I nervously tapped my fingers while sitting on a single couch in front of Lucien, who was currently walking back and forth, caressing his hair with his hand.
Suddenly, a hand held my hand. Pagtingin ko kung sino ang humawak sa akin, si Kuya Sky pala.
He smiled at me reassuringly, then he started tapping my fingers. Medyo kumalma na man ako, so I smiled back at him.
"Now, Rain. Tell the TRUTH to us. As in ALL." Lucien said with danger in his tone.
Na-bato ako sa pag-kaka-upo. At mukhang naramdaman yun ni Kuya Sky kaya he placed his arm on my back. Tinapik-tapik niya ang likod ko to comfort me.
Nakita kong tumalim ang tingin ni Lucien sa amin. Dahil nakaramdam ako ng takot, I buried my face into my brother's neck to hide my face. Maya-maya lang ay may humablot sa akin mula kay Kuya Sky, then he placed me on another couch.
"I told you to explain, not to hug that Sky. " mapanganib na sabi ni Lucien sa akin while pointing his finger at my brother not so far from us.
"I. . . .amhh. . .." utal ko.
Hindi ako makasagot kasi hindi ako mapakali sa mga binibigay na tingin sa akin ni Lucien. I'm getting uncomfortable.
Ang iba naming kasamahan ngayon ay kanina pa tahimik at nagkanya-kanyang nagpunas ng mga armas na hawak nila na kanina lang ay gamit nila na pangsangga sa mga bala at dagger na lumilipad papunta sa amin, and well, using them for killing those people a while ago.
"Lucien, kumalma ka kasi. And please stop glaring and staring at Rain. It makes him uncomfortable so he can't answer your question." saway sa kanya ni Kuya Ruark na nag-lakas-loob na sawayin si Lucien.
Lucien turned his gaze to Ruark.
"What do you mean? I'm not glaring and staring at him. I'm just simply asking him." sagot ni Lucien kay Kuya Ruark sharply.
"You . . . . umhh . . . Right. " sabi na lang ni Ruark nang makita niya ang mga tingin ni Lucien sa kanya. Habang itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa ere.
I laugh silently, with bitterness and pain.
Lucien said it like he doesn't know me at all.
Like I'm not his. . . boyfriend anymore.
"Enough." saway ko sa kanila.
"My name is Rain Maia Lewis, and now, Smith. Currently, eighteen."
It's been one year since Rain met his brother.
"Little brother of Ais Skytler Smith, the leader of a gang named Steel and also a member of Novel Knights."
Pagpapatuloy ko habang nakatingin na ako kay Lucien nang diretso mula sa pagkakayuko ko.
"The missing second son of the second richest and most powerful man in the world. That they just found a year ago."
Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo.
"The leader of Slayers, that well-known gangster group in Japan."
Nag-umpisa akong lumakad papalapit kay Lucien habang diretso pa rin ang tingin ko sa kanya.
"And I am the one they call Phoenix."
I finished coldly habang tumigil ako sa harap ni Lucien.
My face is emotionless now. Hiding away the pain that I am feeling.
Tumingin ako sa kanya nang ilang saglit.
Hinihintay ang kanyang reaction.
Paglipas ng sandali, tumalikod ako mula sa kanya at naglakad papunta sa sarili kong gang.
"I'm being hunted by a certain person now because I nearly killed his brother, who's the leader of Tiger Claw, and that brother of his is still in a coma. Now, for revenge, he wants me dead right now. Every day, a certain person was spying on me wherever and whatever I'll go and do. Kahit mamatay ang taong nakamasid sa akin, napapalitan iyon kaagad."
Inabot ko ang kanang kamay ko kay Knight, Yuri, Misha, Nickolai, Macrinus, Tricka at Hunter, who are giving me a worried look.
They do know me well, huh!!
Ngumiti ako sa kanila nang bahagya habang binaba ang kamay kong iyon.
"Anything else you wanted to know? " Tanong ko nang sa wakas ay nasa harap na ako ng gangmates ko habang bahagya kong tinapunan ng tingin si Lucien.
Walang sumagot ni isa sa kanila.
"Well then, we're going. " sabi ko na lang nang hindi ko makita ang inaasam kong makita sa mukha ni Lucien at naglakad na palabas.
Naramdaman kong sumunod sa akin ang Slayers ko.
It hurts so damn much knowing that my beloved now knows who I really am but didn't want me. He didn't even stop me from leaving that room after that brief explanation of mine. Hindi man lang niya nagawang bigyan ng kahit kaunting oras ang bawat isa sa amin para pag-usapan ang problema namin ngayon nang masinsinan para hayaan akong magpaliwanag nang maayos.
Now I know.
He didn't accept me for who I am.
I guessed this is my punishment for telling him lies.
To Lucien.
To the man I fell in love with.
He didn't want me already.
A tear escaped from my eye, but I quickly wiped it, worrying that my gang saw it.
Tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa makalabas kami ng campus.
"Are you okay? " tanong ni Yuri nang may nakatagong panganib sa tono ng boses nito.
"Say a word, and we're going to kill him. Just a word, leader, and I'll kill him this instant. " Sabi na man ni Misha.
I shook my head to disapprove.
"I'm fine. At isa pa, ayaw kong pagsalitaan niyo ng ganyan si Lucien. Respect him as it should be. Ayaw kong masaktan siya dahil lang sa kagagawan niyo kasi alam kong mananagot kayo sa akin. Even though I'm feeling this pain right now because of him, it's okay. I can bear it. I'm still happy na kasama ko siya. Even if it did not . . . . . last long. " mahinang sagot ko.
While feeling that deep heartache. Suddenly, there's a powerful hand that pulled me and dragged me to a van that was parked on the side. He covered my nose and mouth, which made me faint.
While my eyes were shutting closed, ang tanging naalala ko na lang ay ang gang ko na isinisigaw ang pangalan ko at ang sakit na nadarama ko dahil hindi ako tinanggap ng taong mahal ko.