4 Words To Say Goodbye

Chapter 7 - Her Nightmare

ASHER

WE WERE still standing in front of the tree. I was staring at her while she was enjoying the fireflies' lights. Until I suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her for a hug.

"Halla!" She was stunned. "B-Bakit?" She asked while stuttering. "H-Hoy!" She tried to laugh out of confusion.

"Five more seconds." I said as I tightened the hug. I don't know why am I doing this but all I know is I wanted to hug her. I sighed before pulling myself out of the hug.

"Chansing ka ha!" She was as red as a tomato! "Sige ka! Sisipain ko iyang nasa baba mo nang mabaog ka na nang husto!" Banta niya pa.

"Tss," I bit my lip to prevent myself from smiling. "Halika na nga!" Nauna na akong naglakad habang pilit siyang humahabol sa mga hakbang ko.

Tahimik kaming naglalakad at ang huni lamang ng mga kuliglig ang naririnig. Some stores and stalls are still open and some people were still walking through the streets.

The silence was deafening. It was really awkward after my sudden hug. I hope she won't get the wrong idea. I just wanted to hug her because I wanted her to feel that she's not alone.

"Tahimik mo naman. Hindi ako sanay." She started to talk. She's already smiling while looking around as if she's finding someone.

"Dati 'nakong tahimik," I answered shortly. She bit her lip to stop herself from talking but she failed.

"Ano kayo nila Chloe? I mean, you three seem so close." She asked. Madaldal talaga itong babaeng 'to.

"Honestly, I don't know." I shrugged my shoulders. "But I think I consider them as my friends." I answered. Well, it's true. Talking and laughing with them is a bond for me so I really consider them as my friends.

"Sana ako din," she whispered but I still heard it. Natawa ako ng mahina bago siya inakbayan. Nagulat nanaman siya! "Chansing ka nanaman!" Ramdam ko ang irap niya.

"I thought you don't consider me as your friend? The first time I saw you, you really hated me! I remembered you even wanted me to find another room because you don't want me to be your neighbor. Why sudden wish that you wanted to be my friend?" I raised a brow.

"H-Ha?" Gulat niyang tanong. "M-meron ba akong si-sinabing gusto kitang maging k-kaibigan? Meron ba?" Nag maang-maangan pa siya. "Wala n-naman akong sinabi ah?" She denied.

"Deny until you want, Cheska." I chuckled. She pouted at me as she removed my hands on her shoulder.

"Mukha mo deny!"

"Sungit,"

Pagkatapos 'non ay nagpatuloy kami sa pag-lalakad hanggang sa makarating na kami sa hospital. Nagmadali kaming pumasok para walang makapansin at agad kaming umakyat sa floor namin.

Bago pa kami makalapit sa mga pintuan namin ay nakita namin si Shan na nakapamewang at may mapang-asar na ngisi sa kaniyang labi.

"Saan kayo nagpunta? 'Nako! Sabi na nga ba may date kayo eh." Tumawa pa siya. Agad ko siyang tinignan ng matalim at binatukan. "Aray ha?"

"Mukha mo date," ginaya ko ang sinabi ni Cheska kaya nabaling sa akin ang tingin niya at agad akong inirapan. I laughed before tapping Shan's shoulder and nodded at him.

"Una na ako." I said and went inside my room nang hindi tumitingin kay Cheska. I really have this weird feeling every time she's with me.

I tried to shrug my thoughts and went inside the bathroom to wash my face. After washing my face I looked at my reflection on the mirror.

"And weird mo ngayon, Asher." Sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Umiling na lang ako tsaka lumabas ng cr. Nagulat ako nang makitang nasa loob ng kwarto ko si Cheska! Ano kayang ginagawa niya dito sa kwarto ko?

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Gulat na tanong ko. Napakamot siya sa ulo niya bago ngumiti ng alanganin.

"Sisiguraduhin ko lang sana kung makakatulog ka kaso nakita kong patulog ka na." She told me. I nodded at her response.

"Okay," sabi ko at umupo sa bed ko. "Hindi ka pa ba aalis?" Nagtaas na ako ng kilay. Hindi siya sumagot at tinignan lamang ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Gwapo ka sana kaso gago," bulong niya nang tinititigan ang kabuuan ko.

"What?" I couldn't hear her. "Paki-ulit." I commanded.

"Sabi ko, gwapo ka sana kaso ang gago mo!" She told me out loud. "Okay na?" Pagsusungit niya kaya hindi ko maiwasang matawa. "Saya ka?" Masungit na tanong niya.

"Shut up," I told her between my laughs. She rolled her eyes before walking towards the door.

"Sige na. Una na ako! Sana bangungutin ka mamaya!" Aniya bago lumabas ng kwarto ko.

Napailing na lamang ako bago humiga sa kama para matulog na. Indeed today's a tiring day. I slowly closed my eyes as I dozed off to sleep leaving a small smile carved on my lips.

NAGISING AKO nang dahil sa ingay ni Chloe at Shan, kinaumagahan. Idinilat ko ng kaunti ang mga mata ko para makita sila pero pinag-aagawan lang pala nila ang laptop ko.

"Ako muna, Sabi eh!" Singhal ni Chloe habang inaagaw ang laptop ko. This piece of shits doesn't know "personal space".

"Kanina ka pa eh! Ako naman!" Singhal din sa kaniya ni Shan. "Napakadamot mo talaga!"

"Can you guys shut your shits up?" Iritadong singhal ko sa kanila. Napilitan na akong bumangon dahil sa ingay nilang dalawa. "Paano kayo nakapasok?"

"Dumaan kami sa pintuan," pilosopong sagot ni Chloe na sinamahan ng tawa ni Shan.

"Bobo, Chloe!" Tawa pa ni Shan bago siya binatukan.

"Totoo naman ah! Where's the lie?" She made hand gestures. Exaggerated naman masyado itong babaeng 'to.

"Siraulo," I commented.

"Huwag kang ganyan! Hinayaan niyong ihatid ako ng gunggong na 'to kagabi! Baka pinagsamantalahan ako ng gagong 'to. Hindi pa man din napagkakatiwalaan ang mukhang ganito." Turo niya kay Shan.

"Hoy! Ang mukhang ganito ay rare, 'no!" Angal ng isa pero ang irapan na lang sila sa huli.

"Syempre ikaw ang may pinaka pangit na mukha kaya rare!" Hindi nagpatalo si Chloe. It's starting to make my blood boil.

"Wow! Coming from you!" Shan answered.

"Talaga-!"

"TANGINA! ANG INGAY!" gigil na sigaw ko. Agad silang natahimik pero nandoon parin ang irapan. "Shut those mouths or else I'm gonna staple them!" Banta ko bago bumangon para pumasok sa cr.

Nang makapag ayos ako ay lumabas na ako ng cr at laking gulat ko nang Wala na akong nadatnan na Chloe at Shan doon.

My irritated face soon faded and was replaced by a small smirk. Well, I guess Wala nang gulo sa kwarto. I can eat my breakfast peacefully. Nang lumabas ako sa kwarto ay bigla akong nagulat sa isang malakas na sigaw.

"STOP! AYOKO NA!" a girl shouted. While on the other side, I saw doctors and nurses fumble in hurry. I saw Shan and Chloe and worry was plastered all over their faces.

"Anong meron dito?" I asked but as soon as they adverted their gaze on me I saw Chloe's teary eyes. "Hey, what happened?" I stared to worry.

"Her nightmare is back." Chloe stated.