"Night Ball"

SUNDAY.

It was nine thirty-three in the morning when I came to a place where a dense tall growing trees are everywhere. And the shrubs covering beneath those large trees were captivated my eyes. This forest is not far from school and it took me only ten steps to arrive here. This is the place Marina’s fixed for us to meet.

She called me earlier at the morning that she have something to tell me.
I don’t know why but it creeped me out. Aelyne already received the dress that I bought and she certainly freaked out. She didn’t expect that a four sided box with a ravishing dress inside surprised her at the front of her house. I induced her to attend the Night Ball because she deserve to be happy after what happened to us. We both survived against the men of CRYPTIC and if you are going to think that, It’s very exhausting.

She need to relax and enjoy at the same time by attending that Night Ball being a seventeen-year-old girl. 
I couldn't help myself not to imagine that she was like a fire-breathing dragon when she scolded me through a phone call.

“Sinabi ko nang hindi ako pupunta. Ba’t mo naman ako binilhan!” That was the last sentence I heard from her before she ended the call.

Hindi na niya ako kinibo pagkatapos ng nangyari. Sinabihan ko na siya na wala munang pagsasanay na magaganap sa mansyon dahil gusto ko siyang maghanda kaya hindi na kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataong mag-usap hanggang ngayon.

Sumingit sa aking isipan na kailangan niyang malaman ang totoo. Dahil nakita ko kung papaano niya gamitin ang MCD ay magkaroon ako ng ideya na gamitin iyon sa kanya upang maibalik ang nawala niyang alaala.

Ang nakakapagtaka ay kung bakit mayroon akong nakitang mga alaala noong nahawakan ko ang device chip na binigay sa akin ni Miss Sam. Iyon ang malaking palaisipan sa akin.

***

I heard a small gait because of her heels. Marina was smiling when she saw me standing in front of her. A howling wind created a beautiful wave when it passed through her brown, soft, thread hair.

“I’m sorry for the short notice," she said.

“It’s okay. I have nothing to do this weekend so it’s a great thing that you called me,” I said and I smiled her back, “Ano nga pala ang sasabihin mo?”

She grasped my hand and led me inside the forest. There was an open space at the middle that covered by a green grass. There’s a few flowers scattered around and a sunlight streamed through the branches of trees that lightened the whole place.

I suggested to her that we should sit at the open area so we could both comfortable to talk to each other. She gently ran her fingers through my scalp while she started to kiss me with so much love and affection, and I kissed her back.

“What was that for? You miss me?” I said with a mesomorphic sound as I looked at her eyes. Analyzing it and it showed that she was in pain or something.

“Is there any problem?”

She plucked a single flower beside her and she started to talk, “Do you remember the first time you courted me?”

The words inside my head crumbled as I heard her question. I can’t remember my past because of my amnesia. I tried create a single perfect sentence to answer her without any suspicious.

“I-I-I… I can’t—”

“It was the happiest day of my life because the one and only Kylvin courted me even though there was so many girls liked him, He chose me to be his girlfriend.” A two fleshy edge surrounded her mouth suddenly expanded as she said those words. She’s smiling. “I remember how you held me between your arms to make sure that I’m always safe. I also remember the day you let me sleep on your chest as we both watch the stars above the sky.”

Hindi ko nagawang makapagsalita sa kanyang mga binibitawang mga salita at makikita mo sa kanya ang dalisay niyang pagmamahal sa akin.

Nakatingin lang ito sa mga puno na nakapalibot sa aming dalawa. Walang ibang ingay sa paligid bukod sa huni ng mga ibon at sa mga sinasabi ni Marina.

“I remember every single day you were with me. I always make things memorable when I’m with you, it’s like my world is turning just for you and I know it’s a selfless love but  that’s what I felt. Is that a bad idea? I don't think so.”

She looked at me while scrutinizing my whole face. A water from her eyes falling in drops and she touched my cheek by her warm palm that slowly melting my heart.

“W-why are you crying? Is there anything wrong?” I asked in panic but she nodded and wiped her tears that blocking her eyesight.

“I just wanted you to know that I love you but I have no choice.”

“Marina. You’re scaring me. What happened? Tell me. Have you encountered some CRYPTIC while you were heading here?” At the second time around, she nodded.

“I know it’s hard but I won’t let you fall into danger because of me.” I heard a peculiar sound from her as she mourned from a great lamentation she felt. “I’m breaking up with you, Kylvin.”

Matapos kong marinig sa kanya iyon ay parang tumigil ang mundo ng ilang segundo. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nagtulak sa kanya para makipaghiwalay sa akin ng biglaan. Walang salitang lumabas sa aking bibig dahil sa pagkagulat sa kanyang naging desisyon.

“I love you. Believe me. I love you but I’m breaking up with you. You won’t understand the reason behind this sudden decision of mine. This is the place where you asked me to be your girlfriend and I made this place special. I promised to myself before that I will never enter inside this forest if we break up like a glass of wine. This forest represents my love for you and I have no audacity to learn to love again if I lose you. And now I’m losing you," sabi niya at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang dalawa kong kamay habang marahan niyang minamasahe ito ng kanyang hinlalaki, “I’d never walk inside this forest starting today because I’m breaking up with you.”

I hugged her while my eyes leaking from pain. She tried to free herself from my arms but I tightened my hug.

“Marina, Don’t do this. Whatever the reasons of your decision, please don’t do this.” I sobbed.

“Kylvin. I know you are falling in love with Aelyne. I saw both of you having fun and I can see in your eyes the pure joy I never saw when you were with me but that wasn't the reason. I will never tell the reason because you will never understand.”

“Just tell me. Tell me the reason,” sabi at agad siyang kumawala sa aking pagkakayakap.

“I made up my mind,” she said while forcing herself to look like everything is okay, “Mayroon sana akong gusto hilingin sa iyo.”  Her voice cracked due from intense pain she felt. “I want you to closed your eyes to give you my last goodbye.”

She gently closed my both eyes using her hand and for the last time I felt her warm lips touched mine. I kissed her back but this time I gave her all my feeling towards to her. As the moment passed, I slowly opened my eyes and then I realized that she already left me.

A wind blew around me and I couldn't hold my tears from falling down. I cried. I tried to control myself but I couldn’t. She is my girlfriend. I know that I love her but why I couldn't feel it. I keep asking myself but I didn’t find any reasons. Why the hell I got this stupid amnesia to cause to forget my feelings to her and shifted to Aelyne.

Nang makauwi ako sa bahay ay sinubukan kong mag-ensayo para doon ibuhos lahat ng nararamdaman ko pero dahil umaapaw na ang sakit na nararamdaman ko ay hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili na suntukin ang pader. Lumikha iyon ng malaking lamat sa lakas ng epekto ng suntok ko at wala akong pakialam kung halos dumugo na ang aking dalawang kamao.

If I ask myself what’s more painful between my bloody knuckles and my feelings inside my chest, I’d rather say that this feeling inside my ribs gave me intense sensation of pain rather than being pierce by a knife.

I ended my whole day crying. Doing nothing aside from looking at the ceiling. Creating a scenario inside my mind. I know that even Marina already broke up with I can’t confess my feelings for Aelyne. She already have Alessandro.

It’s almost 4 o’clock in the afternoon and the Night Ball will start at 7 pm. I looked at the Memory Core wiping Device na nasa gilid ng aking kama. Nakalimutan iyong ibalik ni Aelyne. Nakita ko rin ang device chip na nasa lamesa at doon ko muling naalala ang plano kong pagbalik sa alaala ni Aelyne.

Pinilit ko ang aking sarili na bumangon para maghanda pero parang hindi ko yata kaya. Nabalitaan ni uncle na magkakaroon ng selebrasyon ang school kaya sinabihan niya akong magpakasaya muna bilang isang binata at huwag muna raw isipin ang misyon.

Nalaman ni Uncle ang tungkol dun dahil kay Miryam. Nalaman din niya ang madalas ng pagsasakit ng ulo ko kaya pinilit niya akong magpakasaya ngayon para raw maranasan ko naman ang kasiyahan bilang isang teenager.

Nang matapos akong maligo ay sinuot ko na ang suit na sinukat ko noong nandito sina Aelyne at Karl sa mansyon. Ang plain black suit with watch pocket. Nagdala na ako ng dalawang baril kahit sinabihan ako ni Uncle na mag-enjoy muna. Hindi ko kase hawak ang oras at kahit anong panahon ay maaaring magpakita sa akin ang CRYPTIC.

Matapos kong maisuot ang oxford shoes ay lumabas na ako ng mansyon at agad na pinatakbo ang itim kong kotse papunta sa Central City High School. Maagang nagpakita ang buwan at nagbigay ito ng liwanag sa madilim na daan. Masasabi ko na maganda ang panahon ngayong gabi dahil sa mga nagniningningang mga bituin sa kalangitan.

I arrived at my school at exact 5:51 pm. A loud noises echoed throughout the campus. I can hear a random giggled of some students entering the building. I also saw a random couple glued to each other like there’s no tomorrow. An indistinct chattering filled the whole space when I finally got inside.

Mayroong malaking chandelier sa kisame ng venue na nagbigay ng kagandahan sa buong lugar. Mga pabilog na lamesa na mayroong tig-lilimang upuan ang nakapuwesto sa gilid. Ang ibang estudyante ay masayang sumasayaw sa malawak na espasyo sa gitna at ang iba naman ay nakaupo lamang na parang labag sa kanilang dibdib na pumunta dito.

Habang inililibot ng aking mga mata ang kabuuan ng lugar ay nahagip ko ang taong gusto kong makita. Suot niya ang magandang damit na binili ko para sa kanya. Nakikipag-usap ito sa kanyang kaibigan at nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako sa kanya direksyon ay bigla akong umiwas ng tingin.

Thank you for reading :)