♥ CHAPTER 74 ♥

✿ Dean's POV ✿

Standing infront of the door, maraming bagay ang pumapasok sa isip ko. How I wish na sana ako ang katabi mo. Sleeping alone makes me want to stay beside you. Sana umpisa pa lang, nakilala na kita, then we won't have to suffer like this. You didn't have to suffer like that, how I wish ako yung nasa tabi mo noong mga oras na kailangan mo ng tulong. I never realized how much I love you because I was always thinking of her, yung kaisa-isang taong pinag-alayan ko ng mundo ko. All this time, I thought I still love her but I was wrong. Up until now, I still regret not helping you since from the first place. I should have done something to save you earlier and now, it's too late.

While looking at you, lahat ng pangarap ko para sa'yo, unti-unting nagugunaw knowing that when we met for the first time, you felt afraid of me. Masakit sa akin na isiping ang babaeng pinakahahangad ng puso ko, hindi agad narealize ng isip ko just because I was thinking of another. But that another loves another too.

It hurts knowing that the girl I love, is scared of me. And will always be scared of me. What if she didn't like me sa umpisa pa lang?

Those, are just the things that make me confuse and afraid. Afraid because I might not get what I want. Afraid because I might be rejected. But no one can define my love for her.

"What are you doing there?" I looked at him at nawala lahat ng nasa isip ko. It's her twin-brother at nakita ako nito na nakatayo sa harapan ng pintuan niya habang hawak ko ang door knob para bahagyang mabuksan ang pintuan. It's me who's watching her for more than 5 minutes while she's sleeping.

"Just checking on her" sagot ko dito bago isinara ng dahan-dahan ang pintuan. Sumandal ito sa pader at nakangiti habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Hmm, I see" maikling sagot nito.

Tinignan ko ito ng maayos bago nagsalita, "I need to tell you something" nagtaka ito at tumayo ng maayos bago nagsalita, "May kinalaman ba 'to sa mga kalaban natin?" tanong nito sa akin kaya napangiti na lang ako, "No, it's not about that" tinignan ko ang pintuan ng kwarto ni Syden at tumingin ulit kay Sean, "It's all about your sister" sambit ko kaya nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya.

"What is it?"

Yumuko muna ako at muling tumingala para tignan siya, "Tatapatin na kita. I know you might not believe me. But I will just say the truth" matagal ko muna itong tinignan and it's obvious na hinihintay niya lang akong magsalita. I should tell him first.

"I love your sister" I said. Pero hindi noon nabago ang reaksyon niya. I thought he'll get mad or what, pero walang nagbago sa reaksyon niya. Sean knows how dangerous I am. And I didn't expect him to stay calm kapag nalaman niya ang nararamdaman ko para sa kapatid niya.

Napangiti na lang ito bago nagsalita, "I knew it. It's obvious Dean. Napapansin ko na 'yan, yung mga titig mo sa kanya. I was afraid to confront you about your feelings dahil baka mali lang ang iniisip ko, but all this time tama pala ako. Don't worry, hindi ako makikielam sa nararamdaman niyong dalawa. I know you won't hurt her. But I think you should really tell her, as soon as possible" pahayag nito sa akin.

"I already have a plan" sagot ko.

"So...tell me, ano bang magagawa ko para maging successful ang plano mo?" tanong nito habang nakangisi. Napangiti na lang din ako pero, "I don't need to ask you this because I know you're already protecting her" I don't need to ask him na protektahan niya ang kakambal niya dahil ginagawa na niya ito.

"At anong connect non sa plano mo? Tell me, ano bang plano mo Dean?" nagtatakang tanong nito. Nginisian ko lang ito kaya nagtaka pa siya lalo at napansin na tahimik ang paligid. Alam ko, na mapapansin niya, ""Where are they?" tanong nito sa akin habang patuloy pa rin na tinitignan ang tahimik na paligid.

"Just stay here and we'll settle everything" pahayag ko dito. Ngumisi na lang ito at napailing dahil sa sinabi ko kaya iniwanan ko na siya at lumabas ng Black House para pumunta sa isang napaka-espesyal na lugar.

Naglakad ako sa napakadilim na campus at kagaya ng iniisip ko, because it's still gang war day, may mga iba't-ibang grupo pa rin ang pakalat-kalat and worst, naglalaban pa rin ang iba. The hallway is full of Blood but I didn't mind dahil mas importante ang lakad ko ngayong gabi. I must meet him tonight dahil sa pinagawa ko sa kanya at doon ako papunta ngayon.

There were group na naglalaban and just because they saw me, kinailangan nilang tumabi sa dinaraanan ko. But unfortunately, may nadaanan akong naglalaban din sa hallway at hindi nila ako napansin dahil sobrang busy sila sa labanan, kaya nakaharang sila sa dinaraanan ko. Pero napansin din naman nila ako at narealize nila na ilang segundo na rin akong nakatayo sa harapan nila, just thinking of my plan for her, ayaw kong masira ang araw na 'to. Alam kong nasa isip nila na papatulan ko sila pero nilagpasan ko na lang sila. I don't want to ruin anything now. Because tomorrow night, is a very special day for me.

Then I finally reached the place, kung saan nakatago ang dating armas ng Blood Rebels. Tinignan ko muna ang paligid and no one was there. Nakita kong may ilaw sa loob kaya nalaman kong nasa loob na rin ang hinihintay ko. I went inside at nakita ko siya kaya natuwa ako, "Where is it?" tanong ko dito at sinalubong niya ako gamit ang ngiti niya habang hawak-hawak ang pinakuha ko sa kanya. Noong nakita ko 'yon, I felt very happy.

"I got 'em" sambit nito sabay abot sa akin at inamoy ko 'yon, "Do you think she'll love this?" tanong ko dito.

"Yeah, I'm sure" sagot nito sa akin habang nakatingin sa hawak ko, "Are you really sure of this?" tanong niya sa akin, "You know me Oliver, no one can stop me" sambit ko. Once I start something, I make sure to end it.

Lumabas na kami para pumunta sa Building 003 because that's the place where everything will start. Pumasok kami sa building at hindi pa rin natatapos ang labanan. Kahit sino naman, gusto ng maraming members kaya hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin natatapos ang labanan, but not all members will always be members. Yung iba, nagpapabuhat lang just to show others na malakas sila. But in my group, all are equal. We'll always be a different group.

"How was your training?" tanong ko dito habang naglalakad kami sa hallway.

"Hard. But you're right, kapag nasanay ka na sa ginagawa mo, you'll love it even though it's hard" sagot nito sa akin.

"Remember, sa mundo walang madali. You need to do everything just to gain something but still, you will not get everything in the end"

"But how will you get it, how will you reach for it kung mahina ka?" tanong nito kaya napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.

"You need to be weak para maging malakas ka. You will never be strong kung hindi ka dadaan sa pagiging mahina" being weak will always be an advantage because it teaches us how to be strong. But most of the people don't want to do something para maging malakas, that's why they just stay weak. Being alone is not a problem para maging malakas ka, sometimes you need to stand alone.

I dont know what's that attitude.Thinking that they can't stand without someone's hand, what's the use of their feet kung hindi nila gagamitin? Pathetic.

Pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon, alam kong naiintindihan na niya ang ibig kong sabihin kaya tahimik lang kaming naglakad sa hallway hanggang sa marating namin ang hagdanan at umakyat papunta sa rooftop.

Pagkaakyat namin doon, nakita ko ang mga kasama ko. Well, si Sean at Syden lang naman ang naiwan sa Black House just because we're busy preparing here. Nakita ako ni Dave kaya sinalubong ako nito kagaya ng malakas na hangin sa rooftop. Nakangisi ito kaya inabot ko na sa kanya ang hawak ko at nabigla siya na parang hindi expect ang inabot ko, "Siguraduhin mong hindi malalanta 'yan bukas Dave" sambit ko dito.

"And where the hell did you get this?" nagtatakang tanong nito. Sinamaan ko na lang ito ng tingin at tinuro sa kanya si Oliver kaya nilapitan niya ito at halatang natuwa siya, "How did get this?" tanong niya dito.

"Well, dahil 'yan lang naman ang iniutos sa akin.." sabay tingin ni Oliver sa akin pero hindi ko na lang sila pinansin at nakikinig rin sa amin sina Dustin at Nash, "So I needed to flirt with the..gay.. na kasama ng council just to give me thousands of roses" pahayag nito kaya natawa kami, he did the right thing.

"Brilliant. Good idea bro!" saad ni Dustin na nilapitan din si Oliver. I asked him to get me thousands of red roses. I want everything to be perfect.

But there's more, tinignan ko si Nash at napansin niya ang ginawa ko, "Did you get it?" tanong ko dito. Ngumiti ito ng masama at pumunta sa sulok. May kinuha siyang isang malaking paper bag and I knew what was inside dahil naamoy ko na ito. Nang madala niya ito sa harapan ko, kumuha ako ng isa at tinignan ito. I asked him to get scented candles as many as he can. Tinignan ko ito ng mabuti at sobrang bango nito. It's a red heart-shaped candle.

Just to make sure na alam ko lahat, I asked him, "How did you get these?" habang masayang nag-uusap ang iba, narinig nila ako kaya napatingin sila sa amin ni Nash, "Well..." napansin niya na nakatingin kami lahat sa kanya, "We all know na paborito ni Mrs. Lim ang scented candles right? So I secretly invaded her office and there were many" saad nito kaya muling nag-ingay ang paligid dahil sa lakas ng pagtawa ng mga kasama ko. Si Nash parang hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa niya at ako naman, seryoso lang.

"Imagine Mrs. Lim na babalik sa office niya and some of her scented candles are missing!" sambit ni Dave.

"I would love to see her reaction!" sagot naman ni Dustin. Well, I can't stop my members because I respect their attitude. And one thing, I asked them to get what I want kaya nagawa nila 'yon.

"But those candles are special at marami pang iba kaya nakatago. But I think hindi naman niya mapapansin 'yon" pahayag pa ni Nash.

Hindi sila tumitigil sa pagtawa at ginawang katatawanan si Mrs. Lim. Hindi ko rin naman sila pinipigilan kung saan sila masaya. Natural na lang talaga sa kanila na pagtawanan ang teacher na 'yon.

Matapos ang ilang segundo, unti-unting na silang nagigising sa realidad kaya muling natahimik at napatingin ako kay Dave na tinitignan ako, "Sigurado ka na ba talaga sa desisyon mo?" nginisian ko ito at nagsalita, "You know me Dave. Kung anong inumpisahan ko, tinatapos ko. And once I decide, I make sure that it will happen...no matter what" sambit ko sa kanila na bumalik sa pagiging seryoso kaya muling natahimik. There is time to be happy, and there is time to take things seriously.

"Just help me with this. I want everything to be perfect" sambit ko and they all smiled.

"Of course. What are friends for?" sagot nito. My group is not just a group, it's a group made to help one another, especially for my friends. Ano man ang isipin ng iba tungkol sa amin, we don't care...because it's our life and we rule it, we decide for it.

"So sure ka na talagang sasabihin mo sa kanya ang nararamdaman mo?" tanong ni Dustin, "Nung isang araw lang, sinabi mo sa akin na kaya mong itago ang nararamdaman mo, so what happened now?" daing ni Oliver habang nakangisi.  Nakaupo kaming lahat sa may rooftop because this is the place where we should prepare everything.

"I will confess not because I want to know her feelings for me. But because I want her to know kung bakit ko siya pinoprotektahan. I want her to ask for my help, because I wasn't there when she needed me the most. I did nothing to save her from Clyde knowing how dangerous her life was sa kamay ng Phantoms. It is only I, who can save her from everyone" I said towards them.

But one thing that hurts me the most, the girl I've been longing for so long is afraid and scared of me. But again,

"It is only I, who can save you from everyone that's why you need to accept me"

I may be selfish, I am always selfish. But do we really call it selfish to love and protect someone like her?

To be continued...