IKAW LANG ANG MAMAHALIN (ASHRALD)

Chapter 23B

Sarah stood there, startled. Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya. "Ano Sarah, Im asking you, saan ka nangaling?" Gerald stood up, pigil na pigil ang boses nito. Inalis ni Sarah ang tingin niya kay Gerald. "Di ba sinabi ko naman sayo, may meeting kami?"

"Bullshit! You're lying Sarah! You're lying!" Sigaw ni Gerald. His face turned crimson, his eyes were like flying daggers, directly aiming at her. Sarah was blown away, nanginig buo niyang katawan. "May alam ba siya?" She was completely speechless.

Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinawakan ang braso niya. Madiin ang pagkakahawak na iyon ni Gerald, "How could you Sarah? How could you?" He was shaking her.

"Ge, nasasakatan ako, ano ba!" Sarah felt his grip getting more firm as he spoke. "Bakit hindi ka magsabi sakin ng totoo! Ha Sarah!" Sarah felt her tears are about to pour. "Please Ge, bitiwan mo ko!"

"No Sarah!" Hindi inaalis ni Gerald ang kamay at mata niya sa kanya. Nanunuot ang mga tingin na iyon sa kaluluwa niya.

"Ano? Anong ginawa niyo ni Rayver? Sumagot ka!" Napatingin si Sarah sa kanya. Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito. Pilit niya na inalis ang pagkakahawak sa kanya ni Gerald at lumayo ito. She can't help it. She broke down to tears.

"Im so sorry, Ge. Pinilit niya kong makipagusap sa kanya. Guguluhin niya tayo." Humarap siya kay Gerald. His face was in so much pain, "Nagusap lang kami. Maniwala ka sakin. Please, Ge." Sarah was pleading.

"Hindi ka dapat nagsinungaling sakin! I could have protected you from him! Hindi ka na dapat nakipagkita sa kanya!" He vented on her.

"I wanted to tell you, pero ayoko ng lumaki pa ito. Maayos kaming nagusap ni Rayver and that's it!"

"Wala akong tiwala sa gago na yon! What if he did something to you, saktan ka, dalhin ka kung saan.."

Sarah cut him. "Ano ba Ge? Ano bang akala mo dun sa tao? I know him, hindi siya ganon!"

Napahamas si Gerald sa dingding ng living room at sumigaw ito. Sarah's heart jumped. Nakabibingi ang sigaw na iyon. She felt she will collapse anytime, nanikip bigla ang dibdib niya.

"Pinagtatangol mo pa talaga siya! Ha Sarah! Shit!" His voice was all over the house. His fists were tightly clenched and his whole body was shaking. Sarah was aghast, she can't believe how furious he was.

He looked intensely at her again, "Bakit Sarah? Mahal mo pa ba siya? Do you still love him?!" Sigaw nito sa kanya.

"Ge, tama na please! Tama na!" Sarah cried out loud. Napasandal siya sa wall, parang nahihilo na siya sa sobrang emosyon na nararamdaman. Her tears were flowing nonstop.

Napaupo si Gerald sa sofa, parang nanghina ito. "Sobrang sakit Sarah. Paano mo nagawa sakin ito?" Gerald paused and looked at her. Sarah saw tears building up in his eyes.

He looked away, "Nakita ko kayo, nakita kita sumama ka sa kanya." His voice was trembling. Gerald tried to control his tears.

Sarah was shocked. She can't move and she can't speak. Hindi niya alam kung paano nalaman ni Gerald lahat ng ito. "Ikaw lang Rayver ang gagawa nito. Why? Bakit kelangan mo pang isali si Gerald dito?" Galit na galit siya kay Rayver.

They were silent for a moment.

Pilit na pinakalma ni Gerald ang sarili. Gulong gulo ang isipan niya, umaapaw ang galit niya, ngunit nahihirapan din ang damdamin niyang makitang umiiyak si Sarah.

Hindi makatingin si Sarah kay Gerald. She felt bewildered and frightened of him. Gerald stood up and walked towards her, Sarah felt nervous. Naramdaman ni Gerald ang pangangamba ni Sarah.