If This Lasts (If This #2) Published Under Bliss Books)

Chapter Twenty-Two

It's like getting poured with a bucket of water filled with cubes and cubes of ice. My insides went cold while I remained frozen from what she just said.

"My work here is done." she smugly said before walking pass by us.

The two guys with me didn't say a word. I could feel their eyes solely glued on me, like they were waiting for my next move.

"Savion..." maamong sabi ni Zion.

Suminghap ako nang marinig ang boses niya. It's like I was pulled out of the arctic and murky water. I turned my eyes to him. My closed fists were shaking. "Magkapatid kayo?"

Fear sparked in Zion's eyes as he looked at me. He looked like he was in total despair. Like things are starting fall apart in front of him and he doesn't know how to keep it from collapsing.

"Baby..."

"Don't touch me!" I shrieked out loud and pushed his hand away when he tried to reach for my arm. He flinched at what I did, like I've just physically inflicted him pain.

"Savion─" Henry's voice made me snap my head at him.

"Isa ka pa!" I shouted, my eyes were beginning to blur from the warm tears that were filling it.

I don't even know why I asked. Sa ipinapakita nila sa akin ngayon ay alam ko na agad ang sagot. Kung hindi ito totoo ay baka kanina pa sila umangal. Kung hindi totoo ay sana kanina pa sila tumanggi sa sinabi ng babaeng iyon.

"We were friends for two years... You had every opportunity to tell me. Why did you hide the truth from me, Henry?" my voice was rigid and stern as I stared at him with accusation in my eyes.

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko kung paano kami unang nagkakilala. He applied for my company just when it's starting up, regardless of how over-qualified he was, he still applied for the available position. At iyong unang encounter namin sa elevator...

I violently gasped at the memory. I gaped at Henry, both horrified and in disbelief. "Tell me, Henry... Are you even gay?"

Napapikit si Henry sa tanong ko. Mariin ang pagkakapikit nito na para siyang nahihirapan. Kumuyom ang kanyang panga. Kahit na wala pa siyang sinasabi ay kitang-kita ko na ang sagot.

Umiling siya at malungkot ang mga mata habang nakatingin sa akin. "No, Savion. I'm not."

Para akong naagawan ng hininga nang marinig ito mismo mula sa kanya. I took a step back away from them. The tears that were threatening to fall a few seconds ago finally rolled down my cheek.

Nilipat ko ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa na parehong tahimik at parang hindi alam ang gagawin. Dahan-dahan kong iniling ang aking ulo. Hindi ko matanggap na matapos ng tatlong taon ay naloko na naman ako.

"Why?" I whispered, my shaky voice hardly audible. Walang sumagot sa kanilang dalawa. Their silence was the gasoline that doused to my fire. The tears of dismay turned into angry tears. "Why?!"

Hindi pa rin sila sumagot sa pag sigaw ko. Mas lalo akong nanginig sa galit sa hindi nila pag salita. "Ano, nawala ba ang mga dila niyo? You two ran out of lies to spew?"

"It's true." Zion started, his jaw tightly clamped. He earnestly looked at me, his eyes were hard and grave. "We're brothers. Half-brothers. My father and our mother were each other's first love... but our mom was forced to go back to France by her parents. That's when our mother and his father met. They were pushed into marriage, Henry was born, but it didn't work out. My mother went back to the Philippines and Dad accepted her and Henry with open arms. Two years later, I was born."

Pumikit si Zion na parang nahihirapan na ituloy ang sinasabi niya. Hindi ako gumalaw sa kinatatayuan ko at hinintay siyang muling magsalita.

"When you left me..." he looked at me, hurt visible in his eyes. "I was desperate. I wanted to be close to you but you said you didn't want to see me again. Natatakot akong lalo kang magalit sa akin at hindi mo na ako mapatawad kapag hindi ko sinunod ang gusto mo. I... I asked him to watch over you."