Buy Me

CHAPTER 25

Ella's heart was in her throat. Ni-hindi niya na marinig ang sigawan ng mga staff nang makipagbalyahan siya sa mga ito. It was dark. The explosion broke the electricity, and everyone was running against her. Her mind was screaming his name, but then she couldn't even get herself to a steady pace due to a load of people blocking the way.

Umalingawngaw ang fire alarm kasunod ng pagbuga ng tubig mula sa taas. Lalong gumulo ang sitwasyon dahil marami ang nadulas sa sahig. Nadagdagan ang mga iniiwasan ni Ella. She was now jumping over bodies and pushing those that remained standing.

Malabo ang lahat.

Her breath was bursting as she used all her strength to pass through the crowd.

"Padaan!" she screamed on top of her lungs. "Padaan sabi!"

It was when a fat man blocked her that she lost it. Hindi na siya nakapag-isip nang ubos-lakas niyang isalya ang buong bulto nito sa dingding at kumalabog ang buong bigat nito sa pader.

Basang-basa siya—everybody was! However, she couldn't even care less about her clothes sticking to her skin. Tarantang-taranta siya habang paulit-ulit na nagpapalingon-lingon.

Was it adrenaline that gave her the strength to push the huge guy ? Yes, of course! Nanlalamig ang mga daliri niya, pero hindi ang tubig ang dahilan bakit siya nangingig. For Pete's sake! Hindi niya makita si Constantine!

'God, please, no! Please no. Utang na loob, 'wag--'

"Pea!" Then there was that call from the blurry crowd that made her heartbeat stop. Daig pa niya ang biglang nagising sa masamang panaginip nang mula sa nagkakagulong mga tao ay mahagip ng kaniyang tingin ang lalaking nagpapakaba sa kaniya nang todo.

There he was, frantically looking for her too, in the middle of the crowd. Wet yet safe. May maliit na galos ito sa pisngi na malamang ay nakuha nito nang mapalapit sa pagsabog, pero bukod doon ay napakatikas pa rin itong tingnan habang nakikipagtulakan sa karamihan.

Only God knew how she managed to run and push everyone, blocking them from each other. Tulad niya ay ganoon din si Constantine nang sa wakas ay makita siya nito. His movements were strong, very masculine, as he fought his way to her.

"Damn." How could she ever forget that relief that flooded his face upon seeing her? He looked like he was losing his mind too, mercilessly elbowing the current of people that was going against their way.

Hindi masabi ni Ella kung saan galing ang kapayapaang lumukob sa kaniya sa gitna ng kaguluhang iyon. She literally felt her blood slow down. It was another foreign feeling, and it made her want to cry.

It was soft.

Very...

Iyong tipong pumipiga sa puso.

The way he was looking at her almost felt like...

"Thank God! You're okay." Mabilis na kinabig siya ni Constantine sa dibdib nito oras na magpang-abot sila. Both of them were still huffing when he pushed her against the wall and covered her from the number of swarming staff.

He made a barrier for her, making sure that she wouldn't be tossed around and stomped on. Nakatukod sa dingding ang dalawang siko nito sa magkabilang gilid niya, habang nakayuko para protektahan siya sa malamig na tubig. His chest was heaving just right next to her face. Pagod na rin si Constantine; she knew that, pero...

"A-Ayos ka lang ba?"

"Nasaktan ka ba?"

Naghalo ang mga boses nila nang sabay silang magsalita. Tatlong segundo pa ang mabagal na lumipas bago nakabawi si Ella.