Why Leave Me? • KATHNIEL •

XVII: Revelations

17.

Naipunta naman si John sa hospital ng maayos at nilagyan na ng first aid. Wala naman daw malalang sugat si John, and thank God hindi na sila nag-away ulit.

Pero hindi padin bumabalik ang dati sa normal. Kaya kahit na depressed na depressed na'ko sa mga pangyayari.

Recess time. Magisa ko lang, hindi ko mahagilap sina Karen at Sam o kahit manlang si Gazer.

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Natapos ang klase na wala lang akong magawa, kaya nagpasya akong mag-cutting nalang muna.

Pumunta akong likod ng school, sakto namang walang nagbabantay na guard. Medyo nagdiwang naman ako ng patahimik.

Naglalakad ako ng may nadinig akong nag-uusap kaya't nagtago muna ako sa likod ng pader. Sinilip ko ito, ngunit laking gulat ko nang makita kung sino ang mga iyon.

Si Karen at Sam kausap si Gazer. Bakit hindi ko sila nakita kanina?

"So do you made her chose you?" Tanong ni Sam.

"Not yet, but maybe." Gazer replied.

"Remember the rules, Gazer. You're breaking up with her now, I see she's so into you." Karen said.

Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko so I could not make any sound. Nangingilid na ang mga luha ko, I never knew they would betray me. Lahat palang ito, all this time ay isang palabas lamang. Napakatanga ko para maniwala. But at least, why would they betray me?

"I—" he paused for a bit. "I can't do that." He said.

"Seriously? It's a deal. Kailangan mong tumupad!" Sigaw ni Sam.

"I can't! I can't hurt her in return of money!" Sagot ni Gazer. "All I did since the beginning isn't for a show! I loved her, since the day I saw her." Gazer.

Nagulat ako sa naging sagot ni Gazer. He stand out for me, pero bakit kailangan nyang makipag-deal?

"Uh-hm. You're so cheesy. Hindi mo mai-aatras ng ganun lang 'tong deal na 'to!" Depensa naman ni Sam. "You know we got something." May ipinakita si Sam sa phone nya. "I can let you two break up with this." Isa palang video na nakikipag-halikan si Gazer with another girl.

"And hindi pa yan tapos! We can make a story na talagang ikakasira mo sa malalaman ni Harleen." Singit naman ni Karen.

Walang magawa si Gazer, at mukhang makukumbinsi na sya. Hindi ko na makakaya 'to! Bakit ba nila ito ginagawa!?

I stepped out of the wall where I was hiding. "Sorry pero mukhang hindi na kailangan. Ang kailangan nyo siguro ay Plan B."

Nagulat naman silang tatlo sa paglabas ko. Mukhang nakakita naman ng multo sila Karen at Sam.

"B-bakit ka nandito?" Karen.

"Bakit? Diba dapat ako yung magtanong sainyo?" Lumapit ako sakanila. "Bakit nyo ginagawa sa'kin ito?"

Hindi sila sumagot. Nanatiling tahimik ang tatlo. "Nagtanong ako, bakit!?" Idiniin ko ang salitang bakit.

"Alam mo kung bakit!?" Pangunguna ni Karen.

"Ay oo siguro, kasi hindi naman ako magtatanong kung hindi ko alam diba?!" Pambabara ko dito.

"At ikaw," turo ko kay Gazer. "Bakit ka naman nasama sa dalwang ito!?"

Hindi naman ito makasagot. Instead si Sam ang nagsalita, "Hindi mo alam? Karen and Gazer are together for years now, they never made it in public because it's better off if they make it in private. And Gazer? He would do anything for Karen."

Nasaktan ako sa mga sinabi ni Sam pero hindi ko maipagkakailang naguguluhan din ako at the same time. Kaya pala mainit ang dugo saakin ni Karen minsan.

"Since andito ka naman na at narinig mo pala ang lahat, c'mon Sam let's reveal it na." Sabi naman ni Karen.

Tila wala nang masabi si Gazer at tanging lumabas sa kanyang bibig ay, "Tama na!"

"Gazer, is that bitch telling me the truth?" Tinuro ko si Karen, habang kinakausap si Gazer. Napangiti lamang si Karen at Sam while seeing me losing my coolness.

"N-no, it wasn't..." he replied. Natawa naman ako sa isinagot nya.

"Really, Gazer? Is that all you can say? I'm expecting some convincing reason of yours, c'mon I'm waiting." Pinilit kong itago ang pagka-disappointed ko.

"Leen, please believe me.." so he's expecting me to? "I never loved her, it's just you that I fell so hard in love." He tried to convince me by looking at me eye to eye while he is helding my hand.

Marahas kong tinanggal ang kamay ko mula sa mga palad nya, "More convincing reason, please? I am not satisfied with your answer. Any more words para makumbinsi ako?"

"Leen, hindi ako nagdadahil—" he started.

"Then why the fvck you expect me to believe you!?" I cutted him off. "Paano ka na-involve dito sa mga kung ano mang nilalang ang dalawang 'to!" I lost my temper at the moment.

I turned my back on them. I tried to run away without knowing where to go. I just needed to go anywhere else far away from them.

Gazer tried to run after me, and we're already at the middle of the road. "Harleeeeeeeeeen! Watch out!" He screamed.

I turned around from where the beeping comes from... I can't move an inch, stuck in where I'm standing.

Beeeeeeeeep!! *blag!*

My sights turned black for a little while. I tried to open my eyes, as I wandered my eyes around, and there he was seeking for help.

"Leen, stay with me!" He told me. "Help! Please someone call an ambulance!!" He screamed still.

Of all what's going on my head all I dared to say even so a whisper is, "Gazer.." only his name escaped from my lips. I felt hard to breathe, my head aches.

From there, I can't help but close my eyes.