Living With The Psychopath (GL) [Completed] [Self-Published]

Episode 45

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Episode 45:

Napahinga ako ng malalim bago silipin ang langit.  It was already passed six in the evening pero ito at nasa labas pa ako kasama si Rosendale. We sort of developed a new hobby of going out every late afternoon, waiting for the sunset and then watching the stars go visible. May kalamigan na rin ang hangin, may dala naman akong jacket just in case.

Tahimik lang ang lugar. Matao rito tuwing umaga, kadalasan ay mga batang naglalaro lang, kaya sa ganitong oras ay umaalis na rin sila. Nakaupo ako sa duyan na naka-hang lang sa makapal na sanga ng puno. Itong kasama ko naman ay nakasandal lang, maya't maya kong nahuhuli na tumitingin sa akin.

Hindi kalayuan ay may Ministop sa kabilang kalsada, ilang bahay at establishments, at paradahan ng tricycle sa may kanto papasok sa isang subdivision. Bukas na rin ang mga street lights.

Recently lang naman kami napatambay rito dahil kung tutuusin ay madalas lang akong nasa bahay. Rosendale told me that this vacant lot was a fine spot to waste some time.

"How was your session?" Napalingon ako sa kanya. She had this peaceful expression that made me feel so calm, it's like telling me there's nothing wrong at all with all that's happening around us.

Huminga ako ng malalim at inabot ang kamay niya na kaagad din namang humawak sa akin pabalik. She was drawing circles on my palm with her thumb. Her brown eyes was somehow radiating, hindi ko mabasa kung anong iniisip niya sa ganoong klase ng tingin but I can sense that she's doing just fine. "There's only one word, Rosendale. It was uncomfortable."

Natawa siya ng mahina. Pumunta siya sa likuran ko at ipinalibot ang braso sa akin. Ramdam ko ang paghinga maging ang tibok ng puso niya dahil sa sobrang lapit niya She's so soft it can melt me. I can't help but snickered with my own thought, I was starting to think like some hopeless romantic.

"That's the most precise word." I heard her say. She took a lungful of air, propping her chin on the top of my head. Her embrace became tighter. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. "At some point in my life after my family's death, nagpa-therapy rin ako."

"Was it effective? Were you ever really diagnosed?"

"I was diagnosed with depression and PTSD, which is common for people with traumatic experience such as witnessing death. I was able to overcome my PTSD, but you know there are just some things that's inescapable."

Hindi ako sumagot pero sang-ayon naman ako sa narinig. Kung ikukumpara siya no'ng una kong makilala, she's surely even worst than now. She's suicidal no more. Hindi ko na siya matatawag pa na ganoon, which was funny because we started like that. She was calling me a bitch and well, ganoon pa rin ako.

Maybe I did change, slowly, or maybe I've always been like this, only hidden not until she came. She taught me how to be more understanding. It's like Rosendale was more human than I was. Sobrang magkaiba kami sa lahat ng aspeto.

I was aware she's still struggling, I guess it will really take a long time for her to be fine. At sa tingin ko ganoon din ako. It's a long process, but I was hoping it will be worth it. Someday, we'll be truly fine. Hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari sa mga susunod na panahon, pero sana magkasama pa rin kami sakaling dumating nga ang araw na 'yon. There's a lot of possibilities out there anyway.

"You're better now," I told her, admitting the truth I saw in her for all this time.

"I won't say that you completed me, Echo," Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa niya, ramdam ko rin ang pagngiti nito. Nakakagaan sa pakiramdam. "But I will not deny that you complemented every fiber of my being.".