ERA
"You psycho wench!" I was astonished when Hycith hugged me tight. Bigla kong naramdaman ang mainit na likido na nangingilid sa mga mata ko. I cried and hugged her back. I was scared. I thought I'm really going to die.
Napatingin ako sa paligid at nakita ang tatlong humahabol sa 'min kanina na walang malay sa sahig. Dumapo ang tingin ko sa taong nakatayo sa harap ko na naka-topless lang at naka-swim trunks habang may goggles sa leeg n'ya. "L-Ley Estrella?" He half a smile as I mentioned his name. I still can't process everything that happened.
"I'm glad you're okay—" Biglang naputol ang sinabi ni Hycith at unti-unting lumuwag ang yakap niya sa 'kin nang bigla s'yang nawalan ng malay.
"C-Cith? Cith!" Agad akong nataranta at sinubukan s'yang saluhin upang hindi mauntog ang ulo n'ya sa sahig pero naunahan agad ako ni Ley tsaka s'ya pinahiga nang maayos sa sahig.
"She's still having a concussion sa nangyari." He said while looking at her swollen cheek. Naluluha ako nang hinawakan ko ang pisngi n'ya. Those guys... They're gonna pay for this!
Pinilit kong tumayo kahit nahihilo pa ako. Lumapit ako sa walang malay na mokong na nagsampal kay Cith kanina at pinagsisipa ang sikmura n'ya. "You jerk! Idiot! Bastard! You fu—" Bigla kong naramdaman ang mahigpit na yakap sa likod ko. Napaiyak nalang ako sa inis at biglang nanghina ang mga tuhod ko. Nakakatakot. Nakakatakot pero nakakaasar! "How could you do this to her?!" I yelled in the top of my lungs to let my range out.
"It's alright. You're safe now." Then the hug tightened as he spoke those comforting words kaya mas lalo akong napahagulhol. I'm like a scared child, submitting into his arms.
"I hate you..." I murmured as tears fell down on my cheeks.
I heard him sigh. "Those bastards did you dirty." He said and wrapped me his towel. "Why are you wearing PE anyway?" He asked while looking at me.
I bit my lower lip and wiped my tears. "M-mind your own business." I said while preventing my voice not to tremble at napaiwas ng tingin. Naalala ko tuloy yong pambubully na nangyari kaninang umaga.
"You're my business." Aniya kaya napatingin ako sa mga mata n'yang nakatingin lang din sa 'kin. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na basa rin s'ya gagaya ko. Did he... is he—
"That was scary back there." He said and scratched my head softly with his towel to dry my hair. "Don't do that stunt again." He smiled.
Dugdug dugdug
My heart. It's beating loudly.
I'm alive.
He swam to save me.
He chuckled and wiped my tears while I remained blanked with my realizations. "You're such a trouble maker."
Suddenly, I can't stop but tremble. I lose myself and cried my heart out. "You bastard!" I hugged him tight as I sob.
I almost died. I almost died without saying goodbye to the people whose been by my side all the time. I'm terrified.
"Bakit ka umiiyak?!" Na-pa-panic n'yang tanong kaya mas niyakap ko s'ya nang mahigpit.
I bit my lower lip harder to avoid itself from trembling while I'm speaking. "T-thank you. Thank you, Ley."
---
We went to the infirmary after to treat Hycith's cheek. Mr. Obienza rushed in to check on us and called the police immediately to handle those three jerks and to castigate them in the station. He was about to call dad but I stopped him. I don't want to bother dad for worrying. He might end up transferring me or worse, ipapadala na naman ako kay lola. He's an overreactor sometimes.
