A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 61: Truth

[Quin]

"U-Umalis ka na, please," I begged as I continued sobbing with both of my hands on my face. Para akong nasa isang panaginip at nanonood lang ako sa naglalarong tagpo. Hindi ako nakagagalaw, at kahit makapagsalita man lang.

All I can do is watch two people in a garden and they are both crying. And it happened so fast. Everything became dark and void all of a sudden. There was scarcity of oxygen and it was suffocating me. So I tried to breathe.

No! I can't die yet! I can't die yet!

Habol-habol ang hiningang napamulat ako ng mga mata at kaagad napahawak sa aking dibdib. I blinked numerous times as I adjusted to my heavy breathing and very luminous sight. I had a dream, and Raven was there.

Nakita niya ako. Nalaman niya ang... totoo.

"Mom..." I called out breathily as I weakly turned to the other side of the bed, almost blindly searching for anyone with my still terrible eyesight.

Napasinghap ako nang makitang may taong nakaupo sa stool katabi ng aking kama, nakaub-ob habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ko nang marahan. Tulog. Suot niya ang suot ni Raven sa panaginip ko. A dark, striped coat...

I searched my mind for the memory if ever it was real. Mostly, I can't remember my dreams because of some reasons. So why did I remember such?

"Gising ka na pala, 'nak..." Pinilit kong makaahon kahit kaunti para makasandig sa headboard ng kama saka nilingon si mom. I am even breathing heavily from too much strength I used just to be able to lean on the bed but still not enough courage to pull my hand off from him.

Nakangiti na naman siya habang nasa may sofa. My eye is actually cooperating today... and thank, God.

"You were in the garden... with Raven," she started as she glanced at the person I am with. I did the same and my heart is consumed with so many emotions that are opt to burst with very little provocation. "And then you collapsed when your epigastric pain attacked."

Mapait akong napangiti at nagpakawala ng isang malalim na hininga.

"So it wasn't a dream then..." Dumako ang tingin ko kay Raven, naninikip ang dibdib pero sobrang galak ng aking sistema na hindi dapat nag-uumapaw ngayon kasa hindi ba? This is not part of my plan. He should not know but his presence here has awakened something in me but I don't know what it is.

"He's actually here..." And he's holding my hand like he won't let me go.

"Tell him the truth, 'nak. He deserves it." Umalis na si mom ng aking silid patungo sa kung saan.

Naiwan kami ng taong iniwasan ko nang ilang taon sa kwarto, naghihintayan yata kung sino ang unang magsasalita. Hindi ko siya kayang harapin. I'm so horrible. I look like a beast while he is a prince charming-with kingly grace. I look like a witch and he is a noble man.

I never wanted to face him looking like this. Hopeless. Pathetic. Gustong-gusto niya ang katapangan ko at alam kong isa iyon sa mga nakita niya sa akin. Pero wala na 'yong tapang na 'yon sa ngayon. Matagal ng ubos.

Inubos na ng lahat ng sakit.

Maingat kong hinila ang aking kamay mula sa kan'ya pero humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya ro'n. Then, he slowly lifted his head to face me. His eyes were mad, but sad. He looks so... breakable and devastated.

Parang ilang taon lang ang nakararaan, inaya niya pa ako ng kasal. Sa kasalukuyan, heto siya at itatanong kung bakit ko siya iniwan. Kung bakit hindi ako nagpaalam. Ayokong tingnan niya ako ng gan'yan.