夏の愛 (Natsu no ai)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The moment of truth.

All eyes were on Itsuki. Nicole watched as Itsuki looked down and brushed his hair with his eyes closed. Kinikilatis ni Nicole ang bawat galaw ng binatang Hapon na kasama nila. Dahan dahang tumingala si Itsuki at tumitig sa mga mata ni Nicole. Nagulat ang dalaga nang makita niyang may mga luhang tumutulo sa mga mata ni Itsuki Sakamachi.

"You must be talking about Aya," panimula ni Itsuki. Finally, they got a name.

"W-who's Aya? D-did you really k-kill her?" Nangangatog ang boses ni Nicole sa kaba. Hindi niya alam kung ano'ng isasagot ni Itsuki. Natatakot siya sa maaari niyang malaman.

"Who told you I killed Aya?" May mga luha pa ding umaagos sa pisngi ng binata habang nakatitig siya kay Nicole. "I loved Aya! Why would I kill her?!" Hinampas ni Itsuki ang kanyang kamay sa lamesa, dahilan para mapatalon sa gulat sina Nicole at Pandora. Astrid only crossed her arms and stared at Itsuki habang ihinarang ni Axis ang braso niya sa harapan ni Astrid, akmang tinatago sa likod niya ang dalaga. 

"Don't make a scene, Itsuki," bilin ni Axis. Nakatitig ito ng masama kay Itsuki habang nakakuyom ang kanyang kamao. 

"I'm sorry," nanlambot bigla ang mga mata ni Itsuki. "I just..." Pinunasan ni Itsuki ang kanyang pisngi gamit ang ilang tissue na nakakalat sa lamesa. Biglang nakaramdam ng awa si Nicole sa binatang kaharap niya. No, she thought. Hindi siya pwedeng maawa dahil hindi pa niya nalalaman ang buong katotohanan.

"How can you kill someone you love?" Tanong ni Itsuki. Fresh tears were falling from his eyes. Pilit niyang pinupunasan ang kanyang mga luha pero patuloy pa din silang umaagos.

"But Kinjiro said..." Natigil sa pag sasalita si Nicole dahil sa sama ng titig ni Itsuki. Hindi niya alam kung anong masama sa sinabe niya, nabanggit lang naman niya ang pangalan ni Kinjir--

Oh.

"Kinjiro told you I killed Aya?" Tanging tango lang ang naisagot ni Nicole. 

"Aya... I loved her, and she loved me. Kinjiro..." Napalapit si Pandora para marinig ang sinasabe ni Itsuki. Matagal na siyang nagtataka kung ano ba talaga ang pinagaawayan ng dalawang magkapatid na Sakamachi. "Well, he loved Aya as well. He was beyond obsessed with her. Every time their paths would cross, Kinjiro would pester Aya to leave me and to choose him. My older brother would always say that he's the better Sakamachi, and that Aya would be so much happier with him. Aya would keep on declining."

Biglang naging seryoso ang tingin ni Itsuki. Hindi namalayan ni Nicole na napalapit na siya kay Itsuki, titig na titig ito sa binata. Halatang halata sa kanyang mukha that the suspense was killing her.

"Then what happened?" Bulong ni Nicole. Napailing si Itsuki habang hawak ang magkabilang tenga niya. It was like he was stopping himself from remembering.

"I was there," pagtutuloy nito. "I was nearby when it happened. Kinjiro was talking with Aya, they were near the streets. I was at the other side of the road, waiting for the light to go red so that I could cross the road. Aya was making hand signals while talking to him, she didn't even notice me." Umiiling si Itsuki habang nagk-kwento. Pilit na iniisip ni Nicole kung paano nangyare ang lahat. Nakita ni Itsuki na naka pikit si Nicole pero itinuloy niya pa din ang kanyang pag kwento.

"I saw how Aya slapped Kinjiro. I heard it from the other side of the road. There were no cars at that time, but the light was still green. Aya suddenly crossed the road, that was when she saw me. I saw relief in her eyes, as if she was glad to get away from Kinjiro. I saw the way she slightly smiled when she saw me. But that smile instantly faded away."

Biglang hinawakan ni Itsuki ang kamay ni Nicole, dahilan para mapamulat ang dalaga. Nicole watched as Itsuki Sakamachi broke down in front of her, how he couldn't even control the tears that fell from his eyes.

"My princess, Aya Yamamoto, got hit by a truck that day. And every day I blame myself for not running after her, for not saving her from my own brother, Kinjiro Sakamachi."