The Devil's Son

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

[KATHY’S POV]

“Ayan Erick! Mas bagay pala sa’yo ang maikling buhok eh!” Sabi ko nang matapos na gupitan si Erick sa isang barber shop sa bayan.

“Nagustuhan mo ba?” Nakangiti niyang tanong sakin.

“Oo naman! Mas okay ang itsura mo kapag ganyan!”

“Salamat ...”

I tried to convince myself that it was Damon I am looking at right now but still – they are far different from each other. I admit, Erick is gorgeous and he is a man that a girl could ever dream of but Damon? He is unique and extraordinary. He is the only person who could make me smile for no reason. He is the only person who could make me stumble and who could make my world stop in just a snap of his finger – the only person who could make my heart beat slower and faster at the same time. The only guy I would and I will ever love for the rest of my life.

And no one ...

No one could ever make me change the way I feel about him.

No one ... even an angel or a devil.

“Tulala ka na naman.” Si Erick.

“I’m sorry, may naalala lang kasi ako bigla.”

“Si Damon na naman ba?”

“Yung totoo?” I paused and took a deep breath. “Oo ... iniisip ko siya. Hindi naman siya nawala sa isip ko kahit kailan.”

I knew it would hurt Erick’s feelings but he needs to know it. And I am just being honest with him and with myself as well.

“Alam ko naman yon. At alam ko rin na hindi mo siyang kayang kalimutan. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay tulungan kang maging madali sa’yo ang lahat. Ang ihanda ka sa mga bagay na nakatadhana nang mangyari. Kaya sana ... tulungan mo din ang sarili mo.”

Pagkasabi niya noon ay agad na siyang lumabas nang shop. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang sumunod sakanya.

Lumipas ang isang linggo simula nang sumama ako kay Erick dito sa Tagaytay.

 Pero sa bawat oras at araw na lumipas ay hindi pa rin nawala sa isip ko si Damon.

Kumusta kaya siya?

Iniisip kaya niya ako ngayon?

Hinahanap pa rin kaya niya ko?

Mga tanong na paulit-ulit na bumababag sa isip ko. I know, it is not the right thing to do after all what happened and what they have done for me. But this is actually the only way I could get rid of the sorrow that I’ll be facing when my time comes and it would be forever. So I better live without them than to be with them and leave them later.

Madami na din ang nagbago sa akin simula nang mawala si Damon sa paningin ko. Natuto akong gumawa nang desisyon para sa sarili ko. Medyo nasasanay na akong wala siya. Almost everyday whenever I see myself in front of the mirror – I see nothing but a helpless girl trying to cope up. A girl trying to save herself from the misery that awaits her.

Malapit na ang kaarawan ko. Naaalala kaya nila?

Naligo ako at inayos ang aking sarili.

Nakatulala ako sa salamin nang sunud-sunod na katok sa pintuan ang pumukaw sa atensiyon ko.

“Pasok.”

Marahang bumukas ang pintuan.

“Morning.” Nakangiting bati ni Erick.

He looked so gorgeos wearing just a white shirt and a khaki short. Nang makita niya ako, agad siyang ngumiti sakin. He’s a devil – I know. But he looks like an angel though. The way he smiles ... the way he act. Para talaga siyang anghel. And because of that? Hindi na ako natatakot sa kanya. Nagsimula yon nang pakitaan niya ako nang maganda.