Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 2

Warning: Bleed for Love deals with themes of physical and mental abuse, sexual trauma, toxic relationships, and depression. Some chapters of this book can trigger and be distressing to some readers. Please read at your own risk.

Chapter 2

"Shit! Parang mababasag ang ulo ko..." Sorcha groaned.

Naalimpungatan ako sa pagmumura niya noong umagang iyon. I slowly opened my eyes and the back pain from sleeping in the floor suddenly hit me. Napaigik pa ako bago ko dinahan-dahan ang sarili na tumayo. I groggily turned to my friend.

Sorcha's mascara streamed down her face. Kahit anong pilit ko sa kaniya kaninang madaling araw, ayaw niya talagang tanggalin ang makeup niya kaya hinayaan ko nalang. She looks like a mess.

"Parang masusuka ako. Tangina. May sigarilyo ka ba?" hinawi niya ang takas na mga buhok. She looked around desperately for a cigarette. Ituturo ko pa sana ang drawer kung saan ko itinatago ang naiwang sigarilyo nang makakita siya ng stick. Kaagad niya itong hinablot at sinindihan.

"Shit! Sorcha!" I screamed and run towards her. Gulat na napatingin sa akin ang kaibigan. I snatched the cigarette from her and cursed out loud. "Shit, shit, shit."

"Bakit ba? Anong problema?" medyo naiirita na din niyang tanong sa akin habang nagpapanic ako kung paano papatayin ang apoy sa sigarilyo.

In the end, I crushed the tip of the cigar with my palm. The pain made me freeze as I swallowed a series of curse and then slowly calmed myself. Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang tingin sa namumulang palad. The cigarette is no longer lit, but I must've crushed it in the process. I could barely read Rigor's number on the shaft.

"Anong meron?" kuryusong tanong ni Sorcha. Medyo nahihilo pa siyang tumayo at sinilip ang numerong nakasulat sa sigarilyo. "Wow, that's new. Who's this guy? Break na ba kayo ni Max?"

Bahagya akong nanigas sa sinabi niya. I bit my lower lip and looked away. Ayokong pinag-uusapan si Max nang ganito kaaga. Nasisira kaagad ang mood ko.

"Kumain muna tayo ng agahan," ani ko.

She shrugged and went back to bed. Ako naman ay tinungo ang bag kung saan ko inilagay ang cellphone. I grunted when I found out that the battery is dead, so I charged it and placed the cigarette atop the device.

"Bakit ka nawala kagabi? Hinanap kita," aniya habang pinagmamasdan akong gumalaw sa kusina. I bit my lower lip, thinking of an excuse, but couldn't come up with any. In the end, I told her the truth.

"Nag-away kami ni Max."

"Na naman?" she chuckled. "Para talaga kayong mga bata. I warned you before dating that prick cousin of mine. Alam mo namang spoiled yun at dapat makuha niya lahat ng ginugusto."

He's not just spoiled. He's a walking nightmare.

"Oh, eh nasan na siya ngayon?"

"I don't know... probably sleeping with another woman again." Binulong ko ang huling parte bago tinuon ang atensyon sa piniprito kong itlog.

"God, I can't remember what happened last night. I must've drank a lot, huh?" she chuckled and ran a hand through her hair. I know I look like a mess, too. Naparami rin ang inom ko kagabi pero mas ramdam ko ang pananakit ng likod kesa sa pagpintig ng ulo ko dulot ng alak.

"Yeah, you're such an embarassment." Inilapag ko ang toasted bread at fried egg sa maliit na lamesa. "Here, your highness. Kumain ka na." Sarkastiko kong wika.

Sorcha just laughed it off and sauntered towards the small kitchen, snatching the breakfast and eating in crossed legs.

"So, what happened?"