Anathema

Twenty Three: Too Late

'I wish I could be the one. But then again, I was late.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*RYUJIN ROSS*

I knew I was in awe for a second after witnessing what happened earlier during the second event. Neah was dragged by some force and I cannot even stop it. Ni hindi ko man lang nagawang pigilan si Darius nang hatakin niya si Neah papalayo sa tabi ko.

"Neah." Mariin kong hinawakan ang kamay niya at pilit na pinakalma ang sarili ko.

I felt so helpless earlier. Alam kong dapat ko siyang iniligtas kaagad, but my feet won't move. That was I think the first time, I didn't exactly know what I need to do. What move should I make next, how will I save her, and why am I trembling with so much fear.

I looked at her again and noticed a few scrapes on her face. She was sleeping soundly yet her breathing was uneven. Palagay ko ay dahil iyon sa matagal na pananatili niya sa ilalim ng gumuhong gusali. Kung hindi dahil kay Lorriene ay hindi rin titigil sa pagdurugo ang noo niya maging ang kaliwang braso niya. Kaya't mas lalo akong nainis sa sarili ko. I couldn't even protect her properly.

"Hey." Lumingon ako nang tapikin ako ni Harah at inabutan ng isang basong tubig.

"Calm down a bit. Magigising rin siya," aniya pa at naupo sa tabi ko.

Mabuti na lamang at nahanap ni Karnam ang lugar na ito matapos niyang makita sina Lorriene at Grayson.

"Nag-announce na ang isang cabalist kanina. May dalawang oras pa daw bago magsimula ang susunod na event," saad niya na ikinatango ko na lang.

"You were panicking out there earlier, aren't you?" tanong niya pa.

"I haven't seen you like that before, Ryu. Nagmamadali ang kilos mo, marahas at walang direksyon ang bawat pag-atake mo kanina kay Darius."

"I am," sagot ko at muling tinitigan si Neah.

"I was indeed panicking. I was scared by the fact that Darius forcefully took her away from me. At wala man lang akong nagawa para pigilan siya."

"I know. I even doubted you being calm and collected at one point, nung makita kita kanina. And then I realized, you really are in love with my cousin," aniya at narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa niya.

"Everyone knows that, Harah. Did I even hide it from anyone else?"

"I know. I even remembered you, asking for Neah's hand when we were eight. Tito JB was so mad that he told Tita Arinne they should leave Northwoods that same day." Napangiti na lamang tuloy ako nang maalala ko ang nangyare nang araw na 'yon.

"Sheneah is just that bright ball of sunshine. She will make you feel warm in any possible way. And there was no time that I doubted my feelings for her. She didn't know how grateful I was meeting her that day."

"Yeah. She can make you happy just by looking at her and seeing her smile," Harah added.

"Yet I feel like I'm slowly taking that smile away," saad ko at saka marahang sumandal sa pader.

"Pakiramdam ko pinipilit ko na lang siya sa maraming bagay. Na parang kinokontrol ko siya sa mga dapat niyang gawin, para hindi siya mawala sa tabi ko. Na pinapaikot ko siya sa sarili kong mundo," dagdag ko pa.

"You're right. Making us join this tournament is one thing," sagot ni Harah.

"But I know Neah more than anyone else here. You're not forcing things. Neah just trust you so much that she believes in anything you say." Tumayo siya at hinarap ako.

"And it is obvious that Neah is doing the same thing. She's able to control every bit of you. You just doubt yourself at times, that's why you cannot notice it. Anyways, I'm sure you will be the best one to have my cousin, if not the only one. And I'll trust my guts on that." Tumalikod na siya at nagsimulang maglakad paalis.