DARK and WILD || {k.taehyung} ✔

- 20 -

#DAWOneGoodThing

"Love hurts. It causes anger, jealousy, obsession. Why don't you love me back?"

Pagka-sabi niya nun, bigla niyang inamba yung left hand niya. I thought he was going to slap me when I heard a loud thud beside me right ear. I was shocked to death nung maramdaman kong may tumulo sa balikat ko. I turned to look at it only to see blood from his fists flowing through my uniform.

I was crying so hard that I couldn't breathe evenly. Tanging yung paghawak niya na lang sa baiwang ko yung sumusumporta sakin para makatayo ako. Tamang tama naman na dumating sila Mickey. He pushed Lucas away from me at sinalo naman ako ni Laverne.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Galit na sabi ni Mickey sa kanya.

Lucas' face was emotionless yet his eyes were full of anger. Nagulat pa kami nung suntukin siya ni Mickey dahil natumba ito sa sahig at wala pa rin siyang reaksyon. Iniupo ako ni Laverne sa hagdan tapos nilapitan niya si Mickey.

"Mike! Tama na!" Sigaw ni Laverne.

Mickey gave him one last kick sa paa bago lumabas. Tinulungan naman ako ni Laverne na tumayo tapos dinala niya ako sa may quarters. May kwarto doon na mukhang pambabae dahil pink ang theme at mga mga stuffed toy din. Iniupo niya ako sa kama at lumabas siya saglit.

Pagkabalik niya, may dala siyang basin at towel. Dahan dahan niyang pinunasan yung mga dugo sa braso ko para hindi matamaan yung sugat ko at sinabihan ako na magpalit ng blouse. She had an extra one doon sa cabinet so I assumed that this is her room.

"Hindi mo na itatanong pero this room is not mine. It was Lucas' sister's room." She smiled a little.

"What happened? Bakit siya namatay?" I asked.

"It was a long story Venice. It's Lucas' family history. Ayokong maki-alam." She said.

"Why? Is that why Lucas' acted that way?" I asked again.

"No. But listen to me. For now, maybe its best to stay away from Lucas muna. Let him cool down. Pagod lang siya." She assured me.

"Can I.. Can I go home?" I badly want to lay down my bed. So many things have been hapoening and all I want was to just sleep and ignore all that's happening right now. Gusto ko lang matulog ng matulog. Sobrang nadedrain na yung energy ko. Ang dami kong tanong na hindi naman nila sinasagot.

"Sure. I'll just make an excuse. I'll let Mike bring your things home later." Laverne said.

"Thanks."

Tumayo ako at nagsimulang maglakad palabas. Bigla kong nakasalubong si Greg sa corridor. He was leaning against the wall.

"Hi Venice! You... You don't look good. May nangyari ba?" He asked.

"Wala." I said and just continued to walk, but then he followed me.

"I heard your boyfriend and his friends got into a fight?" Napatingin ako bigla sa kanya. "Lucas? Isn't he your boyfriend?" He asked.

"No he's not." I said in gritted teeth.

"Oh, eh yung sugat mo? Okay na ba? I also heard Ellie stabbed you?" He sounded like a reporter trying to get an information.

"It's none of your business!" I exclaimed.

"Woah. Calm down. I'm just curious you know. Rumors everywhere Venice. Be careful next time." He said then winked at me before running away.

I sighed deeply. Bakit ba nangyayari yung mga ganitong bagay? Palagi na lang akong napapahamak, pati mga kaibigan ko. Now, rumors about me are even spreading? Do I deserve this? Ano bang ginawa ko para maparusahan ng ganito?

There I was, starting to move on from a heart break, thinking that Lucas can be a good friend, Laverne being secretive and Mickey, just being Mickey. I didn't know they have this side of them. It's like I don't know them at all.

***

Nagising ako dahil nakarinig ako ng pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto. Pagtingin ko sa table ko ay may tray ng pagkain. May sulat din.

Ven, let's talk. -Mickey

Tinignan kong maigi yung pagkain, halatang hindi si Manang ang nagluto nito. Napangiti ako dahil alam kong si Mickey lang ang nakakapagluto ng brown na fried egg at bacon. It's weekend kaya naman kinain ko yung pinag-effortan na breakfast ni Mickey para sakin at ibinaba yung pinggan sa kusina.

I went straight upstairs sa may movie room dahil rinig ko yung paglalaro niya sa labas.

"Hi." I said.

Itinigil niya yung paglalaro ay humarap saakin.

"Venice, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dealt with it. Nadamay ko pa sila Gelo at Lucas. Alam kong nagalit ka kahapon dahil nag-alala ka samin pero nagawa ko lang naman yung dahil nag-alala rin kami sayo eh." He said.

"I know, and I'm sorry too. For acting like an angry Mom." Natatawang sabi ko.

"I know hindi na ako dapat makialam, pero Venice, Gelo told me about what happened. Actually, yung isang pasa sa mukha niya ako yung may gawa." He said.

"What?!"

"Eh pinaasa ka niya eh! He said he was sorry na ganun pala yung nararamdaman mo pero hindi man lang niya napansin. So I punched him hard."

"I didn't know you could do that! And besides, tapos naman na eh. He loves Ellie, wala na akong magagawa dun. I just have to move on with my life." I said.

"Oh and speaking of Ellie, she's coming here. She wants to talk. If it's okay with you."

"Of course."

I would honestly love that. Hindi naman ako galit kay Ellie eh. What happened was an accident. She never meant to hurt me.

We played games until lunch time tapos saktong pagdating ni Ellie. She looked, as usual, beautiful. May dala rin siyang bouquet of flowers red roses.

"Hi." She said.

"Ellie, halika dito." I guided her to the living room. Iniabot niya saakin yung flowers, "Thank you." I said.

"Let me get straight to the point Venice. I am really really sorry with what happened. I don't know how to say this... But I have to explain myself." She said and I nodded.

"When Lucas and I were together, he loved me so much and I loved him too. Pero he was struggling with his family at that time. Only his sister, Laura was his companion. Then something happened, I hurt him and because of what happened I blamed myself. Seeing his sister die in front of me caused my Post Traumatic Disorder."

"I'm sorry..." I sighed, " But... How? How did she die?" I asked.

"I am not the right person to tell you that Venice." She smiled a little. "Oh and by the way, I have to go."

"Go? Where? Kumain ka muna, it's lunch time." I said.

"I am going back to the states to get more treatments dahil natrigger ulit ako noon. Too much sadness can trigger me Ven. And I am sorry na sayo ko yun nagawa. I didn't mean to." She cried softly, so I held her hand.

"It's okay Ellie. I don't hate you." I said.

"Really?"

I nodded.

"Thank you so much!" She hugged me and I hugged her back.

"I hope I can be friends with you again, when I'm better." She said.

"You're my friend already Ellie. And I'm looking forward to a better you!" I said.

We said our goodbyes before she get on her car.

Finally, one good thing happened to me this time.

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