Iris’ POV
Hanggang ngayon natatawa pa din ako. Napalabas kami ng library dahil sa akin. Sinisi nila akong dalawa pero tinawanan ko lang sila. Wala na daw kasi silang matambayan.
Dalawang taon mula ngayon dapat magiging magkaibigan kami. Sila ang tumulong sa akin after kong magpakalasing sa bar at muntik ng mapag tripan ng adik sa labas ng bar. Pinagtulungan nilang pukpukin ng bag yung lasing na gusto ako hilahin sa kung saan. Mabuti nalang din ay lasing ito kaya walang laban. Bumulagta nalang ito sa sahig.
We became friends. It was fun.
At hindi ko alam kung ilang beses nyang sinabi na Dyosa kami kaya hindi dapat maghahabol. Wala naman nakakatawa actually. Masyadong overconfident lang kasi ang pagkakasabi nya.
"Oh. The witch is smiling"
Napatingin ako sa kanya. Nakasandal ito sa pader habang nanguuyam na nakatingin sa akin.
"Kevin" I whispered. He is wearing an earing in his left ear and a black jacket. His aura shouts dangerous.
"Bakit? May ipapaguutos ka?"
Napahinga ako ng malalim. I need to stop him before it's too late.
"We need to talk" sabi ko at hinila sya
"What the fuck??!"
"shit. Don't shout" inis na sabi ko dito. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa braso nya at sa kamay ko. Psh. Arte.
"wag mo akong hawakan" binitawan ko ang braso nya at naunang naglakad. Sumunod naman ito. Napunta kami sa isa sa mga lumang classroom. Sinuguro kong walang ibang tao at hinarap ito.
"Now, listen" hinarap ko sya at tinitigan.
"w-what?!" sabi ni at napa atras, siguro dahil sa biglaang pag lapit ko.
The truth is, he a good person. I just made him a monster. I took advantage of him and used him which made his reputation bad in the school.
"malaya ka na" mahinang sabi ko pero alam kong dinig na dinig nya ito.
Imbes na matuwa, He went mad and looked at me with panic.
"w-what do you mean?"
"You don't need to follow me anymore. And I’m not going to ask you to hurt people anymore"
He looked at in disbelief.
"May ginawa ba akong hindi mo gusto? Why are you doing these" galit na turan nito.
Umiling iling ako.
"Kevin listen... Wala. Wala kang ginawa. I just want you to stop. I won't ask you to hurt anyone again. You can be yourself now" gusto kong umiyak. Humingi ng tawad sa mga nagawa ko. Isang taon mula ngayon mahuhuli na ang lahat. He will become a real monster and he will suffer.
"What the hell are you saying?! You know why I’m doing this! Gustong gusto mo talaga akong pahirapan ano? Gusto mong mag maka awa ako sayo? Fine! Luluhod ako sa harap mo--"
"Kevin, no! Leave have to leave this school"
"What??! " namumula ang mukha nito sa galit.
"Leave this school. Leave this country with your sister" kitang kita ko ang gulat at pagkalito sa mukha nito.
"h-how did you..."
"i will help you and your sister. Akong bahala sa gagastusin nyo at sa pagpapagaling nya. Gawin mo na hanggang may oras pa, Kevin"
He stiffened and his expression went soft. It’s as if I saw him taking off his mask. Just like me before. It’s very tiring.
Nakita ko ang pagtulo ng luha nito at naguguluhang tumingin sa akin.
"w-why are you doing this?"
"I s-saw your sister and met her. Sorry kung hindi ako nag paalam. She loves you so much, Kevin. She's so proud of you. Ang dami nyang kinwento, Na yung kuya nya ay gwapo daw, matalino, matulungin at napakabait. I know everything she said is true. And it hurts, that i made you evil because of my selfishness. You don’t deserve this, Kevin. Let me help you as a payment for what I’ve done. This time, do this without hurting anyone. Do this for your sister. For yourself. Please take this as me asking for forgiveness"
Sunod sunod na pumatak ang mga luha nito. Despite his tough physical appearance, he can cry without any care in the world. His sister is his weakness and strength. That child is his only family now.
"T-Thank you! Thank you s-so much" he said almost kneeling.
"I’m really sorry for everything, Kevin" I with a bitter smile.
"No, Iris." He shook his head repeatedly “In fact, I am grateful to you. If not for the money you are giving me, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Thank you so much”
"Just take care of her. Dapat pag balik nyo healthy at masaya kayong dalawa. Just be happy. be her brother again. Be a good person"
“b-but what about you?”
“I can take care of myself. Aside from that, I will transfer to Crest. Those student won’t be able to hurt me”
"s-sigurado ka? But what happened to you Iris? Did he hurt you that much?" Anger appeared in his eyes which made my heart warm. He really has a good heart. Despite of what i did. Here he is, mad in my stead.
"I'm tired Kevin. I'm so tired of being selfish. This time pamilya ko naman ang uunahin ko. Siguro naman pwede ko ng ipahinga ang puso ko diba? Ginawa ko naman ang lahat bago bumitiw hindi ba?"
Napapikit ako at napahikbi. Niyakap ako ni Kevin ng mahigpit kaya mas lalong lumakas ang pag iyak ko. Pakiramdam ko may kakampi ako ngayon. In my past life, I am alone.
"You can rest your heart now, Iris. You loved him enough"
"Thank you"
Humiwalay sya at pinahid ang luha sa mata at mukha. Matagal syang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip nya. Nakatitig lang sya na para bang minemorya ang mukha ko.
"Kevin?" tawag ko dito.
"This is not a goodbye Iris. I'll be back"
Napangiti ako sa sobrang saya. I'll start with you Kevin. I will change your life. You'll be happy, I promise!
Kevin’s POV
"Kuya where are we going ba?" napalingon ako sa kapatid ko. Ginulo ang buhok nito at ngumiti.
"We're going to America, Lee. Magpapagamot ka doon para pag magaling kana papasok ka sa school at makikipaglaro sa mga classmates mo. Be a good girl, okay?"
"Talaga kuya?"
"Yes"
"I will be a good girl!"
"Dapat lang kung hindi kikilitiin kita!"
Napatili ito habang tumatawa.
"Stop kuyaaa! Isusumbong kita kay Ate Iris"
Napahinto ako at maang na napatingin kay Lee.
"W-What did you say? Kilala mo si Iris?"
"Yes, kuya. Binilhan nga ako ni Ate ng sketchpad at paints tapos nag laro pa kami. She's so pretty and super kind. And she told me na kapag inaway mo daw ako mag sumbong ako sa kanya, kasi takot ka daw kay Ate Iris"
Natawa ako na ikinasimangot nito.
Ako, takot sa kanya??
"Yes. I am scared of her. Witch kaya yun, hindi mabait yun"
"No! You're lying! Mabait si Ate. And she's not a witch. She's a queen"
"Oo na biro lang. Mabait yun di lang halata" pabulong na sabi ko
"ano po kuya?"
"Wala. Matulog kana, pag gising mo nasa America na tayo"
"Okay"
Pinanood kong matulog si Lee. Hinaplos ko ang pisngi nito at napangiti.
Thank you, Iris. Until we meet again.