Running the Risk (Nightfall Series #1)

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

I was injured, but I still came with my group mates for our defense.

Nang isalang kami ay naging maayos naman ang lahat. Hindi ko alam kung naawa ba sa’min ang ibang mga panelists kaya nadalian kami sa mga tanong o sadyang nagbunga pa rin ang pag-aaral naming lahat.

Para akong lupaypay nang matapos ang lahat. Nagpaalam na kami sa isa’t-isa para umuwi sa kaniya-kaniyang bahay. Our final exams will begin tomorrow. But I’m so tired. Pagod na ‘ko.

Parang naririnig ko pa rin ang iyak ni Kenzy sa isip ko. It will hurt even more—to live when someone you love died for you. I know, I understand it better than anyone.

"‘Di ka pa uuwi?" tanong ni Enzo nang makita ako sa may waiting shed.

Umiling ako. "Hihintayin ko pa ang sundo ko."

He slowly nodded. "Okay lang kung mauna na muna ako? Dadaan pa kasi ako sa evacuation center para kausapin si Kenzy."

"Yeah, sure. Ingat."

Nang umalis si Enzo ay saka ko pa lang hinanap ang cellphone ko. I was actually expecting for hundreds of calls and messages from Rivo but there was... none. I stopped myself from being so emotional about that.

So, what, Daiyu? He’s busy at his new work! He probably didn’t hear about the fire! Ang sabi niya, tumawag ka kapag may problema, ‘di ba? Hindi ka naman tumawag. Hindi niya naman alam.

I rubbed my eyes with my trembling hands. Pinilit ko ang sarili ko na mag-type para sabihan siyang sunduin na ako sa school. I tried to call him after 5 minutes of no response.

Kahit tawagan ko pala, hindi rin siya sasagot.

Paulit-ulit ko iyong ginawa hanggang sa halos kalahating oras na akong naghihintay. I checked my socials to message him as well.

But then I saw a  story of Alyssa. Kapo-post lang nito. I can’t be wrong. It was him. Naka-sideview habang nakaharap sa PC niya sa apartment. In his apartment? He don’t allow just anyone inside his apartment.

Naguguluhan na agad ako nang mabasa ang caption nito.

My grumpy Raf.

Your grumpy what? What the fuck is this?

Kahit kumakalabog ang dibdib ay pinindot ang sumunod na picture. It was her selfie, lying on our inflated bed—where Dani and our friends were prohibited from stepping foot on. Where we used to talk about how our day went. Where we used to watch the moon together.

Pero bakit ang dali niyang pinahiga roon si Alyssa? Bakit hindi sinabi man lang sa akin? Bakit nandoon si Alyssa? Tungkol pa rin ba ito sa trabaho? Bakit hindi siya nagre-reply sa akin? It’s obvious, right? Inangkin nga, e.

Rivo cheated on me. Wala akong maisip na excuse.

I don’t know if I was just being overwhelmed by my extreme feelings or I was just being shallow for being hurt. It was a physical pain in my chest. Na para bang ang hirap huminga. Na ang tanging paraan lang para mabawasan ay kapag isisigaw ko o i-iiyak.

Pero tiniis ko lang, hindi ako umiyak. I just stared at nothingness, tired and almost sleepy.

Para akong nawalan ng lakas. Pero dahil madilim na, sinubukan ko pa ring pumara ng jeep at sumakay para makauwi.

Pagkarating ko sa apartment ay dire-diretso lang ako at wala naman sana sa plano na sumulyap man lang sa katabing apartment pero parang pinaglalaruan ata ako ng tadhana.

The door revealed Alyssa, laughing. Sa likod niya ay nakasunod si Rivo. Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanila. At that moment, I heard Alyssa’s words of not making a move towards Rivo and Rivo’s description of the first lady that he brought to his apartment in my mind. Rivo, who frequently turn off his phone these days flashed in my head, too. I also remember his attempts to tell me something a few times, but he always ended up not saying a thing.