IGS #1: THAT POSSESSIVE DEVIL (✔)

CHAPTER XII

"I can bear to lose all my properties, as long as it's not you." -AnUnwingedAngel

CHAPTER 12: UNENDING PAIN

"Vanaleigh." Isang malamig na boses ang nagpabalik sakin sa realidad.

"K-kuya." Napalunok ako habang nakatingin kay kuya Jay na matalim ang tingin sa akin.

His jaw clenched. "What were you doing with Devlin?"

I gulped. i can feel fear radiating all over my senses. And this is what kuya Jay can do to me.

"W-wala ho kuya. Nakita ko lang ho siya sa mall and--"

"Are you fliriting with him? Huh? I'm warning you Vana, not my bestfriend. Nagawa mong mabilog at mapatay ang mga magulang natin, and don't do the same to my bestfriend, baka ako ang makapatay sayo. You understand?" Mahina ngunit malamig na sambit ni kuya. I felt my eyes getting misty. Tumango na lamang ako at yumuko.

Narinig ko ang mga yabag nito palayo sa akin. And that was my cue. I let my tears fall. I can feel my chest clenching from pain too. My sickness is taking over again. God, please not now. I silently prayed. He must have heard my prayer because the pain suddenly stopped.

How I hope God can remove all the pain I'm feeling right now.

-

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon ng maramdamang tila nangangasim ang sikmura ko. Mabilis na bumaba ako sa kama at tumakbo patungong banyo at doon ay sumuka ng sumuka. Nanghihinang napasandal ako sa pader ng banyo nang matapos at inihilamos ang kamay sa mukha. What the hell is happening to me? Napabuntong-hininga ako at nagmugmog nang marinig ang tunog ng telepono ko.

Naramdaman ko ang pagbilis ng takbo ng puso ko. Tuluyan nang nagising ang dugo ko dahil dito. Nanginginig ang kamay na dinampot ko ang cellphone ko, napakunot noo ako dahil unregistered number ang tumatawag. Nag-aalangan tuloy akong sagutin ang tawag. But my instinct is telling me to answer it so I did.

Hindi pa man ako nakaka-hello ay agad ng nagsalita ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Vanaleigh." Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa malamig na boses na iyon. That voice is very familiar to me. Hindi ako sumagot at pinakingan lamang ito. Huminga ito ng malalim. "Please take care and keep yourself safe. Goodmoring. Bye." At agad na namatay ang tawag.

Wala sa sariling napangiti ako at kinagat ang labi. Damn, he just made my morning so bright. Ginaganahang naghanda na ako papuntang eskwela at nagpaalam sa tita ko na magcocommute na lamang ako. I know kuya's been busy lately, especially with the kind of work that he has. He's a doctor and he owns a hospital in the city. One of the reasons why we are not close is because he has no time with someone like me.

"You're going home now?" Mahinang tanong ng isang boses mula sa likod. Pauwi na ako galing eskwelahan, and I decided to just commute again. Tutal, sanay na ako. Napalingon ako sa likod. Nagulat pa ako nang mapagtanto kung sino ito.

"D-devlin." Nauutal na pagsambit ko sa pangalan niya. He's wearing a uniform for boys, but hell, he looks so good with it.

"Well?"

"A-ahh. Oo, kakatapos lang ng klase namin, so, pauwi na rin ako. Sige, uuna na ako. Magiingat ka." Nagmamadali akong lumayo sa kaniya. Ayoko na. I don't wanna get attached with him anymore. What happened in the villa was a mistake. This is all a goddamn mistake. Ano na lang ang sasabihin saakin ni Cindy oras na nalaman niyang hindi ako sumusunod sa usapan?

I heard him call my name but I didn't look back. Napatda ako ng maramdamang pinigilan niya ako sa braso. Napatigil ako ngunit hindi ako lumingon sa kaniya. I can feel his body tensed.

"Leigh..." Leigh. He called me Leigh. He's the only one who calls me that way, and I can't help but shiver everytime he does. I can feel his heat radiating in my body. Damn my body for reacting this way.

"What?" Matabang na tanong ko.

"Go out with me tonight."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "No." Agarang pagtanggi ko at kinalas ang kamay ko mula sa kaniya. I saw hurt in his blue eyes and he pursed his lips. Napapikit pa ito at huminga ng malalim. I can see pleading in his eyes. Iniwas ko ang mga mata. Ayoko nang bumigay pa muli.

"No?" He querried. Napakagat labi ako.

"B-busy ako--"

"Busy?" Tumaas ang kilay niya. "I think we got no requirements nor assignments for the next days. So what's keeping you busy, baby?" Nanunuyang tanong niya. Marahas na bumuga ako ng hininga dahil napipilan ako sa kaniya. He's right! I'm just making excuses coz I don't wanna go out with him...I mean, I can't. I just can't.

He smirked and stared more at me.

"Don't fight yourself, baby." He held my chin that made me look at him. He was staring lovingly at me. "You'll go out with me tonight, okay?" His voice was so soothing that it made me nod my head. Napangiti siya ng tuluyan. "Good girl. Now, I'll take you home." Hinila niya ako sa kamay.

"No!" Angil ko. "I... I mean, kaya kong umuwing mag-isa. You don't have to do this."

Tumango siya at kinagat ang labi. That move made me look at his lips. It's so red that I wanna ravish it. Damn lips.

"Okay. Make yourself pretty for me tonight, hmm?" Malambing na anito at magaang hinalikan ako sa labi. Napatulala nanaman ako sa ginawa nito. Namalayan ko na lamang na nakaalis na ito nang marinig ang ugong ng sasakyan nito.

Naiinis na napasabunot ako sa buhok. I've been choosing what right clothes to wear for almost two hours, it's almost six PM and I don't think makakalabas pa ako kasama ni Devlin. Siguro hindi na lamang ako pupunta. Napanguso ako. Nakakainis. I want to look pretty tonight. Ayokong magmukhang katulong ni Devlin. Bakit nga ba ako pumayag? Oh, well that's because of his sweet, soothing voice. Napailing nalang ako. I can't fool myself any longer. I want Devlin. I love him. Ayoko ng pigilan pa ang nararamdaman ko. Even if my sickness will hinder us.

I just wanna be with him.

"I'm warning you, Vana. Not my bestfriend." Napatungo ako nang maalala ang boses ni kuya. I shook my head to throw the thoughts away. I don't care. I'll be with Devlin tonight. I wanna be selfish, just for once, i'll let myself be happy with him.

Agad na nagshower ako at nag ayos. In the end, I wore an off-shoulder peach colored dress that hugged my body and nude colored pumps. Naglagay lamang ako ng polbo at pink na lipstick, enough not to make it look lifeless. I just simply tied my hair in a bun. Saktong pagkatapos kong magayos ay biglan bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. I checked the time. It's already seven. Maya maya ay darating na siya. Napangiti ako sa naisip. Tumayo ako at kinuha ang purse sa may tokador nang hindi sinasadiyang masagi ko ang bote ng cologne. Nabasag ito sa sahig kasabay ng pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. My body is trembling. Something's wrong. Tila ba bumalik ang pakiramdam ko noong nalamang namatay sila mommy at daddy. I held my chest. No, this is nothing. Walang mangyayaring masama. Nagitla ako nang marinig ang ringtone ng cellphone ko. Nanginginig ang kamay na agad kong sinagot ito.

"H-hello?" Even my voice is quivering for I don't know why.

"Vana! Si Devlin, naaksidente!"

And slowly, my phone dropped as my tears fell.

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