Beating Heart

Converged Paths

I was completely distraught as we made our way out of the scene. I was shaking in fear because what had just happened on the field hasn't really sunk in yet.

Arleen and Trinity tried to comfort me, but I couldn't understand what they were saying and their words came out like a jumbled mess to me.

Mabilis na in-unlock ni Arleen ang pinto ng aming kwarto. Inalalayan ako ni Trinity hanggang sa makapasok at marahan akong inupo sa kamang nasa gitna.

Arleen locked our door. She even rolled our blinds close before looking at Trinity and I.

"Ar, do you have a first aid kid?"

"Meron. I already saw this coming so I prepared it." What?

Pumunta si Arleen sa kamang nasa kaliwa kong tabi. Lumuhod siya sa sahig at may kung anong kinuha mula sa ilalim ng kama. Tumayo kaagad siya, bitbit ang hinihingi ni Trinity na first aid kit.

Trinity took the kit from her, and forced a smile before telling me, "This will hurt a little, Nadine."

I didn't give a damn about the physical pain I was about to feel. I was too disturbed to care. Pilit kong pinapakiramdaman ang aking sarili, ngunit tila ba naiwan ang kaluluwa ko sa field dahil sa naging pangyayari ro'n.

The man looks around our age, but he seemed too strong. Nanginig ang labi ko nang magbalik sa alaala ko ang hitsura n'ya nung mga sandaling nagpupumulit siya para punteryahin ang aking leeg. He was out of his mind, that is for sure. But the question is why?

"W-what did I do?" I asked, "what happened? Why does he want to..." I choked on my own words. "To k-kill me?"

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang babaeng nasa harapan ko. Trinity looks concerned while Arleen appears to be considering how to respond to my question without frightening me.

I was waiting to hear an answer from them, but they kept their mouth shut so I continued to ask. "A-anong ginawa ko? May nilabag ba akong p-patakaran ng LVU?" At this point, I couldn't think straight. What did I do wrong? Bakit parang sabik ang lalaki na patayin ako?

"Wala kang ginawa, Nadine," si Arleen. "Wala kang nilabag, at mas lalong wala kang kasalanan."

Wala sa sarili akong nagpatuloy. "Bakit gusto n'ya ako patayin?"

That's when silence descended upon us. It was so quiet that I could hear my own breathing.

"Arleen, bakit niya ako gusto patayin?" 

"Komplikado ang―"

Hindi natuloy ni Arleen ang kanyang sasabihin matapos sumingit ang pagkatok na pumutol sa aming pinag-uusapan. Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa pinto. 

"Arleen? Buksan mo ang pinto," ani Jecho.