Children Of The Abyss

29

REE

Nagising ako nang nahihilo. I need to rest more. Narinig ko ang nurse kanina. Bedrest daw ang kailangan.

In fairness dahil sa dugo ni Mommy ay hindi ako ganoon kadalas magkasakit. Unless, I force myself in using tremendous amount of powers causing fatigue.

Saktong pagbangon ko ay pumasok si Milo.

Damn. That... k-kiss. First ko iyon!

Nagkatinginan kami. He looks so serious. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagiging akward namin sa kwarto. Yumuko ako para iiwas ang namumula kong mukha.

His lips on mine... was soft and bitter.

"Kumain ka na." he said sternly, "Nandiyan na ang gamot at ambrosia pati tubig."

"Milo..." he stopped halfway across the room, "Salamat."

"No problem." saka lumabas ng kwarto.

That's it?! Iiwan niya lang ako ng pagkain dito? What are you expecting him to do? Feed you?

Iniiwasan niya ba ako?

I groaned when the hot soup touched my lips. What are you doing Ree? Don't let him distract you. Natural lang na aalagaan ka niya kasi babae ka.

Inubos ko ang soup at iniinom ang mapait na gamot pagkatapos ay ang ambrosia at tubig.

Still in my puffy sleeves night gown ay lumabas ako ng kwarto. I don't bother combing my hair, just my fingers and it is fixed. Hindi naman babalik ang isang iyon para kunin ito. I have my own feet. No need for footwear hindi naman malamig ang sahig.

Halos magkabanggaan kami paglabas ko ng pinto.

"Ako na diyan." sabi niya, "Bumalik ka na sa kwarto mo."

"Ako na lang. Kaya ko na o." pamimilit ko.

"Rest, Coriane." is he giving me cold shoulders right now?

Gusto mo ng fullname ha, "No. Mikael
Lowry." sagot ko.

Nagtitigan kami sa hallway. I took that chance para lagpasan ko siya. Nakasunod siya sa akin habang papunta ako sa kusina. He keeps watching me habang naghuhugas.

I feel better pagkatapos kong inumin ang ambrosia.

"Ree... I'm sorry." simula niya.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko ng hindi tumitingin sa kanya. I let the water run not to hear my hammering heartbeats.

"Okay lang. Wala naman sa akin iyon." tinignan ko siya pagkasarado ng gripo.

He looks me in the eye to know if I'm lying or not. Am I? I don't know.

It takes a liar to know another liar.

"You're lying." he counters.

"I'm not." ngumiti ako.

My fingers are crossed behind my back. Hawak ko ang mga daliring nakakrus gamit ang isang kamay.

"I know you. You can lie to others not to me."

Right, he knows me straight to the core. Kaya nakakatakot magsabi ng totoo sa kanya. While me. I don't have the wits to read his actions. He treats me right dahil sa nangyari sa Mama niya but not the other way around.

"Babalik na ako sa kwarto." he pulled me close to him for a back hug.

Why is he doing this? Lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko na parang tumakbo ako sa marathon.

Most girls envy me or Lilith because of this treatment. The fair and just treatment they don't usually get from comrades or companion. Kami lang yata sa institute ang ganito.

They don't really trust each other. Civil, that's how they treat others. The trait they get from their parent deities.

"Matulog ka na Milo." sabi ko sa kanya.

"I won't. Unless we clear things up." hindi pa din siya bumibitaw.

He is a boyfriend material. Nasa kanya ang mga katangian na hinahangad ng mga babae. Yet here I am. His friend, companion recieving all of this for no reason.

"Wala tayong paguusapan." kumalas ako at tumakbo papunta sa kwarto.

With his long legs he followed me that easily. Hinarang niya ang paa niya bago ko maisara ang pinto ng kwarto.
Pumasok din siya sa loob. Locking the door.

He fucking locks the door! Tsk.

"Do you know how much I keep this feeling?" naging malungkot ang boses niya, "Nagpipigil ako kasi para na kitang kapatid. I kept it in here for so long." turo niya sa dibdib niya, "It only got stronger..."

Is he confessing? Does he...? Impossible. Mabait lang siya sa akin. Sabi niya nga para na niya akong kapatid.

"Nasasabi mo lang iyan kasi ako ang madalas mong nakakasama." I look up to him.

He is crouching on my bed caging me in his arms. Habang nakaupo ako dito. He looks so sincere, no lies, no mask of kindness, siya lang at ang nararamdaman niya.

"Kung hindi naman dahil sa sinabi ng tindera noon...it is lewd but because of that. Thoughts of you getting out of my sight... pains me so much."

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Why me Milo? I'm childish, emotionally weak...

"Did you try to look at someone other than me?" mahina kong tanong.

"Sinubukan ko. It did not work. What spell did you put on me?" he smiles.

"Liar." sabi ko. Unconvinced.

"I won't be like this if I don't look at others. I compare you to them... all the time." his honesty wins over me.

"This is nuts." I laughed, "You're nuts."

"You think I am?"

He pulled me into a tight hug. His hand cupped my left jaw the other supporting my back. He locks his eyes on my eyes. I feel his soft lips on mine.

Walang gamot na sapilitang pinapainom.

Nalalasing ako sa ginagawa niya. He sucked my lower lips and opened it with his tongue. I give in to it. His played with mine. His kiss is hungry, walang pagpigil niya itong ginagawa.

I feel his heartbeat in tune with my own. Our hearts beat as one.

He stopped when we are catching our breath, "Do you believe me now?" he rests his forehead on mine.

Saka ko lang naramdaman ang malambot na kama sa likod ko. Shocks! Kung hindi siya tumigil ay mangyayari nga ang sinabi ng tindera!

"You'll still court me. Mom might be watching us." sabi ko.

"If that's what you wish." he smiled.

He puts his head on the crook of my neck, "Hindi pa ako naliligo!" saway ko.

"I don't care. You still smell like peaches."

Rapid knocks are on my door. Nagmamadali at hindi mapakali ang katok.

"Panira naman." I feel his breath on my neck!

"Get it." utos ko, "Please."

Tumayo siya at tinulungan akong umupo. Inayos ko naman ang buhok ko.

Pagbukas niya ay ang natatarantang mukha ni Desmond galing sa kwarto ni Lilith. Nakita ko din ang pagpapanic ni Alistair.

"Lilith speaks of a prophecy!"