All that Matters (Absinthe Series 3)

Kabanata 22

Kabanata 22

All That Matters

Bumalik ako sa loob ng function hall na parang walang nangyari. Everyone was staring at me as I entered. Binalewala ko iyon kahit na sobrang daming katanungan sa isip ko. Why would he say sorry? Why would he make.me fall for him if it was all for nothing?

Wala sa sarili lamang akong napaupo kasama ng ibang officers. I spotted Muriel staring at me as if asking if I was okay. Tumango lamang ako at tipid na ngumiti. I did not bother looking for Nile because I know the moment that I'll see him, babalik at babalik sa akin ang mga katanungan.

" Have you seen it?" rinig kong tanong ng isang officer kay Clarice. On my peripheral vision, they were watching on a phone. There was a video of a familiar place…with two people talking.

Napatayo ako nang mapagtantong ako iyon at si Nile. Clarice and the others looked at me. Nagtagis ang aking bagang at bumigat ang aking paghinga dahil sa nakita. My fist clenched. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa lahat. There were many of them who were watching. May natatawa at may ibang napapatingin na lamang sa akin. The scene was sickening and I wanted to vomit everything that's been inside my stomach.

I could hear everything. Every whispers, every laugh…it was sickening. Isang hakbang, at nanginginig na ang aking mga paa upang umalis. Someone asked me if I was okay but I mindlessly nodded my head, unable to think. Dalawa..tatlo..apat na hakbang at nakita ko si Nile, paalis ng function hall. I felt betrayed, angered and maybe I felt disappointed. A part of me wanted to blame him of everything ngunit, hindi ko naman masisisi si Nile kung iyon naman talaga ang nararamdaman niya. Pero umasa kasi ako na baka mayroon din at sinubukan ko naman.

Sana nga ginawa ko yung gusto niya.Sana nga pinigilan ko…pero ano bang magagawa ko?

Hinabol ko si Nile kahit na ang tingin ng iba sa akin ay parang tanga na at desperada. Someone from the faculty asked what was going on but I didn't care at all. Sinundan ko si Nile hanggang sa makita kong pabalik siya sa kung saan kami naroroon kanina. He stopped in the middle of the fountain and was looking for someone. Huminto ako sa pagtakbo nang makitang galit na galit siya.

" What the fuck, Trance?!" sigaw niya. Suminghap ako nang marinig ang pangalan ni Trance. I hid behind a boulder to see what was happening. Sumilip ako at nakita ang paglabas ni Trance sa kung saan.

A slow clap was heard and Trance appeared, almost laughing.

" You did a good job, Nile. That wasn't so bad for a confession, huh?" Tumawa si Trance at lalapitan na sana si Nile. Nile aimed for Trance face. Nakuha niyang makasuntok sa hindi handang si Trance.

" What the fuck, Nile?" galit na tanong ni Trance.

" I told you to not do it! Bakit ginawa mo pa rin? I already did what you told me to do!"

Trance laughed venomously.  " You did. You broke her heart but it doesn't mean that it will end that way. Gusto ko lang namang tuparin ang gusto ni Camila at Aru."

I gasped. Humakbang ako palayo at may nabangga. A sound emerged startling the both of them. Namilog ang mga mata ni Nile habang nanatili lamang na nakatayo si Trance at hawak ang panga. He had an awful smirk plastered on his face.

Nanginginig ang kamay kong masampal silang dalawa. Tumitig ako kay Nile. I made sure to show him my disgusted and disappointed look. Nakita niya iyon at kita ko ang pagsisisi niya…but it was too late. My image was already tainted. He had broken my heart into pieces..not only that…he betrayed me. Akala ko okay na ako sa sakit na dulot ng ginawa niyang pagtanggi…pero mas masakit pala na malamang pinaglaruan ka lang din. Kahit hindi ko na malaman ang buong kuwento..o kung anuman iyon..may nagawa pa rin siyang mali. Pinaabot niya sa ganitong gulo kung saan isang puso ang masasaktan…isang tao ang buong buhay na magsisisi sa isang desisyon.