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

Chapter 53

Trigger Warning: This chapter includes graphic references to topics such as: person and animal's death, violence, self-harm, and suicide.

To my readers, I sincerely apologize for it might upset or may have a negative impact on you. You may or may not skip this chapter. Please read at your own risk.

I thought my life couldn't be better and happier. Starting from the reconciliation up to the result of the elections, the days were filled with nothing but happiness. But the incident involving Harmony served as an eye-opener for me.

They say too much happiness can lead to sorrow and excruciation. I'm not going to argue about it because it's true. Pain is a traitor. You won't know about it until you feel it at the most unexpected time and situation. One moment you're happy, and suddenly you'll feel as though you're numb and empty. Ngunit hindi ba't triple o mas higit pa ang sakit na mararamdaman mo kapag 'yung taong nanakit sa 'yo ay 'yung taong malapit sa puso mo?

So, tell me, how on earth could I prepare myself mentally and emotionally if the people who inflicted the pain on me is my own family? Is it my fault for trusting them? Or I just love them so much to make me forget that they can hurt me, too?

I'll never forget that day when my seemingly perfect life came crumbling down...

Sabik na sabik akong umuwi sa condo para ipaghanda ng makakain si Menandro pag-uwi niya ng gabi. Ayaw niyang magpasundo sa airport dahil mapapagod lang daw ako. Kaya heto, nag-grocery na lang ako para makapagluto ng paborito niyang ulam.

Ibinaba ko 'yung mga supot sa tapat ng pinto ng unit. I pressed the buttons and picked up the grocery bags as I pushed the door using my right foot. Pero papasok pa lang ako nang makarinig ng sigawan at pagbagsak ng babasaging bagay sa sahig.

"How could you do this?!" boses iyon ni Lola Esmeralda.

Dali-dali akong pumasok sa labis na pagkabahala at pagkalito. Naabutan kong nakaupo sa sahig at umiiyak si Ate Elise. Nakatalungko si Mommy sa tabi niya. Si Lola Esmeralda naman ay nakakapit na sa sofa habang galit na galit na nakatitig sa kanila. The glass shards on the floor served as a barrier in between them.

Binitawan ko 'yung mga bitbit ko. "Lola! What's happening?!"

They all turned their head to look at me. Lalong bumuhos ang mga luha ni Ate Elise nang magtama ang mga mata namin. Mommy wanted to approach me, but she couldn't leave my sister's side. Narinig ko naman ang malakas na pagtahol ni Cotton sa 'di kalayuan.

"You!" Galit akong itinuro ni Lola Esmeralda. "I trusted you! Why did you betray me, Hailey? Why?!"

"What, Lola? What did I do to you?" umamba akong lalapit, pero bigla na lang lumitaw si Cotton sa aming harapan. Wagging her tail, she continued to bark at me.

Umawang ang bibig ko. "Cotton, no!!!"

I tried to ran as fast as I could to get my dog, but it was too late. Naapakan na niya 'yung mga bubog. And the biggest and sharpest piece of broken glass pierced in her throat—killing her on the spot.

"No..." Napahagulhol ako habang binubuhat 'yung aso ko. "Cotton, no..."

Nagsilapit ang mga kasama ko, lahat ay tuliro sa nangyari sa aso. Kahit masugatan, isa-isa ko pa ring tinanggal 'yung mga bubog na nakatusok sa kanyang katawan. But she wasn't breathing anymore...

Niyakap ko ng mahigpit si Cotton habang isinisigaw ang pag-iyak. My heart was literally aching so much. Sana ako na lang 'yung nakatapak sa mga bubog! My poor little dog wouldn't be able to handle all that! And what will I say to Menandro? How would I fucking explain it to him?!