His Solemn Vow

III

"Okay that's enough" saglit na pumalakpak si Priam at ini-off na ang Oculus Quest na nakasuot sa'kin. Wait what? Thats it?

"I'm not done yet!" Mariin kong utas sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan siyang tanggalin sa akin ang Oculus Quest. Umiiling-iling nalang siya habang tumalikod na sa'kin para siya na rin ang magsuot nito.

"Priam, I need to save her!" Sigaw ko ulit sa kanya habang di pa umaalis sa upuang dapat uupuan ng mga sasalang.

"Since when does your nails became more important than a person's life?" Walang gana niyang sabi sakin kahit hindi parin niya ako pinapaunlakan ng tingin o sulyap man lang.

This is very frustrating! When you are so close to the end and then it was enclosed with darkness!? I need to end that! I need to find out who that fucking kidnapper is!

"Oh let me rephrase that. Since when does your nails became more important than Aphrodite's life!" Bulyaw niya sakin at sa ngayo'y na sa akin na ang buong atensyon niya. Sa kanyang kulay, kitang-kita kung pano dumaan ang pamumula sa kanyang ilong na bumalot sa kanyang mukha pababa sa kanyang leeg.

Napakadilim ng kanyang mga titig na para bang isa akong masukla-suklam na taong nakilala niya. Gone was the Priam I knew, here is the new Priam I never met, up until now.

"Keeper equivalents life Mathilda! Keeper is what keeps the group alive! Aphrodite keeps you alive! Aphrodite keeps me alive! I didn't know that an agent like you can risk someone's life just to fix your broken nail!?" Naghihisterika niyang sabi sa'kin habang di pain mapakali dahil sa galit.

Ganyang palagi si Priam, when he is mad, he wants to keep his hands busy or else he will turn his anger into physical means of hurting you.

"You can do better than that."

I stood up from the chair and held my fist tightly closed. Iwinaksi niya ako sa posisyon kong nakaharang sa dinadaanan niya at isinuot na ang gear. Bago ko pa mai-on ang makina, nagsalita ulit siya sa huling pagkakataon.

"Prove to me that you deserve the position you have right now. We don't need an agent who is full of herself. We need agents that are brave enough to risk anything in claiming what's theirs" sabi niya at humilata na sa chair. I heard a buzzing sound and a siren indicating to start the process immediately.

Padabog kong pinindot ang red button at iniwan na siya sa room.

I felt myself breaking down with those kind of words that Priam kept on throwing at my face. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang sakit nung papalabas na ako at ultimo pagtapak ng paa ko sa sahig ay tila napakalakas na ang tunog para sa akin.

I can't sense myself, I can only hear noise but not a single voice saying that I should not mind it and just be stronger next time. I onl have myself, I only have myself to lift my ass up.

I made my way to my room and tinanggal isa-isa ang aking mga damit. Kinuha ko ang aking roba at isinabit sa hook malapit sa counter top ng banyo. Itinanggal ko na ang aking mga undergarments at walang pakundangang ilinublob ang sarili sa bathtub na may rumaragasang tubig na pinupuno ang tub.

I kept on thinking what could might have been in that scenario, the possibilities, the actions and the counterfeits I can do if only I was responsible enough to sense that a dilemma is raging right infront us.

I really hate futures. I despise them. It is the only thing that I can never control. 

Dala ng pagod, bumibigat na ang talukap ng mga mata ko at naramdaman ko nalang na dumulas ako pababa. The water enveloped my face and the peaceful motions of water calmed my whole system.