Midnight Requiem.

autumn of fourth year, november

autumn of fourth year, november

        I can feel it.

I can feel how my fingers tremble as I tap on the screen hurriedly, how my breath seems to echo in the vast parking and how loud my heart was beating, I'm afraid I'll go deaf by how loud it was. I can feel the cold sweat coating my forehead and I can feel the presence behind me. I can feel it.

Someone is following me.

Hindi ako makalingon — hindi ko magawang lumingon sa likuran ko. They are there. Few meters from where I'm standing, watching my every move. It's already dark at kanina pa walang tao sa car park. The nearest place that probably still have people in them is the field, which is basically on the other side of the campus. Tuluyan lang akong napako sa kinatatayuan ko, pilit tinatawagan ang mga kaibigan ko ngunit ni isa sa kanila walang sumasagot. I stood underneath the car park's lamppost, shaking to the non-existent cold. Kaya siguro hindi pa ako nilalapitan nitong nakasunod sa akin ay dahil kitang kita ako ngayon sa CCTV ng parking.

I tried calling Enzo, Ravi and Kio, the only people I know who are in the same area as me pero ni isa sa kanila walang sumasagot. Enzo's probably at training, habang si Ravi ay nasa firm, si Kio naman, naka off ang cellphone. I couldn't contact Amara, or Tori or Avi because aside from the fact they aren't answering, they are way too far to even offer immediate help. Halos dalawang oras ang layo nila sa akin.

I'm so scared that I couldn't contact 911, what if bigla nalang nila akong lapitan kung sakaling tumawag ako?!

I felt like crying pero dahil sa takot, ni pag iyak hindi ko magawa.

I suddenly hear a roaring engine that ignited hope within me, agad akong napatingin sa direksyon na yun. A car was being brought to life and as if on instinct, agad kong sinundan ang sasakyan habang palabas ito ng gate. I ran. — and I realize it was useless by then. I was still in the car park habang yung sasakyan nakalabas na ng gate.

They ran after me.

I can feel the hurried footsteps coming after me but I ran and ran and never look back. Wala akong ideya kung sino ang nakasunod sa akin, kung ilan sila o babae ba ito o lalake basta ang alam ko lang ay kailangan kong tumakbo. I just wanted to go home, bakit biglang may mga taong nakasunod sa akin?!

I let my fear lead me but I should've thought. Dapat nag-isip ako! Dahil ngayon, mas lalo lang dumilim ang paligid ko, mas lalo lang walang tao sa lugar na napuntahan ko. I couldn't even think straight nor recognize the path I'm taking. I was just running, letting my feet take me to where my fear was telling me.

I was heaving heavily and my heart continue to pound against my ears. Wala akong marinig kung hindi ang sariling hininga at takot na kanina pa bumabalot sa akin. I was running and running and running and — a cry broke past my lips when someone suddenly yank me by my arm, pero kahit iyon ay naputol ng may tumakip sa bibig ko. Tuluyan ng tumulo ang mga luha ko ng may yumakap sa akin mula sa likuran. They pulled me close to their chest na halos maramdaman ko ang kabog ng dibdib nito, they pull me close to them na halos marinig ko ang sarili nitong hininga.

I fearfully look at the person covering my mouth at mas tuluyang naiyak ng mapagtanto kung sino ito.

I cried and cried and Kio's dull, dark, empty orbs stare back at me. He press a finger to his lips above his mask, motioning for me to keep quiet, tuluyan pa ding umaagos ang luha mula sa mga mata ko habang tumatango. Kio held me tightly, press me close to him as we hid behind a truck.