Thelieka (TagLish Version)

Lee 6•Friends

[Summer, three years ago...]

May ilang segundo ng katahimikan bago bumaon ang sinabi nito sa isip ni Lee. Mula sa computer kung saan nagtatalo sa group chat si Ben at Rodulf sa chords, bumaling siya kay Nika.

"What?"

"What?" balik tanong nito, bahagyang nalito.

"What do you mean he died?"

"...Like, it died. Patay, deds," paliwanag nito tila ba hindi niya maintindihan ang sinasabi. "You know, gone? Ay wait, isara mo ang blinds. Horrors are best when dark. Chips? Yeah, chips!"

Hinablot niya ang kamay nito bago mabuksan ang aparador kung saan naka-stock ang snack nila. "What do you mean gone?!"

Napakurap-kurap si Nika. He rarely snaps and it would always take her in surpise—

"It died, okay?!"

—but she'd also snap back at him.

"I woke up and it's dead. Hindi na gumagalaw. Sabi ni manong patay na kaya tinapon namin. I should have taken the louder one than that thing."

Pinagmasdan ito ni Lee, naghanap ng bakas ng konsensiya o lungkot, at wala siyang maapuhap kundi inis.Nika pulled her hand and stepped away, clicking her tongue. "Kung pinilit mo akong sa petshop nalang tayo imbes sa compound, hindi mangyayari 'to."

Lee watched her rummage snacks in the drawer under his bed. Puno pa iyon dahil ilang araw rin itong wala. Napagtanto niyang kahit kailan ay hindi iyon nangalahati. He would always restock the drawer even if one chip was taken. Laging siya ang nagpupuno at ito ang nagbabawas.

"It was getting annoying anyway. Kahit saan ako pupunta, nakasunod. Wagging its tail, trying to bark."

She pressed play, watching the opening scene, snuggled comfortably on his bed with the chips. Lee was frozen on his spot.

Throughout the years, he would always be the one adjusting. Kung ang paningin ng iba na si Nika ang naghahabol at malamig ang trato niya rito, bakit siya ang laging talo? Siya ang laging nagpapasensya, katulad ng mga taong nakapalibot kay Nika.

But unlike them, Lee fed on the toxicity. He tolerated it, until he got used to it, until it was the only air he breathed.

More than being afraid of what she was becoming, he was terrified of himself, being drawn to her and her control over him, like Mr. Decortia to Mrs. Decortia, and even his parents' relationship.

Unless, gusto mo ang nasasakal ka?

He shivered at Ivo's question days ago. Nika didn't even call the dog by the name anymore, just 'it,' a faceless possession she once had.

One day, would he be like that too?

He asked himself, was he addicted to her monstrosity?

"...Selfish," sambit niya. "Get out."

Hindi siya sumigaw pero sapat na iyon para marinig nito. "Ayoko.'

"I said get out."

Nagtitigan sila, limot na ang pinapanood na libingang pambungad ng pelikula.

"It's just a dog, Lee."

"You're a monster."

He didn't hold back, as Nika tilted her head to the other side, processing the situation that he finally had enough.

"You're heartless."

"...Oh," she said in conclusion. "Galit ka nga. That's new."

Bumangon ito sa kama niya. "Fine. Just so you know, they won't survive," tukoy nito sa pelikula. "Mamamatay silang lahat!" Then she slammed the door closed.