Heart 3: Swollen Heart

CHAPTER 20

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PREIOUS PZRAE’S POV

Only the humming florescent lamps is the sound hugging the atmosphere as I walked down the hallway. My shoes were clanking against the floor, echoing.

Good thing, I left all my things on my locker kaya wala akong kadala-dala ngayon. Huli na naman akong umuwi sa aming magkaklase kasi halos lahat sila ay magkakabarkada, inip na inip sa paglalakwatsa.

The place is like a scene in a horror movie, plus the some flickering lights na napundi na ata.

I was busy humming a song as I walked when I felt a tight grip encircled on my arm from the side of the corridor.

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat—those palm even sent electrifying feeling all throughout my skin!

My eyes crawled from the hand, up to the masculine biceps... until my eyes landed on the owner’s face...

Arjo was looking at me in soft manner. Nangungusap ang mga mata niyang nagniningning, kabaliktaran ng sakit na dulot ng daliri niya sa balat ko.

“M-masakit, Arjo!” I tried pulling my hand back but his grip only gets tighter. Muttering that name only affected me negatively.

Ayoko nang binabanggit ang pangalan niya.

“Pzrae, please...” he murmured.

“Can’t you just let me go?” My eyes watered dahilan para iiwas ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

“Pzrae, babe, I wanna say sorr—”

I slapped his face through my other free hand. “How dare you call me that?” I interrogated. “What... was all the pain you’ve caused me still not enough?”

He paused for a moment, shocked of what I did, but he still managed looking straight to my eyes. “I said I’m sorry!” he frustratedly said.

Arjo slowly walked forward making me took steps backwards until I felt the hard wall against my back. His meztizo features were high-lightened through the lights around. Arjo’s eyes looking at me, shiny, with his glistening, pouty pink lips—he licked it and said, “I’m sorry.”

All I only could hear is softness. Our faces were just a feet apart and he’s slowly crossing the gap. I gasped as his admirable aroma filled my nose.

“I’m very sorry, Pzrae,” he muttered against my neck through his husky voice until I felt his soft lips against my skin. “I just don’t have the c-courage of saying... but I really am sorry...” He lightly bit my ear, sending me goosebumps.

“Arjo...” I unconsciously blabbered through my unfamiliar voice.

“I need you, right now. Let’s do  that here, uh?”

Nangunot ang noo ko. Parang noon pa lang ako nagising dahil sa sinabi niya...

What the fuck?!

I violently pushed him away and took the opportunity of running away. I know he’s fetching me through his gaze but he’s I could feel he’s not moving from his position as I ran.

Ang kapal ng mukha niya! How dare he say sorry after all?! I was about to be fooled by that freak guy again! He left me from that day not even expressing his sincerity to me... and now... now that more than one month had passed, he’s saying he’s sorry?! Hypocrite!

He only wants my body!

My eyes were watering as I rushed. Nakailang singhot na ako, trying to restrain these tears to ditch away from my eyes...

Hindi ko na mapigilan...

Kasi bumabalik, e. Ang sakit, e.

I was just convincing myself that I was not affected, but what I really feel—even I hate to admit it—is pain.

I only found myself crying out loud on someone’s chest. His shirt was already getting wet due to my unstoppable tears but the pinch and heaviness inside my chest were inevitable... for now, I just wanna let these tears out.

“Okay lang ‘yan... t-tahan na...” Keiroh hushed as he rubbed my back.

“K-Keiroh nai...naiinis ako sa sarili ko,” I cried against his shirt. “Bakit ako g-ganito? Bakit lahat na lang ng lalaking m-minamahal ko, ayaw sa akin?”

“Tahan na.” He caressed my hair. “Sumama ka sa akin, may alam akong puwedeng puntahan.”

–

I pushed the car’s door open and hopped out, wiping my tears. All throughout the ride, I was just crying. It’s just... I can’t take everything myself. I need to let this pain out. Ang bigat-bigat na, e.

“What’s this?” I confusedly asked through my cracked voice.

I only can see an abandoned building in front of me. Hindi siya sobrang luma, yet still creepy. The stars are scattered above it and there’s no source of light inside. Mga poste lamang at ilang platform ang nasa building tapos wala pang kulay... I don’t like here!

“‘Yan ‘yong sinasabi ko!” Keiroh flashed a smile, his eyes glimmered through the moon. He grabbed my hand and pulled me. “Tara, dali!”

“Keiroh, baka may serial killer d’yan!” I protested. Sinubukan kong magpabigat but he’s just so strong. “Let’s just go home, nakakatakot!”

“Wala kang karapatang matakot ‘pag kasama mo ako.”

My heart was pounding loud as he pulled me inside the dark building but he’s so enthusiastic as he welcomed me as if the building was his.

“Nadaanan ko ito no’ng nagpadala ako ng pera kina inay, sabi ko siguro maganda rito,” he said as we went upstairs. “Medyo mataas itong lugar, e. Ano kayang itusra sa taas ng building?” he wondered not minding the creepy atmosphere.

Parang pakiramdam ko may maririnig kami anytime na batang tatawa.

“K-Keiroh, I’m doing good na. Let’s go home,” I stuttered.

“Ha?” He suddenly paused and looked at me. “Nandito na rin lang tayo, e!”

When we reached the building’s rooftop, thankfully, wala kaming na-encounter na paranormal whatsoever. I was just shivering due to the cold breeze of night.

“Sabi ko sa ‘yo, e maganda rito!” he exclaimed, his face like a cute, excited toddler.

I roamed my eyes around... and my jaw dropped.

The view here is astonishing more than the building’s creepness!

The city lights of Manila were can be seen here. Ang mga ilaw ng sasakyan, ng mga gusali, even the lampposts... the city was so alive.

“Noong bata ako, takot na takot ako sa dilim,” pagsasalita ni Keiroh as he walked towards the rooftop’s edge. “Pero ngayon...” he took a seat there, his legs hanged, “mas gusto ko pang mag-isa sa gitna ng dilim kasi doon ako komportable.”

I followed him and sit beside him, my legs are hanged as well. Pakiramdam ko mahuhulog ako, pero wala akong karapatan na matakot kapag kasama ko siya.

“Keiroh...”

“Oh?”

I stared at the amazing lights beneath us and said, “What’s wrong with me? May kulang ba sa akin? Bakit lahat na lang sila gano’n?”

“Nilalamig ka,” he said worriedly, not minding my words.

“I am trying my best... I'm doing and giving what I can naman e. Bakit ganito?” I said nowhere, eyeing the heart-warming view.

“Nilalamig ka nga,” he concluded. I only felt his hands encircling around me, giving me body heat.

“Keiroh, bakit hindi man lang ako magawang mahalin ng mga lalaking pinapahalagahan ko?” A lone tear escaped from my eye.

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