First Rainfall of May [MEDICAL SERIES #1]

CHAPTER 07: Add Friend

A/N: Trigger warning. Please read at your own risk. If you have anxiety attack or depressive episodes, please do not read this chapter alone.

STORM

I RAN away from Sabrina. I'm not comfortable with our topic. Parang bumabaliktad ang sikmura ko sa pinag-uusapan namin. Habang tumatakbo ay naglaglagan ang mga gamit ko at mabilis ko rin itong pinulot.

Papalabas pa lang ako ng canteen ay habol-habol ko ang hininga ko, lalo na nang biglang nagdatingan ang mga Accountancy students. Break time na siguro nila.

Fuck. I can't breathe.

So many people around me.

Panay ang sorry ko sa lahat nang nakakabangga ko.

I tried to inhale and exhale more aggressively while running but my knees are already shaking. Mas binilisan ko ang pagtakbo hanggang makarating ako sa pool area ng university. It's a closed area pero malawak, walang tao, a suitable environment for me.

I immediately went to the benches pero hindi na ko umabot. Tuluyan nang bumagsak ang mga tuhod ko dahil sa panginginig nito. Napahiga ako sa pool side while holding onto my chest, catching for breath.

My lips are quivering and my mind are clouded with thoughts of past. I can feel the drops of sweat on my forehead.

I tried to exasperate a sigh but it can't do anything. Para akong nalulunod, para akong nilulunod. It's like there is something heavy on my chest, I can even feel my heart beating so fast.

Damn.

Hindi ko na kaya.

"Storm!"

That's Sabrina...

"Storm, asan ka—" She paused when she saw me in my condition but she looks blur to me. Ang daming pwedeng makakita sa'kin sa ganitong sitwasyon, bakit siya pa?

She was frozen at first then a hint of concern registered on her face.

I felt tears rolling down my face.

"Storm..." Lumapit siya sa'kin at pinilit akong higitin palapit sa kanya.

I still can't breathe but I'm fighting for it.

Tinanggal niya ang unang dalawang butones ng polo uniform ko at hinaplos ang likod ko. "It's okay. Just breathe. Just breathe."

Hiyang-hiya ako sa sarili ko. Bakit kailangan niya kong makitang nagkakaganito?

"Inhale...exhale..." Marahan siyang humihinga nang malalim na siyang sinusundan ko.

"It's okay. Just breathe. Inhale, exhale," she continued coaching while caressing my back.

Sinundan ko lang lahat nang sinabi niya until I'm feeling quite okay.

"Feeling better?" Tinitigan ko siya, bahagya siyang nakangiti sa'kin pero bakas pa rin ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya.

I never wanted anyone to see me like this dahil nahihiya ako. I once collapsed before and had an attack sa maraming tao, and no one bothered to attend me. Parang lahat sila natatakot o hindi kaya ay nandidiri sa'kin, nahihiya para sa'kin, yet here she is, taking care of me without judgement.

"Thank you," I said in my lowest tone of voice.

"S-Sorry," she whispered under her breath.

Medyo umayos ako ng upo at hinahabol ko pa rin ng bahagya ang paghinga ko. "How did you know that I'm here?" I locked my eyes on hers.

"Storm!"

Napalingon kami sa pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita ko ang mga kaibigan ko. Tumakbo sila palapit sa'min.