They Don't Know About Us

Chapter 40

3 years ago

Sasha ran from Kenny and Zoe as fast as she possibly could. She grabbed her phone and immediately turned it off. She wanted to make sure no one could get a hold of her, at least for the meantime. She was ready to put a wall that blocked off everyone who tried to get close. She thought what Kai's mother said about her was true. She was dangerous and every single person who dares to go near her was in serious trouble. That's what she thought about Kai. Had she not allowed her to enter her life, she wouldn't need to fight for her own.

She quickly wiped the tears that managed to escape from her eyes and hurried towards her car. She left the hospital right away and drove home. There, she gathered her belongings. The place was nearly empty anyway, so there was nothing much to bring.

Within the next few days, Sasha had managed to buy a new phone, give up her home, move from Southern California to the north and apply for jobs. She kept herself busy until her body couldn't handle any more. This kept her sane during the times she had the urge to call Kenny or Zoe to ask about Kai. Though she was preoccupied with the things she had to do, she thought about her nonstop.

The north was the last place she wanted to be, but she knew deep down that healing must begin in the place she had escaped from all those years ago.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. Sasha began the dreaded dull routine of working two jobs, sixteen hours a day. Her body was exhausted, but at least her mind didn't have the time to think about things she didn't have control over.

"Ate Sasha! Ate!" A woman from behind called out to her while Sasha was walking the busy streets of downtown San Francisco. It was just another boring day in her boring life—or so she thought.

"Ate!" The woman hollered louder.

Sasha was apprehensive to stop, but she could hear that the woman calling out to her was eager to catch up.

"P," she frowned when she turned around and saw who was calling her name.

It was bound to happen, she thought.

"Ate," Penelope threw herself at her. Penelope, or P, as she prefers to be called, is Sasha's cousin. "Where have you been?! My gosh, what happened to you?!" She eyed Sasha from head to toe like she was examining her. Sasha's new appearance looked nothing like she used to. "It's been so long. Hindi mo sinasagot mga tawag ko hanggang sa eventually hindi na kita ma-contact. Hindi mo man lang inoopen yung mga messages na sinisend ko sayo sa social media. I thought something bad happened to you. I was worried. How come you shut us all out?"

"P," Sasha was definitely overwhelmed by all the questions thrown at her. "I have to go," she tried to leave but Penelope stopped her.

"Ate, teka lang naman. Can't we chat for a couple of minutes man lang? We haven't seen each other in like forever," Penelope frowned.

"P, I have to go," Sasha swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"Ate, it's been years, yan pa rin ang linyahan mo? You have to go? You can't keep running away from it, from us," Penelope reached for Sasha's arm. "Ate, don't leave again. Please," she tried to convince her.

"I can't. I'm sorry," Sasha got Penelope to let go, so she started walking away.

"You can't keep running away! It will always catch up to you wherever you go!" Penelope called out to her.

This made Sasha want to run, but she continued her pace.

"If you change your mind, my number is still the same, and you know where to find me in social media!" Penelope called out for the last time before she let her cousin go.