My Nation (Completed)

Painful Leave

Chapter 16

Nanlaki lamang ang mga mata ko pagkatapos kong marinig yun. "Stay away from him?" hindi ko pa rin makapaniwalang tanong.

"Yes," malungkot na sagot ni Prince Eaux.

"But... why?" pumiyok ang boses ko.

"We already told you. He's not an experiment. We cannot just conclude that he will live if the ice in his heart will completely melt."

"But we cannot also conclude that he will die if it is," biglang sabat naman ni Prince Fuego kaya napatingin si Prince Eaux sa kanya.

"I know, that's the point. We don't know what will happen so the best thing to do is not to let it happen right?"

"But... what about everything they've been together?" tanong ni Prince Feesy. "That's just painful."

"What then? Can anyone give me another option?" seryosong tanong ni Prince Eaux.

Walang sumagot. "See? There are no other choices."

Habang nagdedebate sila, nag-iisip ako.

"But what about Jethro?" tanong ni Prince Turuki. "I mean he will be confused why suddenly Yani is avoiding him. He doesn't even have an idea what we are talking about right now."

"I know that," sagot ni Prince Eaux. "But he was the one who called us here in the first place so that means he knew this was coming and he knew that this will happen so I think he knows what he will do."

"Tss, easy for you to say," irap ni Prince Fuego. "And yeah it's Jethro anyways so he can do that but what about Yani? She's the victim here."

Napatingin sa akin si Prince Eaux. "Right. Then let's just—" napatigil siya. "Wait. I thought we decided on this. Why are you all suddenly arguing with me?" tanong ni Prince Eaux.

"It's just that..." Prince Edmondo paused. "...we found out that Yani loves Jethro"

May namuong katahimikan pagkatapos sabihin yun ni Prince Edmondo.

"I've decided," sabi ko na ikinagulat nila at kinabasag ng katahimikan. "I clearly understand everything. You are doing this for his sake so..."

I paused dahil lumalabo na ang mga mata ko sa mga luha na namumuo rito. "...so I'll try my best not to make any close contact with him and avoid him," at last, nasabi ko rin.

Napatingin ako sa mukha niyang natutulog. "But, can you give me this time to talk to him?"

Prince Eaux smiled sincerely. "Please take your time."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at pinisil ito. Kasing lamig siya ng yelo pero kahit na ganito, kahit saglit lang, hindi ko muna papakawalan.

"Okay uhm paano ko ba ito sisimulan... *sob*" Ano ba naman yan. Itong mga luha na ito traydor talaga eh. Pinunasan ko muna ang mga ito.

"Uhm una sa lahat... Jethro I'm sorry... sorry talaga sa mga oras nung nasasaktan ka dahil sa sakit sa dibdib mo... na wala akong nagawa... tapos yun pala... ako ang rason kung bakit kaya sorry talaga..."

Habang nagsasalita ako, biglang bumalik ang mga alaala sa akin na magkasama kami dahilan kaya bumuhos ang mga luha na pinipigilan ko.

"Ikaw kasi eh... kung sinabi mo na sana ang tungkol diyan sa puso mo e di una palang... pinandigan ko na lang na iwasan ka..."

"...pero salamat. Salamat dahil lagi mo akong sinasamahan nung mga oras na iyon. Hindi mo ako nilalayuan... at kahit binabasag mo ako, andyan ka pa rin... kaya salamat."

Tumigil ako muli at pinunasan ang aking mukha.

"Jethro..." hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa kamay niya.

"Lagi mo sanang tandaan... kahit anong mangyari... huwag mo akong... iwanan..."