Midnight Breeze (Chasing Dreams Series #3) | C O M P L E T E D

Chapter 50

Happy Valentine's Day! ❤️

Nakasandal sa pader, nakapikit ang mga mata, at may nakapatong na ice pack sa ulo kong may bukol ang eksena ko sa clinic ng eskwelahan.

The man who attacked us thirty minutes ago was still on the run. It was really a big scandal that the media got involved with it. The video of me crying while being dragged to the clinic was circulating around the social media. Our phones are ringing non-stop as a lot of people wanted to know if I was fine, and some are just simply fishing for some information to gossip about.

"Dad, bumoto na po kayo. Ayos lang ako. Susunod din ako maya-maya 'pag nawala na 'yung hilo ko," sabi ko kay Daddy pagkatapos niyang makipag-usap sa mga pulis sa labas ng clinic.

Napadaing ako nang idiin ni Lola Esmeralda sa ulo ko 'yung ice pack. "Sa tingin mo ba, makakaboto pa kami gayong malaki ang posibilidad na maulit 'yung nangyari kanina?! I'm really nervous and scared! What if he comes back? Gosh! Why did he do that?!"

"Ako na po, 'Ma..." Mommy took the ice pack from her and told her to just sit with my siblings.

Daddy sighed as he checked my head. "Bakit naman ang anak ko pa? Sana ako na lang..." He, then, glanced at Lola Esmeralda. "Bumoto na kayo, 'Ma. The police officers will escort you to the building. Elise at Billie, sumama na kayo sa lola niyo. Naghihintay na rin sina Aling Nelma sa labas..."

Naunang tumayo si Ate Elise. "Paano po kayo, Dad? Hindi na kayo boboto?"

"Oo naman. Hanggang hapon naman ang botohan kaya makakahabol pa kami. Dito muna kami ng Tita Harlene mo para masamahan si Hailey. Don't worry, you're all gonna be safe," aniya at sinenyasan si Billie na akayin si Lola Esmeralda palabas.

Ate Elise looked at me twice. Bakas ang pag-aalala niya para sa akin kahit hindi niya sabihin. Lumapit naman si Billie at maingat na inabot sa akin ang cellphone ko.

"I called Kuya Menandro. Papunta na siya..." bulong niya at umalalay na kay Lola Esmeralda.

"Hailey, apo, we'll be back. Magpahinga ka muna dito." Nilingon niya sina Daddy at Mommy. "Don't forget to update me. I'll bring that man to the police station myself! He'll never get away from this!" tiim-bagang niyang sinabi bago tuluyang lumabas.

Tumitig ako sa screen ng cellphone ko at binilang kung ilan ang missed calls doon. My husband skipped the voting because he really wanted to see me. And I didn't have to ask my brother as to what they had talked about 'coz I knew he was seething with anger.

"Sweetie, let me see your head," Mommy said, so I bowed my head. She clacked her tongue and sighed. "I'll get more ice."

Sinundan siya ng tingin ni Daddy bago ito umupo sa sofa at napahilamos ng mukha. His forlorn gaze was directed at me.

"The witnesses said that he was waiting for me, but then... you were the first one who got out of the van. I don't know the reason as to why he did that, but I'll never forgive him for hurting you. 'Buti sana kung ako lang, eh. Pero ibang usapan na dahil 'yung anak ko ang napuruhan."

Tears stung my eyes as I stared back at my father. I wanted to hug him, but my feet couldn't move as I felt like there was a line between us. And when his gaze went over the ice pack on my mother's hand, the forlorn look on his face was completely wiped out by his rage.

"Sir..." napatingin kami sa pintuan at nakitang nakasilip doon si Mang Balmo.

Tumayo agad si Daddy, tila alam na kung para saan iyon. "Saglit lang. 'Wag kayong aalis dito."

Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Mommy sa clinic. Nagbabantay sa labas si Kuya Rudy kasama ang ilang pulis. Dahan-dahang inilagay ni Mommy 'yung ice pack sa ulo ko. Inabala ko naman ang sarili sa pagbabasa ng texts galing sa mga kaibigan ko.