Tenebrous Affection

Chapter Thirty-three

Tenebrous Affection
Chapter Thirty-three

Xyren

"Leave," tito Navel sharply said while pointing out the door of Aya's hospital room. She is currently comatose and I understand if her father's blaming me. This would not happen if I did not tell her to come with me instead of going abroad.

"I only need five minutes. Please," I took a step to move closer, to see her face for one last time. I'm sorry, Aya, for turning you into that state.

"This is your fault. She was supposed to go abroad and study but you influenced her to stay," her father added. I can feel his anger and his words were slowly stabbing me. "Your five minutes are up. Now leave and never show yourself to my daughter again."

I turned my back and grabbed the doorknob of the room, then hesitantly turned it. Once I leave this room, I know I will regret it. But there's nothing I can do. Mas kakamuihan lang ako ng ama niya.

"What are you gonna do now?" Levi asked as he came over to my house.

"I... I don't know," tugon ko. "It's my fault, Lev. It is my fucking fault why that happened to her." Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak sa wine glass.

"Stop it, Cliff. You're blaming yourself again," paalala nito sa'kin. "It is not your fault she got into an accident. It was bound to happen, that's why."

Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko, "no, Lev... You don't understand!"

"You are sick that's why you can't help but blame yourself, Clifford," he yelled. "You need to leave this city and treat yourself. It's getting worst, can't you see? Why not tell Tita Venice, already?"

"She doesn't have to know, okay? Don't you even try to tell her," I warned him. This sickness was nothing. I can still control it. "I will leave tomorrow. You stay here and monitor her. Every move her family does, report it to me."

I just want to make sure that she will be okay even if I'm not around. "Are you really telling me to do this?" kunot noo niyang tanong.

"Yes. You will be my eye here since you suggested that I should take a break," I said, mockingly.

"Great," he whispered in dismay. "I helped you and this is what I get." Bahagya akong napangisi dahil sa itinuran nito. Levi's been with me since we were kids and he's a person I can lean onto. A memory from a year ago flashed through me.

"Putangina, Cliff? You almost beat him to death!" he exclaimed, frantically. "What did he do para gawin mo 'to?" dugtong niya.

"He—" napatigil ako para alalahanin kung ano nga ba ang ginawa niya. "He's looking at Aya indecently."

Marahas itong napabuga ng hangin bago suminghap, "fuck that excuse!" he clamored. "This is not normal anymore, Cliff. We need to see a doctor."

Abruptly, I stood up. "What for?" I asked him in annoyance.

"What do you mean 'what for'? Last time, you are about stab Kleiton with a pencil, mabuti nalang nakita at naawat kita," he said. "Now, you beat Chico to death."