Corrupted Lungs (Complete)

Chapter Ten

I woke up feeling strangely muddy inside. My head was heavy, as if I'm having a very bad fever. My throat feels hoarse, as if I'm having a cold. My stomach was heavy, too. And it feels like something was wrapped around my lungs.

It was kinda hard to breath.

Naupo ako sa kama habang sapo ang nanakit na ulo. Kahit pakiramdam ko'y masusuka ako dahil sa hilong nararamdaman ko.

Sinipat ko ang alarm clock sa tabi at napagtantong lagpas 6AM na. Napa-buntonghininga ako saka bumaling sa bintana. Napakunot-noo pa ako nang malamang hindi ito nakasara.

Bumangon ako. Nag-inat at kinusot ang mata saka sinipat ang kama upang ayusin ang higaan. Subalit kaagad akong napatigil at bigla din ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Malamig ngunit pakiramdam ko'y pinagpapawisan ako.

I stared at my bed. Horror and confusion seeping through my system.

There were petals on my bed. Blue petals. On my pillow to be precise.

What the hell is this?

Maingat bagama't nag-aalangan kong pinulot ang isa sa mga petals na naroon. It wasn't fresh nor dried. Probably just picked for a few hours only. The color was still vibrant, too.

Where did this come from?

Muling umihip ang hangin dahilan para tangayin nito ang ilang piraso niyon. Naglaglagan pa sa sahig ang ilan. Tumitig ako sa labas ng bintana, partikular sa balkonahe ng katapat na bahay na may nakasabit na flower pot.

Napabuntonghininga ako.

Baka naman natangay lang mula sa kapitbahay. I remember the wind was blowing harder than usual last night. Some flowers must had been blown away, taking some of it's petals through my open window.

I gathered the petals in my hand and dropped them on the trash bin. I stared at it for a couple of seconds before shrugging my shoulders. Grabbing my towel and heading inside the bathroom.

• • • • •

Arkie then again didn't come to picked me up. I didn't even received a message from him. So I ended up going to school on my own. Completely avoiding my neighbors who had been asking me since last week why I was not with him. And yeah, it's been a week that he hasn't picked me up.

Pagdating ko nang school ay hindi ko din ito nakita. Nang dumaan ako sa classroom nila ay wala naman ito roon. Kaya tinungo ko nalang ang classroom ko para sa araw na iyon at tahimik na naupo. Dumukmo sa desk dahil sa bigat ng katawan ko. I really don't feel alright.

Classes start and ended in a blink of an eye. It was already lunch break. And no message from him either. I let out a sigh. Guess I'll be eating lunch alone again.

After buying lunch at the cafeteria, I walked through the back of the building, heading to that usual spot. I let out another heavy sigh before sitting down on the grass. Inhaling the scent of wildflowers and bathing on the warmth of mid-afternoon sun.

Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali'y nagpasya na din akong simulan na ang pagkain. Tahimik. Sobrang tahimik. It was peaceful. Yet, it feels strangely incomplete.

I took a glance at the space on my right, on the grass where he used to sat. It was empty. I can only see a translucent image of him lying beside me which apparently dissapeared when the wind blows.

Matapos kong kumain ay nagpalipas muna ako ng ilang minuto roon bago umalis at bumalik ng school ground. And as I was about to climb the stairs to the second floor, I noticed a commotion at the hall. Students was huddled, and their whispers was echoing through the hall.

What's going on?

My confusion grew as I heard a chorus of cheers and applause from the student. Praises and congratulations was thrown in the air. Some was even bouncing on their spot.

"Oh, she must have said yes," a voice took my attention from the ground. My head whip up the stairs and I caught a figure staring down at me.

I smiled at him. "Hi, Arjay," I greeted him which he answered with a beam and a nod. "Where's Sofia? Have you guys eaten yet?"

"We did. But she need to ran some errands," sagot niya't humakbang pababa ng hagdan, palapit sa akin. Tumigil ito ng ilang hakbang sa harap ko at sinipat ang kumpol ng mga estudyante.

Napasipat na din ako roon at noon ko na napansin ang dalawang pamilyar na tao sa kumpol. 'Di ko pa napigilang mapakunot ng noo dahil sa pagtataka.

"Heather already said yes," wika ulit niya dahilan para mapabaling ako rito. Nanlalaki ang mata. Ngumiwi siya. "Now, Mr. Perfect and the Madonna is officially in a relationship. Everyone is rejoicing."

Oh, another step forward, eh?

• • • • •

Napaupo ako sa kama at napabuntong-hininga. Ilang beses na akong nagpagulong-gulong sa kama ngunit hindi talaga ako makatulog.

Lagpas hating-gabi na pero 'di pa din ako makaramdan kahit kaunting antok man lang. Ginugulo ang utak ko ng mga pangyayari kanina. Hindi maalis sa isip ko ang balitang sinabi ni Arjay.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.

Why is it bothering me so much? Matagal ko nang alam na kahit anong mangyari ay 'di ko kapantay ang ng-iisa kong kaibigan. He has everything. He's at the top. He's talented and he shines in everything he does. Everyone notices him and admires him.

But me? Ano nga ba ako? Kaibigan niya lang ako. He's nerdy friend that everyone hated because of being close to him. I'm just a nobody.

Kung ikukumpara ako sa lahat ng babae na nakilala namin noong bata pa kami, sa mga babaeng pinakilala sa kanya ng ate niya, wala talaga akong laban. Hanggang kuko nga lang siguro ako, eh.

At sa lahat ng 'yun, hindi na ako makikita ni Arkie. Mawawala na ako sa buhay niya kapag nakahanap na siya ng babaeng makakasama, at hindi ako 'yun.

Alam ko na kahit anong gawin ko ay 'di ko siya maaabot. I may be he's bestfriend but I'm still lost in his side. He's so close but still so far. And whatever I'll do, I won't be able to catch up to him and to the people around him. I'll always be behind him even if I'll try ko reach my hand to him. He won't even take it anyway.

So what's the point of feeling down about it? I can't do anything about it. Whatever I do, I won't be able to reach him. Let's just accept that fact and be happy for him.

Yeah, let's just--

Napamulagat ako't mabilis na napatayo sa kama. I cupped my mouth when my throat felt hot, and something was grazing on my skin. I run for the bathroom and settled infront of the sink. And as I open my mouth, coughing heavily; something solid yet soft fell out.

My eyes widen as I saw my reflection on the mirrow, horror painting my pale and sweaty face as blue petals burst from my own mouth.

I gasped. Heave a breath. Trying to fill my lungs enough air. Trying to wash the thread that was wrapped around my lungs.

It was painful.

It tasted iron.

It was horrifying.