POSSESSIVE 21: Knight Velasquez

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

THE FEELING of disappointment was everywhere... every part of her body felt that word, like a piercing sharp knife cutting through her skin, embedding through her heart. Hindi siya makagalaw sa sobrang gulat sa nalaman.

Disappointed and embarrassed. That's what SM felt. But oddly, she's not angry.

Alam niyang nagsisinungaling ito sa kaniya, hindi lang niya inaasahan na pati ang birthday nito sa resume ay parte ng kasinungalingan nito.

"SM, I'm sorry." Boses iyon ni Knight na pumukaw sa pag-iisip niya. "I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to lie. I was used to it— to lying— it's like my second skin and I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Kumawala siya sa yakap nito saka tumingin sa mga pagkaing inihanda niya bago tumingin sa tatlo. And she saw it, the sympathy on Cloud and Midnight's eyes. The guilt and shame on Knight's eyes.

"Don't look at me like that." Ngumiti siya, "it's okay. Kasalanan ko naman. Sana nagtanong ako para makasigurado." Ibinalik niya ulit ang tingin sa pagkain habang nakangiti pa rin. "Kumain na lang tayo. Sayang naman. Or do you want to take some home? You want cake? I can slice it for you—" her voice quiver, "oh, should I put some on... I mean should i—" pumiyok ang boses niya.

"My Lady..." Cloud's voice was full of sympathy.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to be like this." Pinulot niya ang cake saka binigay iyon kay Knight, "here... I, ahm, y-you can do whatever you like with it." Nginitian niya ang binata kahit parang may pumipiga sa puso niya. "You three can eat the food as well." Mahina siyang tumawa, "s-sa kuwarto lang ako. Inaantok na ako e. Feel free to eat...and please lock the door when you leave."

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ng tatlo. Naglakad siya palabas ng kusina hanggang sa natagpuan niya ang sariling tumatakbo patungo sa kuwarto niya.

Kung saan niya puwedeng itago ang pag-agos ng mga luha niya.

She doesn't want Knight to see her like this. She made her bed, then she'll lay on it.

The surprise party... "it was an epic fail." Bulong niya habang walang imik na pumapatak ang luha niya. "I s-should h-have a-ask..."

She never felt this embarrassed all her life. Standing there with a smile— preparing all those foods and making Knight a cake— it was embarrassing because it wasn't even his birthday.

All her efforts... failed.

Kumuyom ang kamao niya ng maramdamang parang may pumipiga sa puso niya at may yumuyurak sa dibdib niya.

To feel this kind of pain... because of one single person... it's terrifying.

Napasandal siya sa likod ng nakasarang pintuan ng kuwarto saka mahinang natawa habang nakatingala sa kisame.

I'm such a liar. Telling Knight that she might not like him like how much he likes her. It was a lie.

Dahil kung hindi niya ito ganun kagusto... bakit nasasaktan siya ng ganito?

Bumuga siya ng marahas na hininga habang tinatampal-tampal ang dibdib kung nasaan ang puso niya.

"Stop hurting and beating so fast at the same time." Pakiusap niya sa puso niya. "It's terrifying..."

"SM?"

She froze. That voice! Knight. He's outside the door while she's leaning on it, trying to calm herself.

"Don't be mad at me." His voice... he's begging. "I was raised and taught not to beg but... I'll beg on my knees if I have to... huwag ka lang magalit sa 'kin. There's nothing scarier in this world than you being angry at me. Sweet Monday... please?"