Chapter 34: Walked Out

Mas lalo lumakas ang patak nang ulan ng tuluyan nang kumawala ang luha sa 'king mga mata. Tumingon ako sa mga dahong napapatakan ng butil ng ulan. I roamed my eyes and I only saw nothing except for the raindrops.

I smiled painfully while holding the bracelet that Prince gave to me.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Levina?! Do you want to die?" Rinig kong sigaw ng lalaki mula sa 'king likuran. Kung sino man siya, wala akong pakialam.

Hindi ako lumingon at nanatiling hinahaplos ang bracelet na nagsisilbing alaala namin.

It's just a day...but... without him, I felt that my world crashed. My heart aching in pain.

But...I realized. Bakit ko naman iiyakan si Thalia? Kung makikita niya akong umiiyak nang dahil sa pagkawala niya at sa pagtalikod ni Prince sa 'kin, natitiyak kong matutuwa 'yon. 'Yon ang gusto niya, eh. That's what she want—to crush me into pieces, to tear off my life until it cannot be mend anymore.

"Sky!" Hindi ko alam kung lilingon ako sa sandaling ito. Isang lalaki lang ang tumatawag nang gano'n sa akin. He's the one who often called me that name. "What are you doing here, huh? Bakit mo pinapakita sa akin na umiiyak ka? Alam mo bang nanghihina rin ako kapag nakikita kitang mahina, huh? Alam mo ba 'yon?"

Isang makapal na jacket ang ipinatong niya sa balikat ko. Mas lalong bumuhos ang luha ko dahil ro'n.

Ano ba talaga, Prince? Naguguluhan na ako sa 'yo!  All this time, I need explanation.

"Alam mo bang nanghihina ako? Bukod sa nakita ko kaninang lumuluha ka, nanghihina ako ngayon...Sky. I don't really know what should I do! Because all this time, I want to stay with you, to lean on you and to ask for your presence!" Hinawakan niya ako sa beywang at inalalayang tumayo. Gusto ko mang isandal ang ulo sa kaniya pero hinang-hina ako. Pinaharap niya ako sa kaniya at kitang-kita ko kung paano kami dinamayan ng ulan. "Maari bang magpakatapang ka muna ngayon? Pagod na akong makita kang nalulungkot at nalulugmok. Pagod na akong mabuhay at makita kang ganiyan. Because in my life, I always wanted to see the bravest part of yours."

Sa pagkakataong ito, tinanggal ko ang kamay niyang nakatungtong sa aking balikat. "If that so, I won't beg you to stay beside me, Prince. You are free to go, to somewhere you know. I won't beg you to see my life. You wouldn't have to see me crying about that fucking things!"

He sobbed and tried to hold my hands. "It isn't like that, Sky! Let's fight together! Laban natin 'to, eh!"

Umatras ako sa kaniya. My heart pounded heavily when I saw how his tears escaped from his eyes. Kung gano'ng pagod na pala akong tingnan ni Prince na mahina sa harapan niya, bakit pa niya ako tiniis? Sa palagay niya ba'y makakaahon pa ako sa ganito? Hindi! Dahil sa nangyayari sa buhay ko, parang wala na akong pag-asang makita 'yong magandang umaga, eh.

"Prince, go back home. Let me live there—"

"What the fuck are you trying to say, Sky? Ayaw ko! Hindi ako aalis na hindi kita kasama! Hindi ako aalis!" He shook his head while taking steps towards me. "Please, Lev... I'm begging—"

"Please don't beg me to go with you, Prince. I know you're tired. Please...take care of yourself. Ayaw kong masasaktan pa kita. Kung napapagod ka na sa 'kin, layuan mo na ako. Magpakasaya ka! Find the better person for you!" My fists clenched, I was trembling as well as my lips. "Go home..."

I closed my eyes and took a step backward. The lights of his car was still on. He raised his right hand when I reached ten steps away from him. I can only saw how his eyes drown in tears, his chest was shaking and I can see the pain in his face while he keeps calling my name.

Another car stopped right in front of me. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang bumaba. My jaw dropped when Rasie went out with two men beside him, walking toward to Prince.

"Ano na namang kagaguhan 'yang ginawa mo, ha? You didn't answering my calls! And Mom is worried to you, bud! How dare you crying in front of the girl whom you loved, huh? You're showing her that you are weak!" Rasie said while shaking his brother. I didn't even informed that he went back home already.

Then...bakit nandito ang doktor niyang taga-France? May nangyari kaya sa kaniya?

I wiped off the tears that rolls down my cheeks and was about to walked out when Rasie called me. "Vina! Can we talk? Just five minutes," he asked, turning his gaze to the two men. "Doc, can you go first? Isama niyo na lang si Prince at si Carlos na ang magmamaneho. Bring him home and prepare for our flight—"

"Rasie naman! Parang ikaw pa 'ata ang kuya sa 'tin? I don't want to undergo surgery. Alam mo naman ang desisyon ko no'n pa man 'di ba?" Sumabad si Prince sabay lapit sa akin. He clasped our hands together and he even managed to smile at me. "I will stay with her. Ayaw kong lumayo, Rasie. Kung masasaktan man kita dahil pinili ko si Levina kaysa sa sa 'yo, patawarin mo ako."

"Prince..."I called him thus, he turned his attention to me. "Forget me for a while, iisipin mo ang sarili mo. Hayaan mo muna ako, puwede ba? Think about yourself. Dahil sinabi ko naman sa 'yo," I played my fingers, swallowing the lump in my throat,"you cannot save someone if you can't even save yourself. 'Di ba sabi mo sa 'kin, nanghihina ka kapag nakita mo akong ganito? Hayaan mo, kapag pinili mo ang desisyon mo kaysa sa 'kin, magpakatatag ako, Prince. Hahanapin ko 'yong totoong mundo ko. At kung mahanap ko na 'yon, dadalhin kita ro'n."

Pareho silang napatigil sa sinabi ko pati na rin ang doktor. Prince looked at me with his serious yet eyes  filled with love and...worries. "Levina, magiging matapang ka ba kung pipiliin ko 'to? I'll promise to go along with you after this. But for now...fight for your own sake, Sky. Babalikan kita. At kapag babalik na ako, sasama na ako sa mundong sinasabi mo. Madilim o maliwanag man ang katangian nito. I will love you despite of your gloom and dark life, Sky. I love you so much!" Niyakap niya ako at pinatakan ng halik ang aking noo. "Babalik ako. Don't die until I came back. I will try to change the color of your world."

Tumango ako sa kaniya bilang tugon. Sumakay na sila sa kotse kasama si Rasie. Hinintay kong magsalita siya pero isinara niya na ang pinto ng sasakyan. Prince waved his hand to me while driving away.

It's my request to him to leave me here. So...this Casanova will be the place where he finally chose his own decision and not choosing me for good. This building isn't really scary yet full of mystery that only our heart can explain.

Adieu, Prince!