HIDDEN FILES 3

CHAPTER 61: STARTLING BREAKTHROUGH

CHAPTER 61: STARTLING BREAKTHROUGH

BRYCE

“BRYCE!”

In the blink of an eye, I was standing in the middle of the school corridor, surrounded by a loud and obnoxious people that chatted incessantly as they walked past me. When someone called me from the crowd that had nearly suffocated me and I couldn't move because of that someone, my eyes grew wider.

“Bryce! Can you hear me?”

When I heard a charming youthful voice, my hands began to shiver and tremble in panic. It may seem amazing, but it gives me nightmares.

I experienced goosebumps and shivers all the way down my spine. My throat became dry in an instant.

Why is this happening?

Someone tapped my shoulder, and I caught a whiff of Victoria Secret's purple perfume,which haunts me every time I smell it as it reminds me about someone so close to me. My chest felt tigthen and sadness poured inside me. Remembering those painful moments that I wanted to cry my heart out.

“Nandito ka lang pala tumabi ka nga para may ibang taong makadaan. Kanina pa kita hinahanap hindi ka din sumasagot na tinawag ka. Okay ka lang ba? Wala ka bang sakit?”

Dahan-dahan kung nilingon kung saan nangaling ang boses na iyon at mula sa tumapik sa aking balikat. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at naramdaman ko na para akong nabuhusan ng sobrang malamig na tubig.

Bahagyang nangingig ang bibig ko nang bigkasin ang pangalan niya. Malakas ang kalabog nang aking dibdib at parang ilang segundo ay mawalan ako sa tamang pagiisip nang makita siya sa harapan ko.

“EJ?”

She blinked for a few times and looked so confused. EJ slightly tilted her head then one of her eyebrow archen. “Bakit para kang nakakita nang multo d'yan? Ako lang ito noh ang iyong maganda at cute na kapatid na babae”

Bigla ko siyang niyakap nang mahigpit dahilan hindi siya makagalaw at nagulat sa ginawa ko. Hindi ko namalayan na ako'y simulang umiyak at binuhos ko ang mabigat na aking pakiramdam na nadarama sa aking puso nang makita siya. Nanginig ang kamay ko habang nakahawak sa kanya.

“B-Bakit ka umiiyak?” nagulat na tanong siya sa akin habang kumunot ang noo ni EJ. “May masakit ba sa'yo? Sabihin mo lang sa akin dahil nandito lang ako palagi sa tabi mo. Hindi kita iiwan Kuya Bryce”

“I'm glad to see you once again. My dearest sister I miss you so much”

“Huh? Bakit mo naman ako ma-miss? Araw-araw tayong magkasama Kuya”  paratang ni EJ ngunit hindi ko siya pinakinggan ang kanyang tugon at patuloy ako sa pagiyak na parang isang bata.

One of the things I wished for in life was to see her again. Her cheerfulness and brilliant grin make us all smile. If she's happy, I'm happy as well. I have to add that she is the best sister who is always there for me and has the brightest grin. Seeing her like this again made my heart break.

Pinakawalan ko siya pagkayakap at pinahiran ko ang mga luha ko pero hindi nawawala ang sikip ng aking dibdib. Kumunot lamang ang noo ni EJ pero agad naman iyon napalitan ng malaki at masayang ngiti. Ang isa sa mga katangian na aking na-miss kay EJ ang kanyang ngiti kung saan ay nagpapatunaw sa aking puso.

“Sabihin mo lang sa akin kung anong nagpapabigat sa puso mo kasi nandito si EJ sensei ready to give you an advice”

“It's nothing sis so don't worry” I remarked and ruffled her smooth brownish hair with a genuine smile curved at my face. “I'm happy to see you alive and doing well...”