CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: ADVICES AND SUBTLE GOODBYE

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: ADVICES AND SUBTLE GOODBYE

Karmine’s Point of View

Hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng galit sa pagbabalik-tanaw ko.

Nabigo ako!

Pumalpak ako!

Now I have no choice but to face the war head on and alone.

I have no choice but to face Howard and his wrath so he would spare my family.

And I will have no choice but to betray—oh, damn!

Thinking about it is enough to make my heart bleed and I know that I will regret this. But what choice do I really have?

Nothing.

Just like before. Just like before when I was only fifteen.

Alone, young, naîve, and scared.

And eight years later, I still am that girl.

***

Hindi ko pinansin ang pagtikhim ni Papa sa likod ko. Hinayaan ko lang na liparin ng hangin ang mahaba kong buhok na nakalugay habang nagngingitngit ako sa galit dahil sa kapalpakan ko.

“Karmine, anak puwede ba tayong mag-usap?”

“Wala tayong dapat na pag-usapan, Papa.”

I felt him stood beside me, “M-Mayroon, anak. Gusto k-ko—” He gulped hard when choked on his own words.

Rinig