Sakay: The Stallions of Sierra Grande

Kabanata XVI

The Lies that Backfired

Seb

Hindi ko sinasadya.

I was confused with my sexuality three years ago.

"I don't think I can love a guy."

I didn't mean to lead Magnus on.

"Babae lang talaga siguro ang gusto ko."

He loved me so much.

"Gusto ko kasing magkapamilya."

And now my lies backfired.

A few years ago, kakasimula ko pa lang sa college, I saw a glimpse of Vaughn and my heart started beating faster. My mind went erratic and all I could think of for weeks was my cousin's face.

Hindi ko na siya nakausap. I was too cowardly to do so.

I was confused.

Was I gay?

So, I started experimenting with guys. Of course, we didn't go to bed together. We just went on a date or two.

And me being me, I tried dating a lot of guys. Mas matanda, mas bata, payat, mataba, mayaman, mahirap. I tried and tried hanggang nagsawa na ako. I was convinced na nagkamali lang ako about kay Vaughn and liked girls.

That was until I met the Rising Stallion, Magnus Royce Ramos.

Freshman din siya kagaya ko and we were partners nung may project kami sa calculus.

That same night, he confessed to me. I wasn't sure what to say or do.

So I decided to went on with it.

Magnus was sweet, clingy, and overall great. But we have our demons.

And Magnus' were a lot stronger than he was.

Sinabayan ko lang siya and didn't realize that he was crazy. Obsessive siya and very possessive. Like everyone, including my dad who he knew was gay, he gets jealous of.

I broke up with him and lied that I don't like guys and was only experimenting.

But now he knew about us and Vaughn.

Nang makaalis na kami sa college nina Kitty, dumirecho kami sa College of Engineering kung saan nandoon si Magnus.

We will finish this habang maaga pa. Ayaw naming mapahamak pa si Vaughn. If it was an issue regarding us three, napakadali lang ayusin non. Pero kasama si Vaughn ngayon.

Siya ang babagsakan ng lahat if ever.

May tumatawag sa phone ni Vaughn pero hindi niya ito sinasagot. Naka-focus lang siya sa daan. Alam naming kinakabahan siya, kami din naman, pero he's too fragile to experience this kind of stuff.

Nang maka-park na kami sa college, uminit ang dugo nang makita ang taong nakatayo sa harap ng college.

Ang lalaking gumawa ng lahat ng gulo.

"Magnus Royce," bulong ko at kaagad na bumaba ng sasakyan.

Ngumisi si Magnus nang makita kaming lahat sa labas ng college.

"Magnus, ano na naman ba 'to?" agad na tanong ko.

Lumaki ang ngisi niya at bigla itong tumawa na parang baliw.

"Anong ginagawa niyo?" patawang tanong niya. "To think that you said you won't like a guy ever again tapos here you are, liking your male cousin, and to top that, you three are sharing him."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," pailing na sabi ni Magnus. "What a crazy world."

"Ano bang gusto mo?" ani kuya Alfred.

"Sebastino! I want Seb! He's mine!" sigaw ni Magnus. Baliw na talaga ata 'tong lalaking 'to.

"You can't have Seb," ang sabi ni kuya Leon. "We belong to each other."

"Bullshit!" sigaw ni Magnus.

Good thing it's early in the morning at usually 9 AM pa ang first class ng mga engineering students.

"You know what," sambit ni Magnus at hinarap sa amin ang cellphone niya. Hindi ko man makita ito ng malapitan, alam na alam kong picture 'yon namin. "I'll just post this on social media and let the people decide if this is okay..."

Ngumisi siya ng nakakaloko, "or not?"

Tumakbo ako patungo kay Magnus pero hindi siya gumalaw. Instead, may ginawa siya sa phone niya.

Pagkarating ko sa kaniya, agad ko siyang sinalubong ng malakas na suntok. Napaatras si Marcus at nabitawan ang phone nito. Agad ko namang kinuha ang nahulog na device at tiningnan kung anong ginawa niya.

'Your status has been posted.'

'Just found out that The Villa Grande Stallions are SHARING the same person and I don't know what to feel.

Think this is fake? Go check this photo.'

Nabitawan ko ang cellphone ni Magnus at napaluhod. Katahimikan ang bumalot sa aming lahat ng ilang segundo bago nagsabayang tumunog ang mga cellphones namin.

Tumawa si Magnus. Parang nahihilo ako sa mga nangyayari. Liningon ko ang lalaking minamahal ko at nakita ang sakit sa kaniyang mukha.

Vaughn.

Hindi ako makapagsalita pero hinugot ko lahat ng lakas ko para tumayo at tumakbo patungo kay Vaughn.

"I'm sorry Vaughn," ang sabi ko. "I'm so sorry."

Hindi siya umimik. Nakatitig lang siya sa hangin, pumipikit lang kapag kinakailangan.

"Vaughn, I'm so sorry," ang sabi ni kuya Alfred. Dahan-dahan namin siyang pinapasok sa kotse at humarurot pauwi.

On the way there, walang umimik. Walang ni isang boses ang bumasag sa katahimikan. Wala ding tumangka.

Mas mabuti siguro kapag ganito.

"Kitty?" sabi ni kuya Leon sa phone.

"I took it down. But bitch mahihirapan akong mag-track ng mga naka-save na. Anytime, it will be reposted," rinig kong sabi ni Kitty. "It was only posted for 45 seconds but was saved in 740 devices. Imagine that."

"Track them all. Call Dug and Rat," pabuntong-hininga ni kuya Leon. "Call Moose, Ram and Ox. Find that 740 people and report forward an email to them. I'll mail you the message."

"Okay," ang tanging sagot ni Kitty. He knew all too well that any other answer would lead to something breaking. Kuya Leon may seem calm and collected but he has his limits too.

At walang sino man ang gustong makakita non.

"Al?" tawag ni kuya Leon. "Call Luis. Let him fetch Magnus."

Tumango lang si kuya Alfred habang tiningnan naman ako ni kuya Leon sa rearview mirror, "Let's talk when we get home."

Napalunok ako sa kaba dahil sa talas ng tingin niya.

I know all too well that I'm doomed.

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