Tall, Dark and Dead (Rewritten)

Well of Misery

CHAPTER FORTY

A l e k

Nang mahimasmasan si Natalia, tsaka lang niya napagtanto ang bigat ng pangyayari. "Saan mo 'ko dadalhin?" Tanong niya sa akin. Kanina pa siya tanong ng tanong ngunit hindi ako sumasagot. Patuloy lang ako sa pagkaladkad sa kanya. "Nasasaktan ako, ano ba?!"

"Manahimik ka!"

Itinulak ko siya papasok sa aking kotse. Namumula ang kanyang braso dahil sa aking mahigpit na pagkakahawak. Inalis kasi niya ang kanyang itim na pull-up kaya ko naman ito kitang-kita. "Kumalma ka, hindi ikaw 'to!"

"Where are you taking the girl?!" Bree tried to block my way, but it was no use. Iminaniobra ko ang sasakyan bago pa niya ulit mabaluktot ang tagiliran ng aking kotse. "You need to wake the hell up, dumbass." Nakalayo man kami, narinig kong sumigaw si Bree ng, "Don't you fucking lay a hand on that girl!"

"Shut the hell up!" I screamed. Alam kong nakakaramdam siya ng takot dahil sa bilis ng tibok ng puso niya. Nakabukas ng kaunti ang bintana kaya naman siya nakahawak sa salamin nito. Mas binilisan ko pa ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan ng marinig kong sumusunod sina Teddy at Bree. Silang dalawa ang bumubusina sa amin sa 'di kalayuan. "You, stop fucking staring!"

"I can't. I'm drawn to you."

"Shut up, Natalia!"

"I'm sorry. Maybe I'm just drawn to you in all sorts of ways." She's still staring at me. I don't usually feel conscious, lalong-lalo na kung alam kong mawawala na naman ako sa sarili ko. Natalia makes me feel. Sometimes, I even feel a little scared when I'm around her. I hate the fact that she makes me feel things. This, whatever this is I'm feeling, it spiraled out of control. "Even in the darkness, I can still see the light, even if you're the one who's hovering over me."

"Shut up! Just shut the hell up!"

"Why can't you accept the fact that you love me?" Her questions got me driving a little faster. It's the fucking freeway and I don't give a shit about tickets. "I know you love me. You're just going Neanderthal on me because you're upset." Indeed, I am. Apart from me wanting to stay calm, the other half is likely to explode.

"Stop talking!"

"Nagagalit ka dahil mahal mo na 'ko at hindi siya. 'Tang ina, 'di ba?" She's right. I'm not mad at her, but I'm upset about the fact that the pain wasn't there anymore. I should be missing Cali, but Natalia's presence makes me feel complete. "Alam kong nakukulitan ka na sa akin dahil sabi ako ng sabi'ng mahal kita, but what can I do, if my stubborn heart adores you?"

"No!"

"You really love hurting me, don't you? Is it the best thing you can do to show your love for me? Dude, you can do better than that." I heard Talia breathing shakily. God, she's crying again. Lagi ko na lang siyang napapaiyak.

"Tabi!" Sigaw ko bago bumusina. Sana lang wala akong masagi or what.

"Hey, asshole, I'm talking to you." Right again, maybe I am an asshole 'cause I kept on pushing and pulling her. "Jesus Christ, I'm so in love with you. You do realize that I'm desperate, right?" Hindi ako sumasagot kahit na salita siya ng salita. Napatingin ako, umiiyak siya pero nakangiti. Nababaliw na yata 'to. "So, it's gonna be like that, huh? 'Kay." Salamat naman at tumahimik na siya.