HG 3: Slave of Darkness

11 ~ NEWS

CHAPTER ELEVEN

AFTER her summer class in Manila, Yelena needs to go back home. Meaning to say, she needs to be away with Zacariel because he needs to work. She doesn't even know if a long distance relationship would work between them.

Masyadong mabilis para sa kanya ang mga pangyayari. Noong nakaraang summer lang ay naghiwalay sila at hindi inaasahan na sa susunod na summer at magkakabalikan. It was really out of her plans. Maybe, it really meant to happen? That their paths will cross again? To start over again? And this time they want it official?

Yelena smiled after reading Zacariel's text message. Beside her is Santi who was silent since they left Manila.

"What's with that silence, Santi? What's wrong?"

He sighed right away. Then he ttansferred his gaze to the window on his side.

"Is this about your parents? You can talk to me, you know that."

Mahaba ang byahe nila. Kasama nila sa van ay ang driver, personal bodyguard ni Santi, at sa likod naman ay si Josie na kasambahay ng pamilya Laquesta.

"I don't think this is the right time to talk about it, Yelena," then he pointed his lips to the people with them.

Tahimik lang naman ang mga ito. Mag-u-usap usap lang kung may katanungan sa isa't-isa o kung tumawag ang magulang ni Santi para kumustahin sila sa byahe.

"Pag-usapan nalang natin ang tungkol sa inyo ni Zacariel. You're going to have a long distance relationship. Tingin mo, ayos ba iyon?"

Now that someone asked her that question, she started to think about it more. Oo nga, ayos lang ba na magkahiwalay sila ni Zacariel? Kailan kaya sila magkikita ulit? Ano ang magiging set up nila para mapanatili na maayos ang relasyon nila kahit na madalas ay magkalayo sa isa't-isa.

"Siguro, ayos lang naman? Sanay naman ako na malayo sa kanya o kaya ay hindi siya nakikita."

Advantage din siguro na sanay siya na walang Zacariel sa paligid niya. It felt like she can still live happily without him. Nakapagtataka na sa totoo lang ay wala siyang masyadong pakialam kung malayo sa kanya ang binata. O baka naman ngayon lang 'yon? Dahil nag-uumpisa palang ang relasyon nila at gano'n agad ang estado?

"Paano kapag namimiss mo siya? Pupuntahan mo siya sa Maynila?"

"Kapag miss na miss ko na talaga siya, pwede ko siyang puntahan sa Maynila-"

"Hindi gano'n, Yelena," Santi cut her off immediately. "Dapat ikaw ang puntahan niya. He needs to make effort to see you and be with you."

Yelena pursed her lips.

Hindi dahil babae siya, hindi naman ibig sabihin niyon ay ang lalaki lang dapat ang gumawa ng effort para magkasama sila. It should be both of them, right? To make a relationship last, they both need to exert effort and give enough time to be with each other.

"He can visit me if he's not busy."

"What if he's always busy? Tapos ikaw, hindi naman masyado. Paano? Ikaw palagi ang magpupunta sa kanya?"

Halatang dismayado ang kaibigan.

"Hmm, only if missed him."

"Tsk. Yelena, I think, you need to make up your mind. Try mo kayang ikaw naman ang hinahabol niya."

For some reason, Santi's last words hit her. Medyo masakit iyon siguro dahil totoo.

Sa kanilang dalawa ni Zacariel, sa palagay niya ay siya naman ang naghahabol. He didn't even chase her after what happened last year. Nagpakita nalang ulit kung kailan kalmado na ang lahat.