Symphonian Curse 9: Queen Diamond

Chapter Forty-Nine- Queen Diamond

Chapter Forty-Nine

Queen Diamond

ANG MASASAYANG araw na kasama niya si Julian ay agad napalitan ng lungkot at pangamba nang makita niya si Bessy sa school. Agad siyang nakaramdam ng guilt nang makita ang kaibigan. Bessy looked weary. Parang ang laki ng problema nito. Niyaya siya nitong kumain sa labas.

"Alam kong narito sa Spain si Julian," sabi nito matapos silang kumain. "Akala ko kapag bumalik kami sa London ay magiging maayos na ang relasyon namin pero nagkamali ako. Nang bumalik kami roon, mas lalo kong naramdaman na malayo na siya sa akin. He's no longer mine," Bessy cried. Hindi siya nakakibo. "Lizzie, alam ko kung bakit siya narito."

"Bessy –"

"Hindi ka niya babalikan dito kung hindi siya seryoso sa'yo. Hindi ka niya babalikan kung hindi ka niya totoong mahal," sabi ni Bessy saka umiiyak na yumuko. Natigilan siya. "Alam kong ikaw ang gusto niya. Napansin ko na iyon noong nandito pa lang kami. The way he stared at you. The way he acted when you were near. Hindi ko iyon naranasan sa loob ng maraming taong nakasama ko siya. Sa loob ng maikling panahon ay nakuha mo ang pag-ibig niya, bagay na hindi ko kailanman nagawa."

"He loves you, Bessy."

"Not the way he loves you."

"Bessy, I'm sorry," she cried. "Hindi ko gustong maglihim sa'yo. Believe me, pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Itinulak ko siya palayo pero –"

"Alam ko, Lizzie," sabad nito saka hinawakan ang kamay niya. "Thank you for always considering my feelings. I know you're hurting too but Liz, I can't live without him," umiiyak nitong sabi. "He's my life and who knows how long my life would be. I may die few years from now but I want to live my remaining years with Julian. Liz, please," Bessy pleaded. Hindi siya nakaimik. Parang pinipiga ang puso niya. Her heart was torn between her friend and love.

"Bessy, you're not just asking me to leave him. You're asking me to tear my heart out," she said tearfully. She was astonished when Bessy knelt down in front of her. "Bessy!" she exclaimed. Pinilit niya itong tumayo pero nagmatigas ito.

"Please, Liz. Wala akong pakialam kung magmukha akong kaawa-awa. I just want my Julian back. I need him," Bessy sobbed. She felt so devastated but she needed to choose.

"YOU LET him go," S uttered. "Mas pinili mong i-give up si Dad kesa hayaan ang kaibigan mong magdusa. Ginawa mo 'yon kahit alam mong magdurusa ka rin."

"You think I was stupid?"

"No. If you thought that's the right thing to do, then that's it. It must be hard for him to leave you." Umiling siya.

"Hindi naging mahirap sa kanya ang pag-iwan sa akin lalo na dahil hindi na naman niya ako naaalala," sagot niya. Nagulat si S. "Yes, I took all his memories. I have this ability since I was ten years old, the very reason why the Umbra wanted me but my parents refused. Mama never wanted me to use it but secretly, I was practicing. Nagawa ko iyon ng ilang ulit kina Eli at Zee noong mga bata pa kami pero usually ay mga katuwaan lang kapag may nagagawa akong nakakahiya na gusto kong malimutan nila."

"Very childish."

"I know. Ayokong natutukso pero sa katulad ni Eli, walang kwenta ang pambubura ng alaala dahil naka-program na sa utak niya ang asarin ako. I thought of my ability as useless not until I took all your dad's memories. I also discovered that by doing it, those memories will stuck in my mind and I will bear it until such time I have to give it back. I've done it many times and it's never a nice experience especially if the memories are hellish. Whenever I do it, I do it with conditions. Like an invisible promise."