Chasing the Forbidden (SERIE FEROCI 3)

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Nag-hyperventilate siya kaya siya nahirapang huminga kanina, usually panic, anxiety or stress ang cause no'n. Buti napadaan ako rito dahil may inutos si Sir Arken, pero mas maganda kung dadalhin n'yo siya sa ospital. I'm still a med student, baka may iba pa siyang sakit o ano."

"Sige. Thank you, Adham." Narinig ko ang boses ni Cad.

I slowly opened my eyes. My eyelids and my chest are heavy, but it's bearable now unlike earlier. I never experienced hyperventilating before. I never thought it would be that painful, it felt like my heart is ripping apart. It was so hard to breathe.

Natigilan sila nang mapatingin sa 'kin. Nanghihinang bumangon ako. Bukod kina Cad at Xanthos, may isa pang lalaki sa silid na 'to na hindi pamilyar sa 'kin pero wala na akong pakialam do'n.

Kahit nanghihina ako, pinilit kong tumayo. Hindi maalis ang tingin ko kay Xanthos na nakatingin din sa 'kin. I can't read what's going on in his mind right now.

"Hey, you should rest more," sabi ng lalaking hindi pamilyar sa 'kin saka marahang hinawakan ang braso ko.

"Let me go," mariing sabi ko saka inalis ang pagkakahawak n'ya sa 'kin.

Agad akong lumapit kay Xanthos at kinwelyuhan siya. Nanatili naman siyang walang emosyon na nakatitig sa 'kin.

"Kiara, a-about what you heard earlier, let me explain about--" agad na pinutol ni Xanthos ang sasabihin ni Cadence.

"Leave us alone."

Cad sighed and nodded. He tapped the other guy's shoulder and left us alone in this room. Nanatili naman akong nakakapit nang mahigpit sa damit ni Xanthos na tila doon ko binibigay lahat ng natitirang lakas ko.

"A-Ano ang karapatan mong pagbintangan nang gano'n si Dad at Lolo?! Bakit kailangan mong magsinungaling nang gano'n dahil lang galit ka sa kanila?!" 

My hands are literally shaking right now. I can't even think or talk straight because of the raging emotions I feel inside of me. I don't know what to think or believe anymore. My emotions are taking full control of my judgement.

"Calm down, Kiara," Xanthos said and tried to remove my grasp on him.

"How can I calm down after I heard those bullshits from you?! W-What did you say? D-Dad raped your mother?! You've got to be kidding me, Xanthos! He won't do that, he will never do such thing! Bakit ka nagsisinungaling?!"

Nanlalabo na naman ang paningin ko dahil sa mga nagbabadyang luha. Nanginginig na rin halos buong katawan ko. Natatakot ako sa sasabihin n'ya, pero ang mas kinakatakot ko ay ang katotohanan na kanina lang gusto kong malaman.

Kung gano'ng kasakit din pala ang totoo, sana hindi ko na lang inalam. 

"Say something, Xanthos. Tell me that you're lying! P-Please, say something!"

Xanthos closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. 

"Fine! Do you really want to hear the truth, huh, Kiara?!" Xanthos asked. "Yes, everything that you heard is true. Y-Your father raped my mother and I saw how my mother suffered from it. A-After that, Aldovino North killed her to shut her up... and I saw it Kiara. I-I saw how your grandfather mercilessly killed my mother like her life is only for him to take. Until now, I can't sleep peacefully because I remember everything every time I close my eyes. T-That's why I want you to suffer too! I want Kairo North's loved ones to suffer too..." Xanthos' eyes glistened as if he's about to cry. Every words he said felt like daggers that stabbed me deep within my soul. I can feel his pain in every words... and it left me speechless. 

Nanghihinang napaatras ako. Patuloy sa pagdaloy ang mga luha ko na halos hindi ko na maaninag ang mukha ni Xanthos. Naluluhang lumabas ako ng silid na 'yon. Nakita kong naghihintay sina Cad sa living room. Akmang lalapit na siya sa 'kin pero agad akong tumakbo palabas ng unit n'ya.