Before Anything Else (Absinthe Series 2)

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

Before Anything Else

Nawala ang init na bumabalot sa akin matapos bitawan ni Faigel ang mga salitang iyon. Faigel sounded so serious and I don't know! Calm? He looks just like it. Ngunit ako? binabahala ako ng mga katagang iyon.

My heart pounded in fear and perturbation. Tila hindi ko malunok ang bumabara sa aking lalamunan habang patuloy na nakatitig sa pinsan. To help ease it, I let out a heavy breath. Nilingon ko si Eion at hindi naitago ang kabang bumabagabag sa aking mga mata.

" You can stay in the kitchen with Evie. Mag-uusap lang kami ng pinsan ko." I whispered softly to him. I don't know how I sounded calm, siguro ay ayaw ko lang na mabahala si Eion at hindi na umalis sa aking tabi.

Kahit nalilito ay tumango si Eion na nginitian ko lang din. Despite of being hesitant, Eion stepped back. Nagdadalawang-isip pa kung hahakbang ba ulit palayo o aabante patungo sa akin. I pushed his hand softly until I heard him sighed. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad. Nang mawala sa paningin ko si Eion ay ibinalik ko ang titig sa aking naghihintay na pinsan.

Faigel had this unwavering look on his face. Huminga siya nang malalim at tumango sa akin. I walked first, with him walking behind me. Natigil kami sa balkonahe kung saan kitang kita ang kalawakan ng siyudad. The air went cold, sending goosebumps on my spine. Hindi ko napigilang yakapan ang sarili habang tanaw tanaw ang siyudad.

" You're with him. Kayo na ba?" he grilled as he stood beside me. He was stiff. I can feel his silent rage as he said those words.Hindi man nagtatanong ay alam kong napagtagpi-tagpi niya na ang lahat.

" Yes." madiin kong sabi at siya'y nilingon. " May problema ba doon?"

Dumiin ang titig sa akin ni Faigel. He firmly shook his head and he sighed.

It was a heavy one. He sounded problematic at hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito siya ngayon.Hindi siya pupunta dito kung walang kinalaman ang pag-uusapan sa akin. Faigel cares too much when it comes to me. Siguro ay dahil sobrang close kami na kahit ang aking problema ay poproblemahin niya rin. But in the past few weeks, I know I've stirred clear away from him; from the rest of them. I haven't been open enough to share my story, my burden. Nahihirapan din ako at hindi na rin alam kung sino pa ang lalapitan.

" Why are you here?" instead, I asked.  Ayaw ko mang mapakinggang bastos ngunit iyon ang naging hatid sa akin. I don't know if Faigel even noticed that I was stiff and suppressing an  anger. Ngunit nakita ko ang kaniyang bahagyang pagkislot.

" Hindi ka pupunta dito kung hindi importante ang sasabihin mo. Is it about my relationship with Eion, again?"

"Yes."

I heaved out a sigh. " Then there's no reason for us to talk---

" You don't understand, Forah! Sisirain ka niya! You don't know him at all! And I want to talk this out because---

" Stop!" I cut him off.  Sa gulat ko ay nasabi ko iyon. He sounded angry all of a sudden. His sudden outburst got me to decide that I should not listen to all of it. We're running in circles and there's no end for it. There's no edge and there's no open exit for this. No excuses and just a whole lot of pretenses.

" Bakit ba hindi niyo maintindihan na nagugustuhan ko si Eion? Bakit ba ganito na lamang kayo sa kaniya? He wasn't doing anything wrong!" I defended.

Faigel sighed, sounding frustrated. " Forah, I want you to break up with Eion because your parents are coming back." he dropped the bomb.

Tila nabingi ako sa narinig mula kay Eion. My lips parted as I take in the words he said.