Series 01: Lucas Clemente

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

LUCAS KEPT pacing back and forth in front of the emergency room's door. Kanina pa siya tinitignan ng kapatid at ina ni Xiana ngunit wala siyang pakialam. He's damn worried about her. Parang kulang na lang ay siya na naman ang mahihimatay.

"Could you please calm down?" iritadong tanong ni Sebastian. "Ako ang nahihilo sa 'yo."

Inis naman siyang umupo sa silya at ginulo ang kanyang buhok. He's overthinking again. Abot-abot ang kanyang kaba kanina nang mawalan ng malay ang dalaga. He's trembling until now. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman.

"Lucas," his friend called. "Let's talk outside."

He hopelessly looked after Sebastian, walking away from their spot. He heaved a deep breath before deciding to follow him. Hindi na siya nakapagpaalam sa ina ni Xiana na nakaupo rin sa bench at katulad niya, kinakabahan dahil sa nangyari.

His mind is in chaos. He's blaming himself for what happened. Kung sana sinabi niya kaagad na tapos na sila ni Pamela, siguro hindi humantong sa puntong mahihimatay ito. He's not a doctor, but he can guess it was all because of him; that's why Xiana collapsed just like that.

"What's between you and my sister, Luke?" matigas na tanong ni Sebastian. "What the fvck is the real score between you two?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin. Tumigil sila sa medyo may kadilimang parte sa labas ng ospital. Sebastian's looking at him intently while he's grasping for words. He's contemplating. Hindi niya alam kung dapat niya bang sabihin ang katotohanan kay Sebastian o hayaang si Xiana ang magsabi.

But knowing that woman, she looks so eager to leave him. He could see it in her eyes a while ago. Her chestnut ones held nothing but desperation to leave. Gusto niyang magtanong bakit ngunit pabalik-balik na rason lamang ang sasabihin nito.

I'm just ruining you.

Hell, she can ruin him and all. He doesn't care. Hangga't sa na sa piling niya ang dalaga, handa siyang masira. Kahit kapalit man nito ang pangalang ilang taon niyang iningatan, nakahanda siya. He's willing to sacrifice all his cards just to have her.

With all the courage he had, he looked at his friend's eyes and said, "I'm in love with your sister, Seb."

That single sentence was enough. Sinalubong siya ng kamao ng kanyang kaibigan at kaagad naman siyang napaatras sa lakas ng pagkakasuntok nito. Nalasahan kaagad niya ang dugo sa gilid ng kanyang labi dahilan upang iluwa niya ito.

"Gago ka ba?! Anong gusto mong mangyari sa kapatid ko? Maging kabit?!" Hindi pa man nakakabawi ang binata nang muli siyang suntukin ng kaibigan. "Tang ina mo, Lucas! Ikakasal ka na! May asawa kang tao, hayop ka!"

Hindi niya gustong manlaban. He accepted all his punches. Baka sa ganitong paraan ay magising siya sa katotohanan. Tama si Xiana. Tama si Sebastian. He's getting married. He has—had a fiancée.

Sa huling suntok na pinakawalan ni Sebastian ay napaupo siya sa lupa. He coughed blood and no one seemed to notice the commotion happening here in the dark. Kaya walang lumapit sa kanila.

He coughed again. "I know."

"Gago ka!" Sebastian run his fingers through his hair. "I think it would be better for you to leave right now, Lucas. Umalis ka na hangga't maaga pa."

"I love her," he said while heaving a deep breath. "I tried pushing her away, Seb. She's too young and too playful. Not my cup of tea. Pero anong magagawa ko? I'm so fvcking whipped by her that I'm willing to get ruined just to be with her. Hindi ko makontrola ang nararamdaman ko."