Kiss of Sunset

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23: Step

I woke up from my worst nightmare. It feels surreal. Kapos hininga akong bumangon. Ang kaba at takot sa aking dibdib ay mas lalong tumitindi. I know to myself that it wasn't just a pure dream. May laman ang panaginip na 'yon.

I couldn't just set aside that dream of mine. Ignoring it might lead me to another consequence.

"Kung ano man ang iniisip mo, mali 'yon," napatingin ako sa babaeng nakasandig sa pintuan ng kwarto ko. "Try to remember what happened before your dream."

Napailing ako. "Ano ba talagang papel mo sa buhay ko?" Tanong ko nang maalala ang ginawa niya sa akin bago ako napahandusay sa lupa.

"I'm helping you," she uttered.

I smirked. "Helping me? You think you're helping me? To be honest, imbes na makatulong ka, dumadagdag ka pa sa iniisip ko." I said, drained.

"Tatanggapin ko lahat ng sasabihin mo ngayon pero kung makikipagsumbatan ka lang sa akin... that would be a waste of time." Tinignan niya muna ako sa mata bago siya tumalikod sa akin. "Find Elionhir now or you will regret everything later." Huling sambit nito bago naglakad paalis.

Napaupo ako sa gilid ng kama ko at muli na namang nangilid ang mga luha ko. Wala na akong ginawa kung hindi ang umiyak nang umiyak. I hate myself for being like this, always crying, being weak, and not doing anything to make people around me stay with me.

I let out a deep breathe. "Take an action now or everything will fall into pieces," I mentally said. I wiped my tears and get my phone.

I tried to contact her again but still out of reach. I also tried shooting her messages just in case she has time to check her social media accounts. Nagsabi na rin ako kila Shai na hindi muna ako makakapasok.

I want to find her. I will find her.

Agad akong bumaba nang makarinig ng yapak na nangmumula sa ibaba. Bumungad sa akin ang tatlo na animo'y pagod na pagod.

"What happened?" I asked them.

"Pumunta si Kuya Ren sa office ni Mr. Carson kanina." Hingal na hingal na sambit ni Rich. "Hinahanap niya si Ate. Nagkasagutan silang dalawa. Narinig ko rin kay Kuya Ren na kapag hindi pa nilabas ni Mr. Carson si Ate, isusuplong niya sa pulis ang ginawa ni Mr. Carson."

"Anong ginawa?" Tanong ko pabalik.

"Remember the bar scene? The Mayor who harassed Ms. Carson?" Sagot ni Cassie. "Ren knew about what happened to that Mayor. And now, he's blockmailing Mr. Carson. Mukhang desperado na ang lahat para makita si Ms. Carson."

"Ikaw ba, Kyrie? Hindi mo ba hahanapin si Ms. Carson?" Tanong ni Shai.

"Actually paalis na ako, hindi ko nga lang alam kung saan magsisimula." I sighed. "I will not let another day passed without doing anything. Masyado na akong nagpakalugmok sa nararamdaman ko."

Lahat sila ay napangiti sa sinabi ko.

Shai held my hand. "We'll help you."

Dahil sa panaginip ko ay minabuti ko na munang magpaiwan. I need to clarify something. Sa naging usapan namin ni Hope, something urges me to dig further. I just need to compress more of her words then I'm the only one who'll find out about everything.

Pagkalabas ko ay muli na naman siyang bumungad na tila alam ang nasa isip ko ngayon.

"I can sense that you need me," she said plainly. "No worries, you'll meet her midway."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"Thy love will always find its way where it belongs... Kyrie, you both suffer, alone. Do you believe that if a pure golden heart cries, god and goddesses will grant whatever their heart wishes?" Lumapit ito sa akin. "Every time you cry with your heartbeat, the Goddess of Love always listening."