Gentleman's Game

Kabanata 16

Closure

I knocked three times before I finally enter inside the room.

Agad nahanap ng mata ko si Zane he's seating in his hospital bed. Nakasuot pa siya ng hospital gown.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa braso niya na may nakabalot na puting tela doon. He's alone. Kalalabas lang ng nurse niya.

Nang bumaling siya sa gawi ko ay nakita kong natigilan siya.

"What are you doing here?"He sounded like he don't want me to be here.

Napalunok ako bago sumagot."I...heard what happened."

"Really?"umangat ang sulok ng labi niya."Alin doon ang narinig mo? Narinig mo ba ang lahat? Did you know everything, Crisha?"he asked mockingly.

The sweet Zane is gone. Parang galit ang lalaki sa mundo o saakin mismo. But I don't understand. Hindi ba kung dapat merong magalit dito ay ako. Ako ang niloko at sinaktan niya. But now looking at him. I saw hatred in his eyes. That I don't know for what reason? Dahil ba akala niya niloko ko siya at pinagpalit kay Park?

Mariin akong pumikit para pakalmahin ang sarili dahil sa pagkalito. Nagpakawala ako ng buntong hininga bago nagsalita."What happened to you, Zane?"

"What happened to me?"he repeated, mimicking my voice."I thought you heard what happened? Akala ko ba alam mo?"he asked sarcastically.

"I don't really know."umiling ako.

"Saan mo nakuha ang mga galos mo sa mukha at sa braso?"he asked. Bumaba ang tingin sa braso ko at muling inangat sa mukha ko ang tingin niya.

"Wala. It doesn't matter. Hindi naman malala ang mga ito. Kumpara sayo...I heard from Cathy that you can't play guitar anymore? Ano ba talaga ang nang----"

"Si Cathy?"he asked."Si Cathy ba ang gumawa niyan sayo?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

Umismid siya bago tumango na parang naiintindihan na niya.

"Si Cathy nga. She's really a bitch."sabay iling niya."Don't mind me. Go home, Crisha."

"But...I...I want us to...talk, Zane. I want to have us a..."

"Closure?"siya na ang tumapos sa sasabihin ko.

Marahan akong tumango sakanya.

"I cheated on you. I know. I know everything. Sinabi na saakin ng magaling mong fiancee na nahuli mo kami ni Cathy."he told."But it wasn't the first time I cheated on you, Crisha. Madaming beses. Iba-ibang babae. And you...you're just too stupid to not notice anything."he smiled mockingly.

Napasinghap ako at hindi inaasahan ang mga nalaman ko. He cheated on me. Pero hindi lang si Cathy kundi maraming babae pero si Cathy lang ang nahuli ko.

Hindi ako nakahagilap ng mga salita. I was astounded. Iniisip ko kung ilang beses sa limang taon niya ako niloko? Was it ever just a one sided love? Bakit pa niya ako ginawang girlfriend kung ganoon?

"Surprise?"he chuckled."Don't be. You're not actually my type, Crisha. You're plain and..."he eyed me from toe to head."boring."he insulted.

"Zane..."I mumbled.

"Kaya nga hindi ako makapaniwala na mapapansin ka ni Park e."he laugh so hard."Wala namang espesyal sayo. Akala ko hindi niya seseryosohin iyon kaya hindi ako makapaniwala na talagang engaged na kayo at ikakasal na."he shook his head.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo, Zane?"

"Oh. You still don't know? Hindi ba sinabi sayo ni Park?"he grinned."Do you actually really think that Park is really a saint, a gentleman perhaps?"hamon niya.

"Yes. He is."I trust Park. I trust him. Kahit na lahat ng nakapaligid saakin ay sinisiraan na siya. My heart will always choose to believe in him. Because I love him.

Nawala ang ngisi sa labi niya at sumeryoso ang mukha."Pity you. Park loves to play. He play games and I tell you he never lose. Hindi ko nga akalain na..."sinadya niyang bitinin ang kasunod.

"You just want to ruin Park. You want my mind to be corrupted."iling ko.

"Oh! Is that so? Am I the one who's ruining Park's reputation? Hindi ba ikaw?"

"What do you mean?"

"By now nagsasampa na ng kaso ang manager ko. In no time kakalat na sa buong mundo ang ginawa ni Park. The world will know how monstrous they are. Those Corrins."he's jaw clenched. His eyes were like igniting because of hatred.

"What did he do? What did he do to you?"

"He almost killed me and tortured me. He have no plans to let me live and see the light, Crisha."he answered.

Natigilan ako.

Hindi magagawa iyon ni Park. Park is...

"He's not the gentleman you know, everyone know. He's worst than me. Kaya niyang pumatay, Crisha."

"No! Hindi magagawa iyon ni Par---"

"HE ALREADY DID!"

"Then why are you still alive!?"frustrated na balik ko sakanya. Hindi ko sinasabing gusto ko siyang mamatay pero kung totoo nga ang bintang niya kay Park then why is he still alive?

"Because Deyron...suggested to let me live...and suffer."

Hindi ako dumiretso sa mansion pagkatapos kong bisitahin si Zane. Kundi sa Malgovha Furniture pero hindi ako nagkwento kay Ellaine. I just stayed there until I get calm. Pagkatapos umuwi na din ako.

Mas lalo lang akong naguguluhan. Si Park ang may kagagawan ng nangyare kay Zane. But why? Why would he do that?

May kinalaman ba si Zane sa nangyare saamin ni Henry sa party ni Ellaine?

Siguradong may rason si Park.

I held my breath as I saw Park's beautiful face. He smiled softly and kiss me on the lips.

"Hi, baby. How's your visit to your ex? Did the two of you talked?"

Mabagal akong tumango sakanya hindi inaalis ang tingin sakanya.

"Is it true?"I asked him.

Nakita kong natigilan siya. He is smart. Hindi ko na kailangan idetalye pa ang tanong ko dahil alam na niya agad ang tinutukoy ko.

"Yes."walang pagdadalawang isip na sagot niya.

"W-why?"namuo na ang luha sa gilid ng mata ko."Bakit mo ginawa iyon kay Zane? Did...did you almost killed him? Magsasampa sila ng kaso sayo, Park. You're reputation will be...ruin."

"I know."he nod then lick his lips."But I can't just let that bastard run away...after what he did to you."

"Still. That's too much. You...you tortured him and almost killed him."I was so frustrated."Bakit hindi mo sinabi saakin na si Zane ang may pakana nuong nangyare sa party ni Ellaine? You should just have put him in a precinct."naghihisteryang sabi ko.

"I told you he had to pay big time. Well now he did."he said without remorse in his tone.

This is...what he's been talking about. The beast of the Corrins.

"But still it's wrong..."umiling-iling ako.

"Tell me what is right then?"inisang hakbang niya ang espasyo sa pagitan namin."Tell me what is right, baby. Because I don't know anymore. He touched you. That kiss marked was from him, Crisha. He..."napalunok siya.

"He what, Park?"

"He...almost...r-raped you."tila hirap na sabi niya.

Mas lalo akong nagulantang at natulala sa narinig.

Zane did what?