Safety Pin

Chapter 43: Longest Pre-Dawn

Chapter 43: Longest Pre-Dawn

03:00 AM

9 hours before the trial, something woke me in my sleep. It wasn't the creepy feeling you often see in horror films. Nor was it the romantic feeling where myths say if you wake up at three in the morning, a lover is thinking about you at that exact moment. But I didn't feel particulary scared or loved as of the moment.

I just have this panicked feeling. As if something is about to go horribly wrong. Or already went wrong. That's when I noticed my phone in the nightstand. I grabbed it with such trepidation, it was almost impossible for me to grasp it. A text from George. And I should have known that George neverㅡeverㅡ brings me good news.

George:
Shit. I'm sorry, the first message says.

Followed by, He got the folder. Jack fucking Saremi got the folder and my dad's about to kill me. Oh god. I'm so, so sorry. Please call me once you see this.

I blinked. I dropped my phone and tried to re-read his message, trying to make sense what exactly am I reading. Then that awful choking sound at the back of your throat because you wanted to cry so hard, your throat can barely hold it in.

I pressed the call button and waited for two rings before George finally answered the call with a groggy hello.

"What happened?!" I asked, no hellos.

"I'm sorryㅡ" then he sighed. "I was at the mall remember, waiting for a friend then Jack suddenly appeared and stopped in front of me. I was shell-shocked, Prim!"

I frowned. How could he have known we're in the mall in the first place? Were he spying George? I shake my head. Impossible. I saw him sleeping there with my own eyes. He couldn't have done it then.

"And so, you just let him have the folder?" I asked incredulously. "Walang alam si Jack tungkol sa folder. I did it all by myself. Paanong bigla nalang siyang lalabas at kukunin iyon sa iyo?"

"Well perhaps you underestimated him then. I swear it. He appeared and held out his hand as if he was in this action movie. He just said, "Akin na," and I could only do whatever to save myself. I'm sorry."

I closed my eyes. It doesn't sound like something Jack would do. I'd never thought of him like that. He's got a bloody temper but he won't get something without really paying for it. He wouldn't have gotten that folder without making George fight for it. So what happened?

"Prim, I swear I wanted to save the folder but he just run and I couldn't defeat him," may mga ingay sa kabilang linya kaya nahihirapan ako marinig ang iba pa niyang sinasabi.

"I'llㅡI'll find him, George. Just don't tell your father yet," I mumbled, already putting on my pants and grabbing my jacket in the coat hanger.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula para hanapin ang folder o si Jack. I've been looking for him for the past two weeks, trying to call him whenever I got the time and still got no response from him. Even my visit at his car went unnoticed. What's happening, Jack?

Trembling (from cold or anger, I don't know), I opened my door and went directly to Zeke's room, knocking gently but insistently. After five minutes, I heard his lock being undone and then I was facing him.