LUNA: The Rebellion

26: Marriage Bond

Nandilim ang paningin ko.

The buzzing in my ear stopped. The whole world turned dark. My body went numb. Coldness enveloped me and I couldn't stop repeating it. The words. The truth. The revelation. Seconds passed, but it felt as though I'd been in my own mind for hours now. The pounding in my heart, I could hear no more. The anguished, sorrowful faces of the people around me, I could see no more.

It crashed upon me.

And I hated myself for not realizing it until now.

There was this image of King Inias and the angels walking out of the Holy Church. The subtle brush of Tatiana's fingers on my skin as she was pulled away from the scenario.

In front of me... Midnight.

But instead of his usual intimidating bearing, the expression on his features was the last thing I wanted to see from him.

He looked hurt.

And ashamed.

And hurt.

Hurt.

He was hurting.

I blinked back to reality.

Every nerve in my system burned. I didn't care if everyone was watching. If the Pack was here to witness this. All I wanted was to let this sickening feeling out of my system.

"When was this?"

"Since you woke up from Scorch's poison"

I figured.

"At hindi mo sinabi saakin dahil?"

"Alam kong hindi ka papayag"

"But still you insisted?"

"You—" Midnight took a step forward, I took a step back. I wanted him away from me. "You couldn't have made it, love"

"So kailangan ko pang magpasalamat sayo at buhay ako ngayon?"

"Sahar, please"

"What makes you think I wanted to live?"

I saw how his body tensed. "Don't say that"

"What makes you think I wanted to keep doing this?" I was glad my voice was stern despite the ache in my heart. "What makes you think I still wanted to fight? What makes you think I wasn't tired, Midnight?"

"Stop saying that"

"Hindi ko maitindihan. Wala na akong maitindihan. Tapos malalaman ko na lang na kasal na pala ako sayo?"

He swallowed hard, as though opening his mouth was the most challenging thing for him to do right now. "I need you to listen to me first, okay? Please?"

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. "I hate you" when he attempted to reach for my arm again, I pulled out my dagger. "Back off"

"Sahar?" I couldn't stand him anymore. Everything felt so heavy. "I'm sorry"

I burst into anger and lunged. I bared my teeth at him, snarled like the little scared witch I was before, and shoved the glinting blade into his chest. "You're sorry?" I snapped. Felt the metal plunge deep. There were surprised gasps behind me, I thought I heard Kaimana scream. Midnight staggered back. "You're sorry?!" I shouted, and he coughed up blood. "Plans after plans after plans! You never stop! Para lang makuha ang gusto mo, wala ka ng pakialam pa sa iba!" I pulled back the dagger and stabbed. His knees buckled and we both fell onto the ground with a thud.

A desperate sound crawled its way up to my throat as I straddled his hips and stabbed him again.

And again. And again. Again. Tears prickled at the side of my eyes. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe— I screamed.