Gangster High 1 (The Art of Game) ✅

chapter 14: The Story of the Blood Queen

Chapter 14

THE STORY OF THE BLOOD QUEEN

Naramdaman ko ang pagpitlag ni Fashia nang dumiin ang pagkakahawak ko sa braso n'ya. I knew I was hurting her, pero hindi ko s'ya magawang bitiwan. Sa bawat sakit na nararamdaman ko, kailangan ko ng makakapitan para hindi maidaing ang sakit. It's unfortunate for Fashia that she was always besides me kaya nadadamay s'ya sa sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"Fuck," mariin kong naibulong. Napaunat ako sa pagkakaupo. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong harapin si Dr. Levesque para bigyan ng malakas na suntok sa mukha.

He was treating my wound, my burned back. He said, he knew perfectly how to cure a wound like this, but after three days since that goddamned Coronation Day, the pain was still the same. Dr. Levesque was injecting something directly into the wound and said it was to maintain the symbol once it healed.

"Miss Strawford, you are hurting her." Narinig kong sabi ni Dr. Levesque kasabay ang pansamantalang paghinto sa ginagawa.

Bahagya naman akong kumalma nang mapatingin ako sa mukha ni Fashia. Naiiyak na s'ya while biting her lower lip. Marahil ay pinipigilan n'ya lamang ang kanyang sariling umiyak.

Napailing ako nang makita ko ang pamumula ng braso n'ya nang bitiwan ko s'ya. Maputi siya kaya mabilis na nagmarka sa balat n'ya ang kaunting pisil. Or maybe, sadyang napadiin lang talaga nang sobra ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanya.

Napahinga na lang ako nang marahas nang makita kong bahagya s'yang lumayo sa akin habang hinihimas ang sarili n'yang braso.

"You owe her an apology," bulong ni Dr. Levesque.

God! When was the last time I said that word? Nine years? Ten years? Yes, ten years. That night, I was so sorry that I couldn't protect her. That night, Tiarah started to hate me and I started to hate her.

"Ouch! Fuck you," hindi napigilang bulyaw ko nang maramdaman ang pangalawang karayom na tumusok sa sugat ko.

"I'm sorry, Miss Strawford, but you know I have to do this, right?" ani Dr. Levesque.

"You don't have to do that," I emphasized the word. "You are just scared to that goddamn Player kaya ginagawa mo ito."

Dr. Levesque laughed. "Who is not scared? Even the Legendary Queen, who was the Player's match, had to accept this mark."

Hindi na ako nagsalita. Wala na naman talaga akong magagawa kundi tanggapin ito sa ayaw o sa gusto ko. Sa ngayon ay wala pa akong laban sa Player.

Wala pa...

"It's done," bigla n'yang sabi pagkuwan.

Walang imik na tumayo ako at inayos ang suot kong damit—kung damit nga bang matatawag ang kapirasong telang ito. I hated Fashia's fashion style. It was too sophisticated, which did not match her Hello Kitty eyeglasses. She was just like a modern conservative. Whatever it was called.

Humakbang ako patungo sa pinto ng clinic at walang lingon na lumabas. Nakasunod sa akin si Fashia.

"Mikki's mark was awesome," she said absentmindedly. She flinched when I looked at her. "I mean... I mean i-it was good and—"

"Fashia, I want to know something." I grabbed her arm to stop her from talking. Nang hilahin ko siya ay hindi s'ya pumalag, ni hindi nagsalita. Nagpaubaya na lang s'ya kung saan ko s'ya dadalhin. Then after a minute of walking, she looked at me puzzled.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked.

"Why? You don't like this place?" I asked back.

Umiling s'ya at saka ngumiti. Pagkatapos ay marahan s'yang humakbang at isa-isang hinaplos ang mga munting pigurin na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng cabinet. Pinagmasdan ko lang s'ya. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pangungulila sa bawat kilos n'ya. Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita ko ang pagbagsak ng kanyang mga luha. Masyadong mabilis kaysa sa inaasahan ko.