Laments of Broken Strings (Arte del Amor #1)

Chapter 6

The guy who decided to not talk to me without saying anything prior is standing in front of me with his bandmates. He was wearing a fitted white shirt with the print IGNITIØN.

I was just looking at his shirt because it was just eye level, and also because I couldn't look him straight in the eye.

"Bakit hindi ka pa nag-aayos?" tanong niya, and with that ay tumingala na ako para harapin siya.

"I wasn't planning to come." matapang kong sabi habang sinusubukang tinitigan siya nang diretso sa mata. My blood was boiling so bad that tears were to escape my eyes any second now.

No. This is not like you, Nyx Lyrica.

I will never shed tears for anything or anyone other than him...

Nikolai, Isaiah and his brother Kaius were staring at us as if they're watching something interesting. I walked away, leaving them behind. It's just fair, considering how he basically did the same to me.

I'd rather go home and drown in my thoughts than see anyone right now. I keep on denying the truth and telling myself that I do not know the reason why I'm getting so worked up but I think I know why.

Recognizing the reason behind it would not do me any good or anyone around me.

Hindi pa ako nakalalayo nang may humila sa braso ko.

"Nyx, saan ka pupunta?"

The one who pulled me called me Nyx... he's not—

Sa oras na iyon ay bumagsak na ang mga luhang pilit kong pinipigilan. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang bawat punas ko sa mga ito ay napapalitan ng bago. Hindi ako ganito, hindi ako iiyak sa mga bagay na hindi tungkol sa kanya.

My tears, they're not just for anyone. Sa puntong ito ay hindi ko na rin alam ang iniiyakan ko. My curse of not being able to cry had just been lifted off by a very unexpected reason.

Jiro pulled me in a hug. Humahagulgol ako sa dibdib niya. It's like something in me just wanted to let loose after being kept for a while.

"Ashriel. It should be him. Right, Nyx?" he asked as he was caressing my hair. He's here trying to comfort me but it's just not working...

Umiling ako. "No..."

It shouldn't be Seth. It shouldn't be anyone in the first place.

Hinawakan ako ni Jiro sa balikat at nilayo ako nang kaunti para harapin ako. He crouched a little to match my height.

"Ashriel may seem dense and insensitive, but he's not. He wouldn't hurt others intentionally. That bastard's too kind to do such a thing." he said.

I was taken aback with his words. I thought he hated Seth but here he is, talking about him in such a way. "But you were always fighting..."

Tumingala siya at tumawa. "Believe it or not, Ashriel is my best friend. Perhaps the bestest friend I've ever had. He is too good to me, I hate it."

The Ashriel Seth and the Kenjiro Manzanares were best of friends?

Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Jiro sa lalaking kadarating lang at hinihingal.

"Seth?" Why is he here? My heart jumped as if in joy when I laid my eyes on him.

Did Jiro call him? Why? Seth has absolutely nothing to do with why I cried, though! I told Jiro that already!

Tumayo na si Jiro at tinapik si Seth sa balikat. Pero bago iyon ay may binulong siya rito.

Umupo si Seth sa malapit na bench, hinahabol ang hininga. Tinapik niya ang upuan sa tabi niya, sinasabing doon ako umupo.