Strings and Arrows

Chapter 40

"You just got into an accident? Why didn't I know anything about that? Sana man lang ay nabisita kita. Are you okay now? Baka may masakit sa 'yo."

Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad ngayon papuntang classroom ko. Naikwento ko sa kaniya ang nangyari sa akin at ngayon ay pinagsisisihin ko na.

"Ano ka ba, I am more than fine. You don't have to worry about me."

"Seriously Spirit, Mabuti talaga at kinulit kitang ihatid sa susunod mong klase."

Napahampas naman ako sa balikat niya ng mahina dahil sa sinabi niya.

"I'm okay nga lang diba? You seriously have to stop worrying about me."

"You just freaking got out from a hospital. Of course I should be worried."

"Well, there's nothing to be worried about. Ayos na naman ako--"

"Matthias."

Napalingon naman agad sa nagsalita.

I-It was Zeal.

May diin ang pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ni Matthias.

"Z-Zeal ikaw pala--"

"What are you doing here Matt?" Putol nito sa 'kin. He was looking intently at Matt. He was throwing daggers at him through his stares! Ano na naman ba ang problema nito?

Agad niya naman akong hinila palapit sa kaniya at pinwesto sa kaniyang likuran.

"Relax. I'm just here to walk Spirit to her classroom. Nothing more."

I saw Zeal's jaw clenched at mas lalong kinuyom ang kaniyang mga kamao.

He stepped closer to Matt pero nginitian lang siya nito.

"I am warning you Matt. This will be the last time you'll come near her. Sa susunod na makita kitang umaaligid ulit sa kaniya, mag-pasensyahan na lang tayo."

I saw Matt smirked.

I-I don't get this. Ba't ganito? Ano bang meron at bakit parang galit na galit si Zeal kay Matt?

"Really? Gusto mo talagang punuin ang listahan ng mga kasalanan mo?"

"Fck those rules! I'm going to kill you. You better mark my word."

Agad namang kinwelyuhan ni Matt si Zeal na talagang ikinagulat ko. Akmang susuntukin niya na ito nang may biglang tumawag sa kaniya.

"Matt! Stop it!"

It was Clotho. She knows him too? She knows everything that's happening right now.

Next to her was Grey. Napapansin ko, parang napapadalas rin ang pagsasama ng dalawang 'to. The more na naging curious ako.

Nilingon nila ang papalapit na si Clotho. Kasunod niya naman si Grey.

This is really confusing me now. Nagmumukha na 'kong tanga dito.

Hindi binitawan ni Matt si Zeal kaya mahigpit na hinawakan ni Clotho ang braso ni Matt.

I don't know why pero bigla na lang dumaing si Matt at napabitaw siya mula sa kaniyang pagkakahawak kay Zeal.

Gano'n ba kalakas si Clotho para magawa 'yon?

"Stop it Clotho! You're breaking the rules." Giit ni Matt.

"I am not. I'm just bending it. Aren't you the one who was breaking the rules here?" She said through gritted teeth but I saw her grip loosen saka binalingan ako.

Para siyang natauhan at nagulat ng mapagtantong nandito pala ako sa mundong ibabaw. Kasama nila.

Muli niyang tinignan ng matalim si Matt saka nagbilin ng banta.

"We'll talk. Later." She said in a warning tone saka binitawan na si Matt.

"Spirit, we should go." Tawag ni Zeal sa 'kin.

Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay hinila na niya ako agad. Ano ba? Palagi na lang ba akong hinihila dito ngayon?

Tumigil kami sa harap ng LRC Building and he faced me

"Look Spirit, what you saw earlier was just nothing. Okay? I know you're confused and all pero isa lang ang masasabi ko sa 'yo. I will do my very best to protect you but I need your help with that. Please, layuan mo si Matthias. You don't know him."

"Then let me know! Hindi 'yong para lang akong tanga sa gilid na hindi man lang maintindihan kung ano na ba 'yong nangyayari sa paligid ko. Ano? Tapos sasabihin mo sa 'kin na nasa panganib ako? Ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit nalalagay na sa panganib ang buhay ko! Isa pa 'yang sina Clotho at Grey. Ano? May tinatago kang sekreto? Kayo? Anong meron? All this time you knew each other? Matagal ko nang tinatanong 'yong tungkol kay Grey pero wala kang sinasabi. Tapos ngayon, biglang darating 'yang sina Matt at Clotho? Masyado nang maraming kaganapan. Sabay-sabay. Hindi ko na alam. Wala na 'kong maintindihan okay? Mababaliw na yata ako!"

God this is so frasutrating!

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil literal na sumasakit na talaga ito.

"Look Spirit, I've got nothing to say. 'Yang si Matt, he's a bad guy. Tapos. That should be enough reason for you to avoid him pero bakit hindi mo magawa? Si Clotho, she was just a friend whom I met back then. At 'yong tungkol kay Grey? Sinabi ko na rin naman sa 'yo diba? He's also bad kasi nga basagulero siya and he has flings. That's it!"

"Stop. Stop it Zeal. Ayaw ko nang maniwala. Hindi ko na alam kung alin ang dapat kong paniwalaan."

Hinawakan niya 'ko sa magkabilang braso.

"Spirit, I have to ask you something. May napapansin ka bang kakaiba sa kinikilos o sa mga sinasabi ni Matt?"

Napaisip naman ako sa sinabi ni Zeal.

Well, he's not usually weird. I-Iyong kanina lang 'yong may medyo naramdaman akong kakaiba sa kaniya. He was kind of creepy earlier.

"K-Kanina. Sa library, he was asking me questions."

"W-What questions?"

"There was this book and uhm I was reading it when he suddenly showed up. He was asking if I have read the synopsis already and I said yes. Then he asked me if I were the Goddess of that book, what will I do in order to save the person I love."

"What was the Title of the Story?"

"The Hunt that destroyed the Moon."

I heard him cursed.

"D-Do you also know that Story?"

He nodded his head and looked at me.

"It was my cousin's story. Tell me, did he asked you if you're going to push the person you love away in order to save him?"

"Y-Yes. That was the right thing to do."

"Damn. Nakakuha siya ng ideya." Mahina niyang tugon. I wasn't able to hear what he said clearly.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing. He's just so drawn about those things. He might be mentally ill you know. Who knows he could have hurt you back then because he was a Psycho? You see now? That was why you have to keep a distance from him. You get it?"

Bagamat naguguluhan ay dahan-dahan ko na lang siyang tinanguan.

"Good. Have you finished reading the story?"

Umiling ako sa tanong niya. That was a great story though. Too bad I wasn't able to finish it.

"I'll tell you that story. I personally witnessed it." He said with a smile.