KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

CHAPTER 7

I felt it. I felt it in from the soles of my feet to the crown of my head that something was wrong with their King. However, I shrugged the thought, suddenly annoyed that it bothered me.

Inihatid ako ni Lush sa dormitory ng Superior. Tahimik lamang siya at tila malalim ang iniisip. Ngunit nang makarating na kami sa mismong tapat ng pinto ay huminga siya nang malalim. He held both of my shoulders and angled my body towards his.

"Alam kong parte ng pagiging Sinclaire mo ang kayabangan, but please, Sappy don't be too egocentric. Hindi mo ito teritoryo," his voice was laced with concern.

Pansin kong pinipilit niyang magmukhang hindi apektado sa sitwasyon. Kunwaring gusto niya akong pagsabihan pero divertion niya lang ito para hindi maging emosyonal. He cannot fool me. He cannot pretend it didn't hurt because his eyes told me the opposite.

Nilingon ko siya at nginitian. I lowered down my pride and let my ego fell.

"I will surely miss you..."

Then, I uttered the word that he never thought I was capable of saying, "Kuya..."

Doon na naputol ang kanyang pagtitimpi. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa sinabi ko. He looked so shock and mesmerized. Para bang may sinabi akong magic word. His eyes glimmered with tears, and he became speechless.

Hindi ko alam na ganito pala ka big deal kay Lush ang matawag na kuya. Base kasi sa reaction niya ngayon parang matagal niya na itong gustong marinig mula sa akin.

Before I could speak again, he stepped forward and enveloped me in his arms. The sound of my brother's cry broke my heart again. Pinipilit kong maging malakas. Ayaw kong umiyak.

Ito ang pinakamalaking pagkakaiba namin ni Lush sa totoo lang. He appeared tough and terror to everyone. He could inflict fear to someone and he could be cruel if he wanted to, but when it came to the people he valued and loved, he was vulnerable. He wouldn't be ashamed to cry when he was in pain. While me? I would rather keep my pain alone and act like it didn't hurt. Dahil sa lahat ng ayaw ko, iyon ang pakiramdam na kinaaawaan. Pity was a big bruise for my ego.

"Pagsinaktan ka nila... tangina kahit tatlo pa 'yang gate ng Chaos aakyatin ko 'yan maalis ka lang rito." He said between his sobs.

Tumawa ako at hinagod ang kanyang likod.

"Hindi ka nga marunong umakyat ng puno, gate pa kaya?" I retorted.

He ignored what I'd said and continued to talk.

"Ang raming masasakit na ala-ala ang binigay sa akin ng paaralang ito, Sappy. Please don't make me hate this school even more. I don't want to lose another girl who holds a special place in my heart. Not again."

Ramdam ko 'yong sakit sa kaniyang bawat salita. His words only proved my assumptions. Mayroong isang bagay ang sobrang nanakit sa kanya sa paaralang ito. And I intended to investigate it.

"H'wag ka na ngang umiyak. Hindi naman ako mawawala."

"May nangako na rin sa akin ng ganyan, pero hindi ko na siya muling nakita."

Hinayaan ko na lang siyang umiyak. Ang higpit ng yakap niya sa akin. Para bang takot na takot siyang bitiwan ako. I sighed and I let him poured his pain through hugging me.

"Take care. Ikaw lang ang nag-iisang baby Sappy ko e! Promise me you will graduate," pakiusap niya nang maihatid ko na siya pabalik sa parking lot.

I smiled.

"I will. Sabay pa nating susuntokin si River." I even winked and he laughed.

"Yeah, that asshole!"

Muli ko siyang niyakap bago siya tuluyang pumasok sa kanyang sasakyan. Tiningnan ko ang kanyang papalayong sasakyan. I took a deep breath.