After My Death Tomorrow (Published Under PSICOM Publishing Inc.)

Episode 31

I was still staring at Marco's back and somehow, he felt a stranger to me. It's as if he's near yet so far. Ibang-iba siya sa Marco na kilala ko. Sa Marco na walang alam kung hindi ang tumawa. Sa Marco na para bang hindi kayang magalit.

Ngayon, nag-iba ang lahat.

Marco seems like a ball of anger and disappoinment as he walked towards his cheating girlfriend.

Wala pa ring kamalay-malay sina Cygny na papalapit na si Marco sa kanila. Patuloy pa rin silang naghahalikan. They are making the best out of the moment while Marco's feeling the worse because of it. 

Nang makalapit na si Marco sa kanilang dalawa, napahawak na lang ako sa aking bibig. Hinigit niya ang damit ni Lucan at saka kinwelyuhan. Cygny and Lucan obviously didn't expect this. Kitang-kita ko kung papaano manlaki ang mga mata ni Cygny habang nakasemento ang paningin sa kanyang boyfriend. Ganoon na rin si Lucan na ngayon ay hindi makagalaw habang nakatingin sa walang emosyong mukha ni Marco.

"Marco . . ." Natitigalgalang sambit ni Cygny. "Let me explain--"

Pero mabilis ang pangyayari, namalayan ko na lang na dumampi na ang kamao ni Marco sa mukha ni Lucan. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit napahiga si Lucan sa lupa. When I steady my gaze on his lips, dumudugo ang ibabang bahagi nito.

Lucan is still defenseless as he tried to recover to the ground, but Marco didn't care at all. He is about to attack him one more time. And that was my cue to intervene because I know, if this continues, chances are Marco might be expelled from this school.

Niyakap ko si Marco mula sa kanyang beywang. He obliged surprisingly. Kusa siyang tumigil. Hanggang sa marinig ko na lang ang mga yabag ni Lucan, a sign that he already got away.

Nakalapat ang aking pisngi sa kanyang malapad na likod, I can clearly feel how dangerously his heartbeat is right now.

It was anger.

Disapppointment.

And most especially, a painful product of false hope.

Ilang segundo kaming nanatili sa ganoong pwesto nang marinig ko siyang magsalita.

"Bitaw." Wala pa ring emosyon ang kanyang boses. Agad tuloy akong kumalas mula sa pagkakayakap sa kanya.

Cygny tried to touch him but she ended up being sweeped by Marco away. By the look of her eyes, she is in her deepest pain because of what he did.

Nanlulumong lumakad si Marco papalayo. I can really feel his sadness. I can really fathom how destroyed his heart has became.

This view of him, it will burn on my mind up until I die.

"You are unbelievable, Margot."

Napalingon ako kay Cygny. Nagtataka.

"Masaya ka na ba?" She said with knitted brows. "This is your plan, right? To ruin us. To split us apart so that you would have a fucking chance to be with him!" I can sense the anger through her eyes and I didn't expect that her mouth would be this vulgar towards me.

"For the love of God, Margot," dinuro niya ako, "pinakiusapan kita pero anong ginawa mo? Nag-take advantage ka! Napaka-walanghiya mo! Ahas ka!" Her tone is turning loud as her tears started to cascade down her rosy cheeks.

Bumuntong hininga muna ako. Sinubukan kong kumalma pero hindi ko magawang pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Nanghihina ako dahil sa walang katotohang mga paratang ni Cygny sa akin. "A-Alam mong hindi totoo 'yang mga sinasabi mo, Cygny."

Isa pang hugot ng malalim na hininga. "Oo, may gusto ako kay Marco pero hanggang doon na lang 'yon. Itinigil ko na ang nararamdaman ko noong maging kayo na at wala akong planong sirain ang relasyon niyo. Pareho ko kayong kaibigan and I want nothing but the best for you even if it still hurts."