Chapter 41 | Best friend No More
Chapter 41 | Best friend No More
Vincent's POV
I am silently listening to the Stanford sisters. Kahit pa alam ko na kung saan patungo ang kwento nila. I also knew that it will cause the same feeling that it gave me years ago.
Ang akala ko kasi ay kaya ko pa ring patuloy na makinig. Akala ko kaya kong muling marinig ang pangalan niya. Akala ko okay na ko.
But my heart feels the otherwise.
I don't know where am I going right now. I just suddenly found myself running as fast as I could and let my feet take me whenever it go.
All I want is to get out of this place. Away from them. Away from the fucking reality. Away from the memory of the past that keeps on haunting me.
"Fuck!"
I cannot control myself anymore, so I decided to stop. I am not even surprised when I noticed that almost all of the rocks around me is now floating in the air.
I know that my eyes is burning red right now. I can also feel my pangs that are ready to bite as deep as it can.
Its's been five years. I am just 13 years old back then. But it feels like it just happened yesterday. The pain it cause is just the same until now.
Everything is now clear to me. And yet I still can't accept it.
I calm myself down and a memory from the past suddenly hit my head.
"Hi, Prince Vince! My name is Mica. Can you be my friend na ba?"
Napaangat ako ng tingin mula sa pagbabasa nang marinig ko na naman ang pamilyar at makulit na boses niyang 'yon.
Hindi ba talaga ko titigilan ng babaeng 'to?
Tinitigan ko lang siya saglit, bago tumayo at naglakad paalis. This girl won't stop bugging me. Paulit-ulit na lang siya palagi ng sinasabi sa 'kin. Kailan ba ko tatantanan ng babaeng 'to?
I look around. Nasaan kaya si Steph? Siya lang ang taong gusto kong makausap at makasama. It is only her who can understand me.
"Hey! You're too fast! Where are you going?"
Hindi na ko nagulat nang bigla na lang siyang sumabay sa paglalakad sa 'kin. Kailan kaya ko masasanay sa kakulitan ng isang 'to?
"Away from you." Diretso lang ang tingin ko pero kitang-kita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na napangiti siya.
This girl is really insane!
"Prince Vince, bakit po ba ayaw mo makipagkaibigan sa 'kin? Dahil po ba anak lang ako ng isang protector?"
Napatigil ako bigla nang dahil sa sinabi niya.
I turned to her and saw how sad her eyes are. I shook my head while massaging my forehead. Mukhang wala talagang balak ang isang 'to na tantanan ako.
"It's not that. I just don't feel like talking to other people aside from Steph. I am already contented having Hiro and Steph as my best friends. Besides, I am not comfortable having you around, pissing me off. You're so irritating having that machine gun mouth of yours. Ayoko ng magulo. Ayoko ng maingay. Ayoko ng makulit. You understand?" Malamig ang tingin na ibinigay ko sa kanya. Hoping that she will now get my point.
Pero mukhang pinaglihi talaga sa kakulitan ang babaeng 'to. She's such a spoiled brat protector! I wonder if she can even protect any one of us.
She stomped her foot like a child, then pouted. "That's exactly my point. You make friends with Steph and I am actually like her as well. So why can't we be friends too? What's with her that's not in me?" She pointed herself.
Matiim ko siyang tinitigan. "She's different."
Yeah. That's true. Steph is the exact opposite of her. She's a strong, mature and independent woman. Just like me.
Napapatango siya habang hinihimas-himas ang baba niya at ngumisi. I can't believe that she's actually two years older than me!
Her brow arched and amusement is visible to her eyes. "Try me. I'm different on my own way."
And right there and then, I didn't know that I am actually smiling.
I looked at her and smirk. "Let's see how far can you go."
Napatigil ako sa pag-alala ng nakaraan nang mapansin kong sa paglalakad-lakad ko ay rito na ko dinala ng mga paa ko sa puntod niya.
Mica Herlock
Matagal kong tinitigan ang pangalan niya na nakaukit sa lapida. It's been a long time since I last came here.
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ako makapaniwala na nahulog ako sa patibong niya. Fuck that thing called love. I didn't see it coming.
I closed my eyes the moment I felt the cold wind passed through my already cold skin.
For a moment, I wish that there will be a pair of hands that will embrace me and make me feel that I am not alone at all.
Well, I can say that she's also different in her own ways.
Cause she totally got me.
Kung dati ay hindi ko pinapansin ang pangungulit niya sa 'kin, ngayon naman ay mas madalas ko na siyang kasama. I just don't know what happened. Steph, on the other hand, seems so distant to me from these past few days.
And this girl in front of me, I don't know what she had done that made me fall for her in an instant. I guess, I ate my own words.
Yes. I admit that I already fell for her.
"Vince, tara ro'n tayo sa ilog."
Napatango na lang ako sa kanya at ako na ang humila sa kamay niya. Nandito kami ngayon sa kagubatan at may kalayuan na ang parte na 'to sa palasyo. Kaya paniguradong wala ng makakakita sa 'min.
Mula kasi ng mapansin nilang lahat ang pagiging close namin ni Mica ay nakatutok na sila sa bawat galaw namin. Especially my parents and I just hate it. Hindi naman sila gano'n dati kay Steph.
Ilang minuto lang kaming nanatiling tahimik, habang nakatitig sa malinaw na tubig na umaagos sa harap namin ngayon. I know that both of us are just enjoying this little and short moment. Mayamaya rin kasi ay kailangan na naming makabalik at baka may makapansin sa pagkawala namin.
I almost jump in surprise when suddenly, I felt her head on my shoulder. My heart thumps against my chest.
A smile formed on my lips. "You tired?" I asked out and she nodded.
"Yeah. Nakakapagod kaya mag-training!"
Natawa naman ako bigla. Sabagay ay hindi rin naman talaga biro ang pinagdadaanan nilang pagsasanay.
Napaawang naman ang bibih ko nang bigla na lang niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.
"Mic—"
"Look at me."
Para kong tuod na napasunod at dahan-dahang napabaling sa kanya ng bigla niyang alisin ang ulo niya sa pagkakahilig sa balikat ko.
"Mica—"
"Vince, I love you." Diretso lang siyang nakatitig sa mga mata ko at kita ko ang pagbaba ng tingin niya sa mga labi ko.
My eyes wide opened. I can't believe what I just heard. She loves me too.
Magsasalita sana ko ng may bigla kong narinig na kaluskos. I was about to look around to know what or who it is when she suddenly grabbed my nape, then pulled me closer to her and meet my lips.
My eyes flew open when I suddenly felt a warm breath and embrace from behind.
Just by inhaling her scent, I already know who it is. She really doesn't fail to find me.
The one and only person who truly cares for me.
-----
Stephanie's POV
Dali-dali akong tumakbo palabas para sundan si Vince ng bigyan ako ng permiso ni Princess Nicole. I know that she understands and I am thankful for that.
Abot-abot ang kabang nararamdaman ko ngayon. God knows what he's capable of doing.
"Nasan na 'yon?" nag-aalala kong tanong sa sarili nang hindi ko na siya makita sa paglinga-linga ko sa paligid.
Inikot ko ang buong mansyon pero wala siya. I even checked the whole academy and the other places around that he might possibly go.
But I didn't see him. There's no single sign of Vince. Tanging katahimikan lang ang sumalubong sa 'kin.
Napapagod na rin ako dahil kanina pa ko naghahanap. Lakad takbo na ang ginagawa ko. Inikot ko na halos lahat dito sa loob pero wala.
Then an idea hit me. There is a big possibility that he will go to that place.
Dali-dali akong sumakay sa kotse at lumabas ng academy. The guard knows me anyway. Tanging ang mga normal na tao at vampire students lang naman ang hindi hinahayaang makalabas dito.
It's been half an hour when I arrive at the place. Hindi rin naman kalayuan ang lugar na 'to sa academy.
Dahan-dahan akong pumasok at dire-diretso lang na naglakad, habang tinatahak ang pamilyar na direksyon.
Napayakap na lang ako sa sarili ko nang tumama ang malamig na simoy ng hangin sa balat ko.
Sa isang iglap ay muling nanumbalik sa isip ko ang isa sa masakit na pangyayari mula sa nakaraan.
Kanina ko pa hinahanap sina Vince at Mica. Pero naikot ko na lang at lahat ang buong kaharian at training camp ay wala man lang akong nakita kahit na anino nila.
I am freaking worried. Mamaya ay kung ano na talaga ang isipin sa kanila ng mahal na hari at ng mga magulang niya.
Mula ng maging close siya sa babaeng 'yon ay nagbago na ang lahat. Nagbago na siya. And I hate her for making him change like that!
Isa ang pamilya ni Mica sa malapit na nanunungkulan sa mga royalties. Kaya alam kong nahihiya rin sina King Zach na kausapin sila tungkol sa bagay na 'yon. Hindi pa naman kasi nila nakukumpirma ang hinala nila.
Sa paglalakad ko ay hindi ko alam kung bakit dinala ko ng mga paa ko patungo sa ilog sa kagubatan. Napapagod na rin kasi ako kakalakad at kakahanap sa kanila. I just want to rest for a couple of minutes.
But my eyes widened upon seeing the two of them there. Nakahilig ang ulo ni Steph kay Vince. Kahit kailan ay hindi kami naging ganyan kalapit ni Vince at alam ko na mayroon talagang iba sa kanilang dalawa.
And the thought makes my heart shattered.
They are just talking. Pero medyo malayo ako sa kanila kaya hindi ko marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila. I was about to step closer when my phone dropped from my pocket.
Napatutop na lang ang kamay ko sa bibig ko. Vince can hear even a single noise!
I looked up just to check if he noticed. But I wish, I never looked up.
A tear suddenly drops from my eyes by just watching the two of them kissing in front of me.
Hindi ko namalayan ang tuloy-tuloy na paglandas ng luha sa mga mata ko, habang patuloy pa rin sa paglalakad. But I quickly wiped those tears away and I almost held my breath when a familiar figure come in sight. Nakatayo lang siya habang nakatungo sa puntod nito.
Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I don't know what he had done to me to make my heart go wild just by seeing him.
I balled my fist. I know that there's something wrong that happened to Vince since he became friends with Mica. Hindi ko lang mawari kung ano pero hindi ako titigil hanggang sa malaman ko ang bagay na 'yon.
I know what he is feeling right now. So without any hesitation, I do the needful.
I hugged him tight from behind.
Ramdam ko na nagulat siya nang dahil sa ginawa ko. And I am already expecting him to get mad and run away at me. Or even shout at me.
But...
"I am sorry."
From all of those possible scenarios that will happen and words that may come out from his mouth, to hear those words is the least that I expect.
I didn't budge or say anything. Hahayaan ko lang munang mailabas niya ang anumang nararamdaman niya.
"I am sorry if I get angry with you. I am sorry if I didn't listen to you. I am sorry if I ignore you. I am sorry."
I closed my eyes and a tear drop the moment I heard his voice crack. Nagiging mahina talaga ko pagdating sa kanya.
I know that he is mad. But at the same time, his whole system is filled with pain and sadness at this time.
"If I only listen to you, this might not happen. If I just continue to stay away from her, I should have not fell for her."
Nanatili lang akong tahimik. I have been waiting for this moment to come. So I won't do anything to ruin it.
I am not waiting for him to say sorry. But to feel that I am needed by him. A person that he can rely on.
And yet, I have received more than of what I hoped for.
We stayed like that for a couple of minutes. Tahimik lang kami pareho at tanging ang mabibigat na paghinga at ingay na nagmumula sa mga kuliglig lamang ang maririnig sa paligid.
Ngayon ko lang siya nayakap ng ganito. And it feels so good.
Pero napamulat ako nang bigla ulit siyang nagsalita.
"Steph..." napahawak siya sa kamay ko na nakayakap sa kanya. "Can you be my best friend again?"
That question made me stunned. Ilang beses pa kong napakurap habang pinoproseso sa utak ko ang tanong niya.
Hindi ko agad nagawang makasagot at dinig ko ang malalim niyang pagbuntong hininga.
"It's okay. I understand if you can't—"
"No. I don't want."
Ramdam ko ang paninigas ng katawan niya at dahan-dahan siyang humarap sa 'kin.
His face is void of any emotion. He is really good in hiding it.
But after some seconds, his expression changes and he gave me a cold look.
"I understand if you—"
"I don't want to be your best friend anymore," I whispered and caress his face with the back of my hand.
Halata sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat at pagkalito. "W-What do you mean?"
I smiled sadly. "I don't want to be your best friend anymore." I held his hand and place it where my heart beats.
"Because I want to be more than that to you."
He was about to say something when I sealed his mouth with mine.
This time. I will not waste any chance that I have anymore.