At The End Of The String (Insomniacs Series 2)

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Saka lamang ako nakaramdam ng kaunting gaan sa aking dibdib nang makitang tuluyan nang sumuko sa paghahanap sa'kin ang lalaki. Running endlessly deep in the woods won't do so I decided to climb any of the trees that's in front of me. Sumadal ako, pilit na hinahabol pa rin ang aking paghinga dahil sa nangyari.

I took my phone, still trembling. I couldn't even type properly. Ayoko pa sanang tumawag dahil baka nandito pa sa paligid ang lalaki at marinig ako pero hindi ko na kaya. "Aggy..." bungad ko agad nang sagutin niya na ang tawag ko.

I ran into the woods away from the circuit and stopped in the middle of nowhere — on top of a fucking tree. It was cold and all that I'm wearing was my white sleeveless tank top, shorts, and my house slippers. The only thing that made me feel a 5% relief was because I have my phone with me. Another five was because I escaped. And the other one was because I'm alive. I'm fucking alive!

"P-pwede mo ba akong sunduin?" Not just my hands, but even my lips are trembling — my whole body rather. Parang kada kurap ko rin ay nakikita ko ang nangyari sa'kin kanina. There was a gun being pointed at me... Kidnapped for a while... Almost a hostage...

[Agatha: Huh? Bakit? Anong oras na, wala ka sainyo?]

"I'll explain everything later. Please... Pick me up... I'm—" Napatakip ako ng aking bibig. Mayamaya'y unti-unti nang tumulo ang aking mga luha. Unti-unting lumalakas ang aking paghikbi at mas lalong nahihirapang huminga.

[Agatha: You're what? Keira, what's going on?] She started to sound worried.

"I-I'm scared..." Tinakpan ko ulit ang aking bibig, pinipigilan na 'wag humagulgol.

[Agatha: Fuck, shit, Keira... Where are you?]

"I don't know..." I answered, almost a whisper, still gasping some air. "B-basta malapit sa Dash Racing Circuit. I'm in the middle of the woods, Aggy..." Hindi lang ako natatakot, nawawala na rin.

[Agatha: Okay, okay. Just stay where you are and keep your phone on. I'll track you.] She ended the call. Mayamaya'y nakatanggap ako ng text mula sa kanya.

From: Agatha
I'm on my way

Wait for me

Napasandal ako muli. I'm starting to feel a little bit of relief knowing help will be here soon. Napapunas ako ng luha. "Thanks, Aggy..." I sobbed a little more. Please, be safe... My eyes are slowly closing due to exhaustion. Pilit ko iyong pinigilan pero hindi ko na kaya. Gusto na bumagsak ng aking katawan.

☕

"Keira... Keira!" Napabangon ako sa boses ni Aggy at laking gulat ko na lamang na hindi mga puno ang bumungad sa'kin kundi ang paligid ng loob ng isang sasakyan. Nang malingon ko si Agatha ay agad akong yumakap ng mahigpit. "Thank goodness you're alive! What the hell happened to you?!" She cupped my face.

"I was—" I stopped the moment I noticed someone familiar sitting in the driver's seat. "Kuya Kel?" Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita siyang narito rin. Shivers started to fill my skin again. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Aggy, takang-taka kung bakit kasama niya ang kuya ko.

"We may not be affectionate towards each other pero kapatid pa rin kita. Buti at gising ka na, Keira. Anong nangyari?" Saka ako nilingon ni Kuya Kel. Itinago ko ang aking ngiti nang marinig ang kanyang sinabi. I swallowed hard, controlling myself not to tremble as I started, "Promise not to tell?"