dawning on me, piece by piece. Lance had planned it—really planned it. For me. And yet, he'd been left on the sidelines, watching from the shadows. I thought he was just out of my sight and do the things he enjoy the most. . . But I was mistaken. I felt so guilty about it but I couldn't turn back time. 

"Lance," I murmured, barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry, hindi ko alam."

He waved his hand dismissively, putting on that goofy grin of his. "Wala 'yun. Nangyari na, and hey, nasiyahan ka naman, 'di ba? 'Yun ang importante." He forced a laugh, but his voice cracked just a little. "At least I got to see you happy."

Kung alam ko lang. I should've notice that. I should've known his plans beforehand. Sana siya ang kasayaw ko. . .

And there it was again, that pang of guilt. I looked away, biting my lip as the silence between us stretched on. I wanted to say something, anything, to make it right, but... words failed me.

"Ang saya mo naman," he continued, his voice softer now, almost like he was talking to himself. "At least, kahit wala ako sa gitna, nakapagpasaya pa rin ako kahit papaano. Alam mo, minsan... okay na 'yun para sa 'kin."