Linked Souls

Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Maybe

Brix came back. He sat beside me on the bench. There was just silence. No one between us dared to break it for a few minutes. Pareho rin kaming nakatulala at nakatingin sa mga bulaklak sa hardin na ito.

I let out a heavy sigh. Pinaglaruan ko ang mga daliri ko.

"She will be home safely," Brix said.

"I'm sorry, Master Brix..." bulong ko.

I didn't get a response from him.

"I admit it. You scared me to death," I said in a low voice. Sa sobrang hina ng boses ko ay mabilis itong tinatangay ng hangin palayo. "I can't lose her or anyone because of me anymore. I can't blame you. You did that to remind me of my stand in this story. I crossed the line many times, said things I should not. And for that..." I bit my bottom lip. "I'm really sorry."

This time, I mean it. I am really sorry.

"Are you scared of me now?" he asked.

Mapait akong ngumiti bago tumango. "Sobra. Akala ko ay mababaliw na ako sa sobrang takot. Kaya kong tiisin ang sakit pero ibang usapan kapag isang malapit na sa akin ang nasasaktan dahil sa kagagawan ko."

"That's right." Huminga nang malalim si Brix bago tumayo. "You should scared of me. I can do worse than that. Sa susunod na lumagpas ka sa linyang nakaguhit para sa 'yo ay hindi na ako magdadalawang-isip na itatak 'yon sa isipan mo habang buhay."

I nodded. "I understand..."

"You know what's the longest relationship we can get? Memories. Time passes but memories remain. Nothing is scarier than living with haunting memories. Trust me."

Those are his last words before he left.

I immediately wiped my tears away. I'm still being haunted by my memories of Kristan but I can bear it. Kaya ko pa itong dalhin pero kung madadagdagan ito ay hindi ko na kakayanin.

This is the time when I should be contented with what I still have.

"Astra..."

Umangat ang tingin ko sa bagong dating. Si Celeste na nakangiti sa akin. Umupo siya sa tabi ko kaya hinarap ko siya.

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "I've heard what happened."

"I'm sorry..." I muttered. "Hindi na dapat ako nakialam pa sa inyo. I feel embarrassed."

"Sorry din," aniya sa malungkot na boses. "Hindi mo kasalanan kung bakit ako nagkakaganito. Sorry sa mga nasabi ko. I didn't mean it. Masyado lang akong lumubog nung araw na 'yon."

I gave her a tight hug.

"We should be on the same side," she said. "Walang ibang makakaintindi sa atin kung hindi tayo ring dalawa. They don't know how it feels to be left with no choice but to do whatever the rules say. But I do and you also do somehow."

Agreed. But right now... I totally understood what is my role in this story. I started as a slave and it will end as a slave, too. Iyon ang dapat kong itatak sa isipan ko.

Damn. What does it feel like my story is about to end? Like the stars in my dark pace is finally aligned? Or... is it just the start of something else?

Nalaman ko na nakatakda na pala ang pagpapalit ni Oscar kay Celeste bukas. Ayon sa nalaman ko ay sa isang mayamang angkan din mapupunta si Celeste.

We are the same though. Brix is about to give me up.

An unusual thing happened after. We had lunch together— Brix, Oscar, Celeste and me. Wala pa rin si Lord Severo na malamang ay may importanteng ginagawa.