Restraining Dawn

XXI

Chapter 21

- Parallel -

"How?" Nawasak ang boses niya dahil sa pamumuo ng luha.

"Ariel, I'm going to explain." Eris tried to get closer to her but she stepped backward. Kitang kita niya ang sakit sa mga mata nito nang lumayo siya.

"No! You're not going to explain anything!" Her tears bursted.

Genesis looked unfazed, no trace of remorse can be seen in his eyes. She wanted to yell at him, curse him and punch him for lying to her. Why does he have to break her now?

"Paano nyo naatim na magsinungaling sakin? You know how I've suffered from all of this tapos... Tapos ganito?" Her tears can't stop cascading down her cheeks.

Her voice broke. Naka Ilang beses syang lunok bago magsalita muli.

"Eris... I thought I could trust you ''. The bitterness and disappointment was evident in her tone.

"So magkasama kayo sa panloloko sakin? Magka-kuntyaba kayo, all this time?" She laughed bitterly. Anger seeping through every word she spit. Her fists are balled, trying to calm herself.

"We can't tell you the truth-"

"No! You CAN tell me the damn truth! YOU CHOSE TO LIE TO ME! STOP MAKING DAMN EXCUSES!" She screamed at them. Kitang kita nyang napapitlag si Eris habang si Genesis ay napapikit lang.

Putangina nyo.

"Ariel, let's go" aya ni Colin na siyang sinunod niya. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. Dio said something to them, which she's thankful for. Susunod pa dapat si Eris ngunit napigilan ni Dio.

Pagod na pagod siya sa pagtatalo at sigawan, pero hindi niya kayang hindi magsalita. Sobra siya nasasaktan at hindi siya papayag na magdahilan ang mga ito.

Nothing can justify all the lies they've told her.

"Calm down first, Ariel... I'll get you something to eat." After Colin left her inside the room, she just stared blankly at the ceiling. Trying to process everything that had happened.

She's staying on Colin's house, together with Dio. Hindi na nagtanong pa ang babae nang sabihin niyang ayaw niya munang manatili sa mansyon ni Genesis. She felt sorry for Elena and Samour, but she don't know... Baka kasama sila sa nanloko sa kaniya kaya kailangan niya munang tiisin ang mga ito.

Colin and Dio weren't in on her dreams, so she's sure that they can be trusted. She doesn't know what to do if the both of them will betray her too.

After a few minutes, Colin entered with a tray in her hand. There were few foods, which she's thankful for because she doesn't have the appetite.

Sinamahan siya nito hanggang sa matapos siya at inayang maglakad lakad sa malawak na bakuran. Bahagyang gumaan ang pakiramdam nya nang makita ang magandang tanawin. Malapit nang lumubog ang araw ngunit kitang kita nya ang tuktok ng burol.

"Nakatulong ba, Ariel?" Mahinang tanong ng babaeng kanyang katabi. Diretso lamang itong nakatingin sa harapan, ngunit bakas sa mukha nito na nag-aalangan.

She admits that nowadays she's so sensitive. Even the slightest trigger made her cry and shout. Everything hurts her. Inaalala nya pa lang ang nagdaang araw nya sa mundong ito ay napapabunghalit na sya ng iyak. Iniisip na ganun na ba sya kadaling paikutin para maloko nila nang ganun kadali? They toyed her.

"It did, thank you Colin" binigyan nya ito ng maliit na ngiti. Mukha namang nakahinga ito nang maluwag pagkatapos noon.

"You wanna go there?" Simpleng tanong nito at tinuro ang tuktok. Mabilis syang tumango at naglakad.