DARK and WILD || {k.taehyung} ✔

- 31 -

#DAWVow

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Lucas after mangyari lahat nang yun kanina. He just led me to his car at tahimik kami buong biyahe. I tried to talk to him pero hindi siya sumsagot.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa ospital kung nasaan si Mickey ay hindi pa rin siya nagsalita. Hindi na rin siya bumaba para samahan ako. I just went on my own dahil pagkababang-pagkababa ko ng sasakyan niya ay mabilis siyang umalis.

Maybe he needed time off. He's been through so much with in a short period of time. I could give him his time. I too, needed to set my mind off things. Hindj ko rin naman kasi alam na umabot pala sa ganoon ang mga nangyari noon. I thought they're just rumors.

I just went straight to Mickey's room dahil tumawag sila saakin kanina na gising na daw siya.

I carefully knocked on the door bago ako pumasok. Then I saw Laverne feeding him pero as usual, nagtatalo nanaman sila.

"Ano ba?! Hipan mo muna kasi, mainit sabi eh." Singhal ng pinsan ko.

"Hinipan ko na nga eh ang arte mo! Ikaw na nga itong pinapakain eh."

Pinipilit ni Laverne na isubo kay Mickey yung spoon. Sobrang focused nila sa isa't isa kaya I made my presence know by coughing lightly.

"Venice!" Masayang sabi ni Laverne.

"Hi." I awkwardly said.

Lumapit ako sa kanila tapos bigla akong hinila ni Mickey para yakapin.

"Wha--" I didn't finish my sentence because he tightened the hug.

"Thank God you're safe." He said.

When I felt Laverne joining in for a group hug, I felt tears stream down my face.

"Oh bakit ka umiiyak?" They both asked.

"Eh.. Kasi.. Akala ko galit kayo sakin. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have gone there. I shouldn't have told you. I sho-"

"Venice. You're my cousin. Almost my sister. It's my responsibility to protect you. Hindi mo kasalanan lahat ng nangyari. I wanted this, I wanted to save you." He said.

"Ven, hindi tamang sisihin mo yung sarili mo. You both are my friends and I am glad that nothing worse happened." Sabi naman ni Laverne.

I cried harder. How can I deserve these kind of people? Why do have them by my side? Sobrang swerte ko na yata sa kanila.

I smiled, "Thank you so much." I said as I held both of their hands.

"Don't worry, makakalakad pa naman ako." He said jokingly.

"So stop being stubborn and push through with your therapy as soon as possible. Para makatakbo ka na ulit kapag hahabulin kita!" Sabi ni Lav sa kanya.

"Bagay kayo." Sabi ko na nagpagulat sa kanila parehas. "Joke." I said kasi ang kulit nilang tignan.

Sana ganito lang din kami ni Lucas. Sana maging madali lang lahat.

We all stayed hanggang gabi dahil wala pa naman si Tita. Nagkwentuhan lang kami at nagtawanan hanggang sa makaramdam na kami ng gutom. Good thing uso ang delivery!

We ordered snacks and ate them while watching a movie. Dito kasi sa hospital, medyo may VVIP benefits kami dahil shareholder pala si Lolo at Tito dito. Sa room ni Mickey ay may malaking flatscreen tv at speakers, good for a movie viewing.

While in the middle of the movie, biglang bumukas yung pinto. It was Lucas.

I was half happy to see him and half confused. Hindi ko alam kung lalapit ba ako or kung ano. First reason, I don't think na alam nila Lav at Mickey whatever is going on with me and Lucas. Second, hindi ko alam kung okay na ba siya, or if I could just talk to him. Kasi kanina parang ayaw niya muna ng kausap. He looked like he needs time alone.

"Lucas! Tagal mo ah? Umalis ka kaagad kahapon." Malanding sabi ni Mickey sa kanya.

Pero hindi siya sumasagot. He's just looking at me, straight in my eyes.

Lav and Mickey was silent. Nakatingin lang sila samin. Awkward nga eh, sobrang awkward.

"Uhm. Siguro naman kayo na lang yung lumabas kasi... Obviously hindi ako makakalabas." Natatawang sabi ni Mickey.

I nodded at him tapis tumayo ako at hinila ko si Lucas palabas. Pagkasara ng pinto, humarap ako sa kanya. Tumingala pa ako dahil ang tangkad niya eh.

"So. Are you now ready to tell me everything Lucas?" I asked.

He looked at me. Yung mata niya, malungkot sobrang lungkot.

"I've been waiting for you tell me everything. Kasi sabi nila ikaw lang ang makakapag-sabi nun. It's your story to tell and I wanted to hear it from you right now." I grabbed his hand, "No matter how dark your past can be, I'll stay by your side."

Tahimik. Nakakabinging katahimikan. Nakakatakot. Na baka kung anong salita ang masabi nang kahit sino samin ay masisira lahat.

Ilang segundo pa, ilang minuto pa...

"Do you love me Venice?" Bigla niyang sabi. I was taken aback doon sa sinabi niya kaya hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. Do I love him already? Were all the things that I felt towards him meant love?

"Rephrase that, will you still love me Venice? Will you still love me even if you learn what kind of person I really am? Will you stay with me no matter how dangerous my love can get? Will you still hold onto me no matter how dark and wild the ride will get?"

I was afraid at the same time thrilled. All of these was new to me. Maybe this is what they call love. Yung handa kang tanggapin ano man ang malaman mo tungkol sa kanya. Yung handa kang makasama siya sa kahit anong kapahamakan pa.

I held his hands tighter. Dahil hindi ako bibitaw anuman ang mangyari. He stayed by my side and dragged me along with him, and no matter what happens, ayokong bumitaw.

"Yes Lucas. Yes."

I breathe heavily, preparing for something more. Wala nang atrasan. I've been dragged into this dark and wild love, might as well go along with it.

"I love you. I will still love you no matter what happens." I said.

I grabbed his face and with courage, I kissed him.

He was shocked at first dahil sa totoo lang first time ko ding gawin to. But later on, he closed his eyes.

"I love you Lucas Gabriel Avellaneda." I whispered.

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