KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

CHAPTER 61

I didn't know how long I spaced out. I was staring at Davil's lips. He was uttering something but I couldn't comprehend it. Every thing around me seemed to be muted while slowly fading, or maybe it was the other way around. I was the one who became deaf while an unknown force was dragging me to the other realm. I felt so lightheaded and above all... I felt so lost and detached from the reality. My body was numb. The revelation—my mind didn't want to acknowledge yet—switched off my senses.

The feeling of emptiness lingered in my system until I lost track of the time and surroundings. Then, my mind heard my pleading, granting me a temporary solace. It shut down.

***

I opened eyes hastily when I felt someone shaking my shoulders. It seemed like an eternity had passed when my eyes scanned the place. Napakurap ako ng ilang beses nang magtama ang tingin namin ni Davil. I couldn't recall what happened at first but when I watched closely his reaction, the memories dawned at me like a devastating storm. I was standing at the eye of the typhoon where its crashing waves and ruthless winds broke me beyond repair.

"Brat..."

Muli akong napakurap. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kaniya at minabuting pagmasdan kung nasaan ako. I was already in my bed inside the King's Edifice. Nasa tabi ko naman si Davil at pilit inaagaw ang aking atensyon. I closed my eyes tightly—suddenly regretting why I opened it in the first place.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napunta dito. Hindi ko rin maalala kung ano ang nangyari sa akin pagkatapos ng rebelasyong tila bombang inilapag ng presidente sa aking harapan. Ngunit, malinaw na malinaw pa rin sa aking isipan ang mga nalaman ko na hanggang ngayon ay hirap na hirap akong tanggapin.

Narinig ko ang malalalim niyang buntong hininga. Kinain kami ng katahimikan nang hindi ko na siya tiningnan ulit. The silence that enveloped us was fatal. Unti-unting nilalason ng katahimikan ang aking isipan.

Isang katanungan na lang ang hindi nasasagot, at sa totoo lang natatakot ako sa maaaring maging kasagutan nito. Why can't I remember them? The answer of that would sum up every thing. Ngunit paano kung mas masakit pa ito kumapara sa nalaman ko na? Kakayanin ko pa ba?

"Brat... h-hindi ka aalis, diba? You will not leave me, right?"

The fear and hesitation in his voice pained me. Nanginginig pa ang kaniyang boses at tila nasa bingit na ng pagkabasag. Unti-unting namamasa ang aking mga mata kasabay nang paulit-ulit na paglalaro ng mga salita ng presidente sa aking isipan.

"K-kaya ba..." I swallowed the lump in my throat when I couldn't talk properly. "Kaya ba may mga pagkakataong kapag binabanggit ang pangalan niya ay nakakaramdam ako ng guilt? Kaya ba noong nasa ospital ako ay pakiramdam ko... may pinatay ako? I e-even asked you if I killed Dale, right?"

Nagsimula na akong humikbi. Tangina! Kailan ba ako matatapos sa kakaiyak kong 'to?

"Why did you betray him, Davil? Paano siya namatay? Did I kill him for real? How could I do that... how could I kill the man whom you claimed as my first love?"

I opened my wet eyes. My gaze landed on his troubled face. Nanatiling tikom ang kaniyang bibig kahit kitang-kita kong maraming mga salita ang naglalaro sa kaniyang mga mata.

"Kaya ba... galit na galit ka sa akin noong una tayong nagkita dito sa school? Am I right? At that time, you're blaming me for your brother's death? That explained why you became so cruel to me. Why you wanted me to go insane in finding the truth." I concluded.

"I- I killed him. Saunder was right all along. He will not hate me for a petty reason..."

"You did not kill him..."