Whispers of the Ethereal Threads (𝓦𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 #1)

CHAPTER 39

Huminga ako nang malalim. I need to stay awake. I need to stay sane.

No. This isn't true. This can't be true. Something's wrong.

Fros cared for me. He loved me. He wouldn't... he couldn't do this. Not to me.

Tumulo ang luha ko. Isa-isa. Napapailing ako, pilit nilalabanan ang katotohanang ayaw kong tanggapin.

"Hindi... hindi ganito si Fros..." My voice trembled.

He held me like I was his entire world. He looked at me like I was the reason he stayed grounded. So why... why does he look at me now like I'm just another enemy to conquer?

This isn't the man I love.

But how can I fight him?

Paano ka makikipaglaban sa taong minsang nagparamdam ng seguridad sa’yo? Paano mo sasalungatin ang mga kamay na minsang humawak sa’yo nang may lambing?

Sa tuwing kikilos ako, nanginginig ako — sa sakit ng makita siyang nagiging ibang tao. Sa hapdi ng katotohanang ang lalaking minahal ko… ay siya na ngayong nakatayo sa harap ko, handang wasakin ako.

How can I fight him... when all I want is to save him?

To remind him.

To bring him back.

To make him remember us.

But if I don't fight... Who will save me? Who will protect what's left of me?

So no—I don't know how to fight him. But maybe... I can fight for him. For the truth. For what's right. For the love he forgot... but I never will.

Ang lalaking kasama ko ngayon ang bantay ko. Nasa baba lang siya, nakaupo at walang pakialam. Habang ako ay nakasabit pa rin sa itaas.

Before, when he looks at me like that... I don't get scared. I never did. I never felt intimidated. Kasi ramdam kong totoo siya. Yung titig niya dati? It felt like home.

Pero ngayon? This guy? I don't know him.

Ang ngiti niya ngayon, hindi na 'yung dating pasimple at punong-puno ng pag-aalaga. Ngayon, nakangisi siya na parang nang-iinsulto.

"Fros... Fros?" sambit niya, halos tumatawa. "Me? Your Fros?"

Tumawa siya.

"You think I love you?" Napailing siya. "What a hypocrite. You trust too easily."

"I only accept you to bring you down. To see you fall," nang-uuyam pa nitong saad.

Nagingilid ang luha ko pagkarinig noon, hindi ko alam kung paano ko haharapin ang mga salitang yun. Tila biglang nagdilim ang mundo ko. Na parang wala nang halaga ang lahat ng pinagsamahan namin.

Sumilip siya pataas, diretsong tinignan ako, habang nakangising may halong panglalait.

"Bakit kasi ang tagal pa bago ka patayin, no?" Saka siya tumayo, nag-unat pa ng balikat.
"Isang iglap lang, patay ka na dapat e. Kung ano-ano pa kasing ginagawa nila. Ayaw ka pang tuluyan, kaya ayun-nakakatakas, nakakalaban, nakakasira ng plano."

Humagalpak siya ng tawa. "Mga bobo talaga."

I felt it. Napakunot-noo ako. No... He's not Fros. He can't be. Hindi siya ganito magsalita.

His eyes... His smile... Why do I keep seeing him?

"But this is Fros." I whispered.

But he's not my Fros...My mind felt like it was in chaos, attacking me from all sides. I didn't know what was real anymore - whether it was him or Fros who was standing there. What's happening to me?