The Atama Effect

Chapter 16:

"R-Rin..."

Am I dreaming? Can someone pinch me?

"AHH! FUDGEE!"

Napasigaw nalang ako sa gulat nang may biglang dumaplis sa paa ko kaya napatingin ako don.

Cards.

Ang Cards ni Mama?! How.. how come na kay Rin---

"Rin.. tinatawag ka na ni Mom. C'mon. Stop staring at nowhere there. You're giving me the creeps." Napalingon ako sa likod ko ng may marinig akong malambing na boses ng babae.

Pero, bago ako makalingon, Rin spoke.

"I guess, we'll see each other later, lady. Goodluck. See you around." Then she turned her head towards the person at my back. I'm hearing footsteps na naglalakad palayo.

"Wait for me, Rielle!" Saka siya nagtatakbo pa---PAKERS! Did Rin just said Rielle?

I immediately turned around to see them. Rin is running after a lady with a long, black, staright hair. Fudge. Bigla akong kinabahan. Is.. that.. my mom? O.O

I just found myself running after them. Nakakatakbo naman ako ng ayos kahit may daplis yung paa ko. Daplis lang naman e. Hindi gaanong masakit.

"RIN!!" Sigaw ko.

Lumingon siya.

NO.

Lumingon sila.

And heck... I just saw my face.

Rin grinned at me while the lady beside her looked at me in shock.

"Who's that?" Rinig kong tanong nung babae.

Rin glared at her and I heard her snicker a bit.

"Go, ask her. I'll be going." Saka naglakad papalayo si Rin habang ako, naiwan dito kasama yung babaeng nakatingin sakin.

Naconscious ako bigla dahil sa titig niya kaya yumuko na lamang ako.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps dahilan para mapatunghay ako.

I found the lady in front of me. And she looked at me like she's examining me or something.

"Who are you, pretty lady?" She asked me.

I got tensed. My knees are turning into jelly. My hands.. they're shaking.

What would I say?

Akemi? Huh?

But she's Akemi! She might get confused.

But.. that's my alternative name.

"A-Akemi po." Sagot ko sabay ngiti ng tipid. Kinakabahan ako. Kinilabutan ako nung nanlaki ang mata niya at mas tumalas ang titig niya sakin.

"You.. You are me?" Naguguluhang tanong niya.

Sa sobrang lambing ng boses niya na parang gugustuhin mong laging marinig.

Pero, kaagad akong umiling sa tanong niya habang nakangiti ulit ng matipid.

"R-Rainie. Rainie p-po." Sabi ko sabay yuko kaya hindi ko alam kung anong naging reaction niya.

Kung yung sight enhancement ko katulad lang nung kay Papa edi sana happy happy tayong makita ang reaction niya. Hay nakoooo. HAHAHA.

Napatunghay akong bigla nang makarinig ako ng hikbi. Nakatakip ang mga palad niya sa mukha niya at umaalog ang balikat niya. She's.. omygosh. She's crying.

I.. I found myself hugging her.

Shit. Bakit?

Hindi ako nagsalita. Hinayaan ko lang siyang umiyak.