Scarper House

4•9 - The Drop

9 - The Drop

After offering popcorn to us, the voice didn't speak again. We were still in shock when I saw something in my peripheral vision. I looked at it and there was a hallway lit by yellow lights. I don't remember seeing it earlier, I thought the walls are closed and the only passage was the door where we entered.

The others were looking at that hallway too. They're probably wondering as well, about what's at the end of it.

"Putangina, Trace!" Nagulat ako nang biglang sumigaw si Kurt. Lumingon ako sa alam kong kinatatayuan niya at nagulat ako nang makitang nasa harapan ko na siya. Itinaas niya ang isa niyang kamay at napapikit na lang ako.

"Saint!" narinig kong sigaw ni Wren kaya napamulat ako ulit. Nakita kong nasa sahig na si Kurt habang nasa harapan ko ang hinihingal na si Saint, na nakakuyom pa rin ang kamao.

"Tangina ka ba?!" galit ding sigaw ni Saint kay Kurt. Kitang-kita ang mga ugat sa leeg niya. "10 years old lang siya no'n!"

"12 years ang pinalipas niya bago pagbayaran 'yon!" ganti ni Kurt. Tumayo siya at lumapit ulit sa 'min. Umiiyak pa rin siya. "Pinsan mo si Krista, Saint! Nakita mo siyang ginano'n!"

I know Saint was affected by that. Of course, his cousin died in front of him and he wasn't able to do anything to help her. Kurt hit him hard with those words.

"Hindi ka ba nagagalit?! Ha, Saint?!"

Saint wasn't able to answer and it broke me. He had to witness Krista like that because of me. He had to lose his friends and cousin because of me. He had to be here because of me.

It's all because of me.

"Sorry..." I said as I looked down in shame.

I didn't hear anything. But I felt eyes on me.

"Wow, what a nice drama—"

"Tama na!" Nagsisimula pa lang ulit magsalita ang boses na nasa likod ng lahat nang sumigaw ako. This ends here. "Ako lang ang may kasalanan kay Justin! Ako lang ang gusto niyang paghigantihan, so please! Please, let them go. Please..."

I kept on begging. I even knelt down. The voice kept speaking out of nowhere but that time it didn't give me any response. And that made me cry harder. Can't I really change the fate of my remaining friends?

"Kurt—"

Napaangat ang tingin ko nang marinig ang boses ni Wren. Muntik pa akong mapaatras nang makita ulit si Kurt sa harapan ko. Iginalaw niya ang isang kamay at awtomatikong pumikit ulit ako.

Pero walang nangyari. At least ten seconds have passed before I opened my eyes again. Kurt was still extending his hand at me, but in a manner that he's like offering me a hand to help me get up. I looked up at his eyes.

"Hindi ka rito magbabayad," he said calmly, tears still rolling down his cheeks. "Hindi sa ganitong paraan."

Lalo akong napaiyak. Alam kong ang kapal ng mukha ko kung aabutin ko ang kamay niya pero 'yon mismo ang ginawa ko. "Sorry, Kurt. I'm really really sorry..."

Ngumiti lang siya. 'Yong ngiti na halatang pagod na pagod na. Para bang sumuko na siya.

"Kurt..." I called pero tumalikod na siya sa 'kin. Tatawagin ko pa sana siya ulit nang may humawak sa kamay ko. "Saint."