A Rose Hidden in The Thorns.

Chapter 11: Co-parenting.

Along with the tears of the dark sky, my tears dried.

We're still in the middle of the dark empty road. Hugging in the midst of my despair.

"Eugene..."

"Calm down first, then we'll talk." Hindi parin niya 'ko binibitawan.

I know I'm supposed to feel awkward with him hugging me. Gosh, we're not closed. He barely talked to me. We have the least interaction in all of his section, yet here we are under the rain hugging.

But somehow, I can't feel any regret in me. I like this. This feels odly familiar to me. This feels like somewhere something in me likes.

"Khai..."

"Setheria,"

A voice made the both of us break the hug. And my eyes widened realizing who it was. No, who they are.

"I-i was worried f-for nothing....i g-guess," Si Layvance.

Lawrence said nothing. But his eyes has this one emotion, one? Or more?

Is he mad? Disappointed?

"Eugene..." Si Steven.

Wala sa sarili akong humakbang papalayo kay Eugene. Layvance's stare followed me while the other two remained on Eugene. Hindi umiimik si Eugene at nakatingin lamang sa paraan na lagi niyang ginagawa. He looked at them as if they didn't matter.

I didn't know what to say. There's a weird feeling between us. Whatever it is, it's suffocating me...

I want to leave. I don't like this.

We remained silent. All we could hear is the fall of the rain.

My eyes unconsciously went to Layvance. He didn't say anything when our eyes meet, but I was taken when I saw how he stumbled. Fuck! He's still sick! His Illness.

I impulsively went to him. Hinawakan ko ang magkabila niyang braso. "Hey, shit! You're sick, leyvance-"

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin nang siniil niya 'ko nang yakap.

I know I should have expected this. HE IS SICK! But they were something in me making me looking at Lawrence.

My heart doubled in beat when our eyes meet. Meron kung anong kumirot sa dibdib ko nang masilayan ang pamumula ng muka niya.

The rain is making me doubt what I see, but why does it seems like I saw tears forming in his eyes before turning his back saying nothing.

Ayoko. Ayoko siyang pagtuunan nang pansin. Maybe he left because he has to. Because it's raining. Maybe he needs to. Ayoko'ng paglilitan, eh.

Cause why? Why would he act like that?

Why would he act as if he's hurting?

And why am I doing this?

"Lawrence!"

I saw how he stopped walking. Naramdamin ko rin ang paghigpit nang yakap ni Layvance sa'kin. I can feel Steven and Eugene's hot stear.

Surrounded with this much attention, bakit parang ikaw? Sayo parin nakatuon ang attention ko?

Gosh, Khai!

Hinde ako umiimik. No, rather, I didn't know what to say, I don't know if I could stay.

Bakit parang ang napakabigat na disesyon ang ginagawa ko sa bawat paghinga't galaw ko? Bakit parang napaka-importante nang galaw ko? Bakit parang dapat kalkulado lahat?