Moth to a Flame

Quarantacinque| Lovi

THIRD PERSON

Beneath the moonlight, Lovi stood on the brink of chaos, catching his breath as though he was being suffocated. The full moon has always been their nemesis—the key trigger of his schizophrenic episode.

The world around him began to spin as he felt his head slowly splitting into two. And he saw him, the other him—standing across him like a reflection of his fears and regret.

"Kage," his name rolled in his tongue bitterly. "What a coward," he taunted as he laughed. "You let me remember everything—the blood we spilt, the chaos we spread. Why should I bear this weight alone?"

Kage clenched his fists. "It's not cowardice. It's survival. I never wanted you to shoulder this burden." Naaaning na tumawa si Lovi. Nanlalaki mata niya itong nginishan.

"Survival?" he snorted.

"You're just scared! You are scared of confronting the nightmares you created, terrified of the monster you have become!" Lovi shot back, gritting his teeth while he approaches him. "They said I ruined you! They said without me, you will be the same old you!"

Muli ay nagpakawala na naman ito ng isang tawa. It was a desperate laugh of someone who only wanted to be understood. "But Kage, I saved you!" He grabbed him by the shirt, eyes ablaze with accusation.

"You didn't remember what happened to your mother! You didn't remember how you slaughtered everyone in the mansion! You didn't remember how your father died and how your brother took his own life!" Kage turned away. It felt like his wounds reopened, forcing him to face the memories deep in his consciousness.

Lovi laughed, a harsh, cold sound that echoed between them. "Who remembered them?" Niyugyug niya ito. "It was me! I remembered all of them! You made me suffer from those memories just to keep yourself safe!" His voice was full of resentment as he spoke.

When Kage opened his eyes, he saw hatred in Lovi's eyes. Although he can't fully remember what have happened to the incident he mentioned, he was aware that he did something. Hindi niya lang kayang ipagtagpi-tagpi lahat ng nangyari dahil sa gap ng memorya na hindi niya naalala.

"You see me as your shadow. The darkness you wanted to hide from everyone! But without me, you couldn't do anything!" Kage leaned back from his hold and gave him a confident gaze.

"I could fight the darkness instead of letting it consume me!" Kage recoiled. "But you're different. You thrive on darkness and despair. You feed on it." Marahas na napasinghal si Lovi.

He thrives on darkness and despair? He feeds on it?

Rage ignited within him even more, landing another blow to Kage's jaw.

"We were only a child! We couldn't do anything to save her! And you claim you can fight the darkness and not let it consume you?" Pagtayo ni Kage ay malalaking hakbang ang tinahak ni Lovi upang damputin ang kwelyo ng damit nito.

"Fine!" With an intense glare, he punched him in the face again, a wild, desperate bid for dominance.

"I live on the darkness! I feed on it because it's the only thing that's real!" Halos mapugto na ang hininga nito sa pagsigaw at nangungugat na ang leeg nito sa galit.

"And that brings me to Ava!" he continued, breathless as his voice trembled with fury. "She's the only warmth in this abyss we created! The only light in our dark world!" Doon ay napabangon si Kage.

Walang pag-aalinlangan niyang sinuntok pabalik si Lovi. "She's my wife!" His voice rose even without noticing it.

Nang matumba si Lovi ay mabilis siyang napatunghay kay Kage na parang mabangis na hayop sa harapan niya. A while ago, no matter how he tried to provoke him, he remained calm. But a mere mention of Ava can make him this agitated.