CHAPTER 16

Jake's Point of View

"Ahhh, the breeze today sure is refreshing" kalmadong sabi ko at ninamnam ang hangin sa labas.

"Coffee sir?" One of the maid ask and i nod.

Ahh, a really good day to have a fresh start.

*broom*

Napangiwi ako nang marinig ko ang sigaw ng motor ng kotse ni Lincoln.

Binaba ko ng konti ang shades ko at nakumpirmang kay Lincoln nga.

Beast mode?

"Dude!" I yelled.

Hindi ko man nakikita ang mukha ni Lincoln mula sa bintana dahil sa hard tint nito ay naiimagine ko na ang mukha nito.

Wala sa mood be like.

Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ay bumukas na ang driver's seat at lumabas doon ang malamig na mukha ni Lincoln.

Hindi nito pinatay ang kotse at sinara ang door.

Para akong hangin na dinaanan nito at mabilis na pumasok sa loob.

Rinig na rinig ang mabibigat na yabag nito.

"Sir your coffee" napangiti naman ako at kinuha ang kape.

"Thank you, you may now head to your quarters" i politely said.

Yumuko naman ito ng konti upang magbigay galang at umalis na.

"Fuck!" I heard someone curse and it's Lincoln.

May dala itong white polo.

Napanganga naman ako nang bigla niya pang higitin yung kapeng iniinom ko.

The heck!

Napa-face palm na lamang ako at inis na pumasok sa loob ng bahay para manood na lamang ng TV.

Beast mode amp.

***

Skyler's Point of View

Earlier while on the way home.

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi umiyak dahil sa ginawa niya.

I don't know what's wrong with him and now he's just gonna leave me like this.

Iniwan niya kasi ako sa kotse matapos kaming makauwi.

Mabuti na lamang at hindi niya pinatay ang makina at pabagsak na sinara ang pintuan ng driver's seat.

Doon na tuluyang bumagsak lahat ng luha ko.

Makalipas ang ilang segundo ay may narinig akong katok sa pintuan ko kaya unti-unti ko itong binuksan.

Mabilis na ipinuslit nito ang isang puting polo.

Tila nawala ang galit ko sakanya ng dahil dito.

"Jerk" i curse him under my breath at sinuot na ang white polo.

Kinatok ko naman ang door senyales na tapos na ako.

Then he got in at inabot ang isang tasa na naglalaman ng coffee.

Inabot ko ito at hinipan muna bago hinigop.

Nabalot ng katahimikan ang kotse ng ilang segundo.

Hindi ko naman mean na pagselosin siya, for me i was just having fun.

Siya 'tong nang-away tapos siya pa 'tong may ganang magalit.

Ang ayos-ayos na kinokompronta ko siya kanina sa kwarto niya tapos magagalit siya ng ganon-ganon na lang.

Ugh! Boys!

Nagulat ako ng hatakin niya ako at pinaupo sa lap niya.

Hawak niya ang kamay ko na nakahawak naman sa tasa.

Mabuti na lamang at hindi na ganoon kainit ang kape.

Sinubsob niya ang mukha niya sa leeg ko at marahang hinalikan ito.

Napatagilid ang ulo ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Shh please" he beg.

Hindi ako gumalawa at hinayaan lang siya sa ginagawa niya.

Matapos ang ilang segundo ay nagsalita ito.

"Before i met you,i never knew what it was like to be able to look at someone and smile without any reason" he said at hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sakin.

Dahil naubod ko na ang kape ay pinatong ko lang ang tasa sa gilid ng upuan at hinayaan siyang yakapin ako.

Drama time muna tayo mga sis.

"Eversince you walk into my life.. now i see why i didn't work with anyone else"  parang may tumusok sa dibdib ko nang sabihin niya ang ibang kataga.

I know, that i'm not the only rose in his garden.

" not so long ago i was alone and lost, and then you came along and i was home. Thank you for finding me" he said na nakapagpalambot sakin tuhod, mabuti na lamang at nakaupo kami.

I know something's wrong. I can feel it but he doesn't want to tell me.

"You are the love that came without warning"

I felt like my heart just jumped when he said those words.

Oh baby you're the warning that i'm willing to disobey.

"You had my heart before i could say no" he continued and plant some small kisses at my neck that made me close my eyes wanting to brush his hair but i can't.

Nakatalikod ako sakanya ang he's hugging me so tight as if i will leave him.

"I love you and that's the beggining and end of everything" his voice got lowered as he tell me those three words.

He love me.

Lihim akong napangiti at niyakap na siya pabalik.

"I'm sorry baby girl.. i-im just scared, i don't want to see you being happy, laughing with someone else but just me" he said and i felt a warm liquid that dropped in my shoulders.

He's crying.

I caressed his hands that's hugging me and squeeze them.

"Lincoln, remember that time when we go to the edge of a mountain and you danced me?" I ask him at naramdaman ko siyang tumango.

"That night, i feel safe while on your arms. You made me feel what really love is and i promise to myself that night, that it's only you. Only him" i said and my tears fell.

I wiped it and crouch to change my position.

Nakaharap na ko sakanya ngayon.

His eyes turned a bit red because of crying.

I wiped his tears while he felt the warmth of my palm.

"I love you" i said.

Seconds passed but then he didn't answer me.

He just keep on staring and exchanging glance at my eyes and to my lips.

Bumugtong hininga na lamang ako and crouch para buksan ang pintuan and got out.

Because of dissappointment ay dumiretso ako sa kwarto habang ang iba kong kapatid ay pinagtinginan lang ako.

Buong araw na nagkulong sa kwarto at umiyak.

What a day.

--------

Night came.

Napagpasyahan kong bumaba upang kumuha ng warm milk para makatulog.

As i got into the dining are, i heard a voice.

I peek and saw lincoln talking over the phone.

" i told you audrey, stop bothering me" he said.

Audrey? Maybe one of his ex's

I rolled my eyes at walang sabing pumasok ako sa kitchen at kumuha ng gatas.

Dumaan ako sa harap niya na tila ikinagulat niya.

Inaabot ko yung baso sa taas ng cabinet pero ang taas nito.

Nagulat ako nang may kamay na umabot doon at binigay sakin.

It's lincoln. Kausap pa rin ang nasa cellphone niya at inabot sakin ang baso.

Kinuha ko naman ito at nagsalin na ng gatas.

Dumiretso sa lanai at nagpahangin.

Kahit deep down inside me na ginugustong sundan niya ako dito at kausapin pero alam kong hindi mangyayari.

And fuck! Mahal ko na nga siya.

This is not infatuation anymore but.. i love him.

I drinked my milk as i close my eyes to feel the cold wind.

"Care to share?" Napatianod ako nang marinig ang boses ni william.

Sinulyapan ko siya at nginitian.

"Tell me who is this guy?" He ask.

Napakagat naman ako sa ibabang labi ko at sabay yuko.

Hindi ko naman maaaring sabihin na si Lincoln ito.

"J-just.. someone" i said.

***

Lincoln's Point of View

"Hey bro" William called me.

I approached him and do the our hand thing.

"Can you do me a favor?" I ask he think about it first and nod.

--------

I'm hiding near at the bushes at prenteng nakaupo habang pinapakinggan ang pinag-uusapan nila William at Sky.

That's my favor.

"Tell me who is this guy?" William ask.

I know skyler won't tell him that it's me, but still hoping inside that it's really me.

I only have one day left.

I promise that tomorrow i'll make it up with her.

I saw her looked down and felt a little bit tense.

I guess.

"J-just.. someone" she uttered.

Ofcourse, Someone.

"Does this someone, you know.. kind of feel the same way as you do?" William suddenly ask that made me serious in eavesdropping.

"I-i don't-- it's complicated to say" she uttered.

Complicated? Why? How?

"Complicated? How come?" William just jept on asking.

Let's go William, i want answers.

I want to know if it's worth the risk.

"No! Not that, argh.. you know it's kind of hard. I know that i love him, it's just that.." she said and i bet she's doing her mannerism.

Mas lalo kong inusog ng konti ang sarili ko papalapit para marinig ang kanyang sasabihin.

"I don't know if he's serious and if he feels the same way too" she said shyly.

Oh baby, i feel the same way and i'm dead serious about it.

Tila nabunutan naman ako ng tinik dahil doon.

"Hmmm.. ok lil sis, good talk. I need to get going, i'm

kind of sleepy" sabi ni William at humikab.

I heard footsteps leaving followed by another.

Nang wala na akong narinig ay tumayo ako at pinagpagan ang damit na suot ko.

Complicated huh?

A smirk flaunt in my mouth.

Tomorrow, tomorrow is the day. I'll confess everything to her.

I'm ready to make her as my world, i'm ready to face everything. I'm ready taking the risk.

I let a deep sigh and stared up at the starry sky.

"Damn it! I liked you more than i planned, fuck skyler. You're driving me insane" natutuwang sabi ko't sabay gulo sa buhok ko na hinahangin na rin ng malamig na simoy ng hangin.

***

James's Point of View

Habang nagpapahinga ay napagisipan ko sanang magpahangin.

As i got out on the terrace of my room.

I saw Skyler and William, talking.

Ngunit mas lalong ikinasingkit ng mga mata ko ay ang nagtatagong kuya ko.

What's Lincoln doing there?

He looks like an idiot.

I don't know what they're talking about but, i know it has something to do between skyler and lincoln.

"My brother, he's losing the game" i whispered and smile.

Well, maybe i'll just support him.

Do i have to tell this to Mark? Or just keep it to me?

***

Skyler's Point of View

Isang malawak na hardin ang bumungad sakin kung saan ito'y punong-puno ng magagandang bulaklak.

But a the very center of it, mayroong nagiisang rosas, matamlay ito.

As i held the rose, it blooms and turned color red.

Parang may mga bituin na nabuo at lumitaw si Lincoln sa harap ko.

He was smilling but then, the rose had grown some thorns that made our hands off from holding it.

Soon Lincoln's face had bruises and wounds.

I don't know what's happening, soon my dad showed at the back of Lincoln holding his shoulder.

Hindi ko alam pero malakas ang pakiramdam ko na ilalayo siya sakin ni papa.

I tried to shout but there are no voice coming out of my mouth.

I tried many times but it didn't work.

Liquids built up my eyes as i watch lincoln disappear.

"Lincoln --nooo!"

"No!" Marahas akong napabangon at doon ko lang napagtanto na binabangungot lang pala ako.

Sweat rushing down my forehead, it's cold pero pinagpapawisan ako ng malamig.

As i caress my face, it's wet.

A-am i.. crying the whole time?

I unbelievably asked myself.

"Lincoln" i whispered as i close my eyes and let the darknest eat me.

END OF CHAPTER 16