Fist & Pearl (Ursula State Series, 1)

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13
Weighing Truths

HINDI na ako bumalik sa dorm ko.

Sa dorm namin.

Mystique’s and mine.

I always think about what I read from the books. Magnus Bane, a character from one of the novels I adored so much said that once we learn about the truth, we cannot unlearn it anymore. That’s not verbatim, well, but that’s what I learned about what he said. And I’m starting to guess that is partly right.

I mean, for instance, that arrow in the Federal Express logo, have you ever noticed it? Ako hindi pa, not until I saw this meme that’s saying there is one. I looked it up, I didn’t see one. And just like everybody else did, tumingin ako sa comment box, searching for clues. Those who can see it, they always chat on the comment boxes and tells you where exactly you can find it.

I found one popular comment saying it’s right between the e and x on the word FedEx. I stared at it, I can’t find it. Ang nakikita ko lang ay yung normal letters which are F, E, D, E, and X.

Nothing more.

So I stared at it closer, and just then, I saw it in full view. Saw it glittering in my eyes. The arrow right between the E and the X on the word FedEX. After that, whenever I come across the FedEx logo, the first one I’m seeing is not the word, but the arrow.

That’s exactly how truth unveils. First you don’t see it, especially if you don’t care, not giving even a single shit, you’ll never see what you needed to see. But when truth comes out right in front of your eyes, trust me, you’ll never ever unsee it anymore, everytime you look at it.

And that is exactly how I felt the moment Giah let out her truth. I can’t unhear it anymore (if unhear is even a word). It keeps bugging me. Makes me calculate all the possibilities, trying to find where did I go wrong. What decisions have I chose that is not correct.

The truth I've been holding on for a week is a different truth than what Giah gave me.

Giah’s truth is saying that Warren is innocent.

My truth is believing otherwise.

I walked, and walked. Far away than I can reach, because I needed time to think, and I needed to make the right decision.

I need the real truth. But I don’t know where I can get that.

Napapikit ako bigla nang marealize ko kung nasaang lupalop ako ng university.

I am right in front of Warren's dorm house.

Bilang kumabog ng malakas ang aking dibdib. Hindi ako makagalaw. Gusto kong umalis pero natatakot akong baka mamaya marinig niya ang hakbang ko at saka siya lumabas, malaman niyang nasa labas ako ng kaniyang dorm house.

He shouldn’t know I’m here, right?

“What are you doing here?” halos mapamura ako nang makarinig ako ng boses sa aking likuran. Nagtaasan ang mga balahibo ko nang maramdaman ko ang isang mainit na hiningang dumapo sa aking batok. Now, I regret having my hair in a bun.

Agad akong lumingon upang makita kung sino ang nagsalita, kahit alam ko na sa aking sarili kung sino.

“W-warren,” mahinang sambit ko nang makita ko siyang nakatayo sa aking harapan. Agad nangunot ang aking noo nang mapansin kong hawak niya ang kaniyang panga na nagdudugo. May sariwa at nagdudugong sugat din siya sa gilid ng kaniyang kaliwang mata. “What happened to you?”

Eksakto pagkasabi ko ng mga katagang iyon ay bumaba ang mga tingin ko papunta sa kaniyang katawan. Topless siya at may mga tilamsik ng mga nagkalat na dugo ang kaniyang katawan, maging ang suot niyang ripped jeans.