This Could End

Chapter Thirty-One

"Fix your attitude. Don't test me," my father hissed as he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.

"You got what you wanted. What else do you want from me?" I broke off the hug and smiled at my father.

Sunod akong lumapit sa mga magulang ni Gio para makipagbeso. May mga lumapit sa amin na ibang bisita para bumati.

A waiter approached us again with fresh glasses on his tray. Inabot ko ang walang laman kong baso sa kanya at kukuha ng panibagong baso nang hawakan ni Gio ang kamay ko.

Inilapit niya ang mukha sa tenga ko para walang ibang makarinig ng ibubulong niya, "Seph, that's enough."

"Don't tell me what to do," sabi ko sa normal na boses.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Gio at napatingin sa paligid. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at agad na hinila ako palayo sa mga tao.

"If you want to leave, we can leave. You're drunk. You'll regret acting this way in public."

"Wala kang pakialam—" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang may pumulupot sa braso ko.

I smelled the sweet perfume before I saw Dharma.

"Gio, hi. Can I have my bestfriend for the rest of the night?"

"Please." Tumango si Gio. He looked relieved. Siguro dahil alam niyang hindi niya ako makokontrol at si Dharma ang makakapigil sa akin.

"Thank you." Ngumiti si Dharma at basta na lang ako hinila palayo. Palabas ng venue.

"I want to get wasted. Let's go to a bar, Dharma."

"Save that for your wedding night 'cause your lover is here," bulong ni Dharma at ngumiti lang sa ilang taong nakasalubong.

Parang nawala ang mga ulap sa utak ko. Lover?

"Hadeon?" tanong ko.

"Yes, babe. I saw him at the crowd. I was scared that he was going to make a scene and pigilan niya yung engagement niyo or something. So I dragged him to the secluded part of this place."

Sa bandang likod ng building ako dinala ni Dharma. May garden doon at iilan lang ang bukas na ilaw kaya may pagkadilim lalo na't gabi na.

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw his tall figure. Kahit na halos anino lang ay alam ko agad na siya 'yon.

"Hades," I whispered unconsciously. He was the perfect cure to my intoxication. Or maybe he was a different kind of influence. A stronger one that cancels out the insobriety.

"Hurry up. I'll guard from here."

Upon hearing that, I was like an olympian running as soon as the trigger was pulled. I quickly marched to Hades' direction. Walang hinto kaya nang makalapit ay hindi na ako nakapagpreno at niyakap siya.

"Hadeon," I called out.

Hindi niya ako niyakap pabalik. Nanatili lang siyang nakatayo na parang estatwa. Wala siyang planong ibalik ang yakap ko pero wala akong pakialam.

I wanted to stay in his arms forever. I wanted to keep us in this moment forever. I didn't want him to let him go. I wanted to be with him... so much... it hurts.

"Tutuloy mo pa rin," he finally broke the silence.

I took a sharp breath. I slowly and painfully untangled my arms off of him. It hurts being apart from him. I didn't realize how much it hurt not to see him or be with him for days until now that he was in front of me.

Mas masakit ngayon dahil kahit ang lapit lang namin sa isa't isa ay parang ang layo-layo niya pa rin. Parang hindi ko siya pwedeng lapitan. Parang imposibleng hawakan ulit siya. Parang bawal.