38 : Turn
JULIAN
“D-Damien, wait!”
Mabilis kong hinabol si Damien at hindi inalintana ang bigat ng mga hakbang ko o ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. The moment he walked out of that café, I knew something was wrong. His aura was too heavy, his shoulders too tense, and the way he avoided my eyes—it was as if he was forcing himself not to acknowledge my presence.
Pero hindi ko siya hahayaang umalis nang gano’n-gano’n lang.
Nagmamadali siyang naglakad patungo sa tapat ng parking lot at nang makalapit sa tabi ng motor niya ay kinuha niya ang helmet mula sa sabitan. He was moving with so much urgency, like he just wanted to disappear.
“Damien!” I called out again, desperation lacing my voice.
But he didn’t turn around. He acted like I wasn’t there.
My heart clenched.
Ayaw niya akong pansinin.
Gano’n ba siya kagalit sa akin?
“Please, just listen--”
Nakita kong inabot na niya ang susi ng motor at pinasok iyon sa ignition. I felt my breath hitch.
Hindi pwedeng hayaan ko siyang makaalis nang hindi ko man lang naipapaliwanag ang sarili ko. I can't... I can’t lose him like this.
With all the strength I had, I lunged forward, wrapping my fingers around his wrist just before he could start the engine.
Halos mapagitla ako nang maramdaman ang init ng balat niya. He was... shaking.
Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Damien, dahan-dahan at punong-puno ng bigat. Doon ko lang tuluyang napagtanto kung gaano siya ka-galit.
His eyes burned with something dark—betrayal, anger, and something deeper, something that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Let go,” he said in a low and controlled voice. Pero hindi ko ginawa. Hindi ako nagpatinag.
“Damien, please,” I pleaded, tightening my grip. “Let me explain.”
His jaw clenched. “There’s nothing to explain.”
Napakuyom ako ng kamao. “There is!”
Binitiwan niya ang helmet na hawak niya at tuluyang humarap sa akin. “Talaga? Ano pang gusto mong sabihin, Julian? Na tama na naman siya? Kaya ka ba nakipagkita sa kanya?!”
Napaatras ako sa bagsik ng tono niya. This is the first time... I see Damien in this state.
“D-Damien... I agreed to meet him because I wanted to understand,” I reasoned, my voice breaking a little. “Gusto ko lang malaman ang side ng papa mo.”
“His side?” Damien let out a bitter chuckle. “I told you everything, Julian. I told you what kind of person he is. What else do you need to hear?”
“I just--”
Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang bigla siyang tumawa.
Masakit.
Pero hindi dahil sa galit niya.
Kung hindi dahil sa kung paano sumisigaw ang lungkot sa likod ng tawa niyang iyon.
“You really don’t get it, do you?” he whispered.
Naramdaman kong lumuwag ang lalamunan ko. “Damien--”
“You were the only one I trusted, Julian," he said, his voice trembling. “Akala ko ikaw yung taong hindi ko kailangang pagdudahan. Akala ko naiintindihan mo ako.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I do understand you, Damien.”
“T-then why?” His voice cracked.
Doon bumagsak ang tingin ko sa lupa.
I... had no words.
“Julian...”
I looked up just in time to see a single tear slip from his eye.
A single, silent tear.
At doon ko lang napagtanto kung gaano ko siya nasaktan.
“Why did you agree to meet with him?”
Mas lumamig ang paligid.
Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasagutin iyon.
I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was helping him in some way. But now, seeing the pain in his eyes, the way his hands trembled, I realized... that every decision I made was wrong.
Bago pa man ako makahanap ng sagot, Damien let out a shaky breath and turned his back on me.
Nabitawan ko ang kamay niya.
“D-Damien...”
Pero hindi na siya lumingon.
I just stood there, watching as he walked away, his figure growing smaller and smaller.
And suddenly, I felt like I was reliving a nightmare.
Except this time... Damien was the one who left.
And I was the one left behind.
