Comrades in Action: Chase Vonn Book 6

Chapter Twenty nine

Tatlong araw ang nakalipas bago siya nakauwi dahil kinailangan niyang asikasuhin ang competisyong dapat na sasalihan sa susunod na linggo. She backed out of it. Matapos mag-paliwanag at mag-paalam sa school at sa music coach niya, saka pa lang siya bumiyahe pa-uwi.

The travel back home was depressing. Buong biyahe siyang tahimik. She wasn't able to sleep the entire time. She just couldn't do anything but cry. Mula kahapon, tila iyon lang ang kaya niyang gawin- ang umiyak. And the fact that she couldn't have a hold of Chase just made matters worse. She wanted to talk to him. She wants to hear his voice. She wants to hear him comfort her. She just wants him to tell her that everything's going to be okay...

Pabagsak niyang ibinaba sa kandungan ang cellphone ng tanging busy tone lamang ang naririnig niya sa kabilang linya. Where is he? Did something happen to him too? Sinubukan niyang tawagan ang numero sa kanilang bahay ngunit wala ding sumasagot niyon. Malakas siyang napaungol at napaiyak na lang. Tumingin siya sa bintana ng sasakyan. Si Manong Dandoy ang sumundo sa kanya sa airport kanina. Ilang minuto na lang at mararating na nila ang mansyon.

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata. Dread is slowly filling her entire system. She's scared. She's scared of seeing her brother's lifeless body laying inside a fucking casket. She's scared of people saying their condolences to her. She's scared of wearing that dreadful black dress again. Hell, she's fucking scared of stepping foot in that house full with people who will surely look at her with pity.

Why does she have to go through with this hell again? Why? Ano bang meron sa kaniya at unti unting nawawala ang mga mahal niya sa buhay? She's unlucky, isn't she? Was it because she was too happy these past few months? Ganoon daw di ba? Kapag sobra kang masaya, mapapalitan daw iyon ng lungkot. Is this it? Ito ba ang kapalit?

Maybe it's her fault... it's her fucking fault...

Naputol ang pagiisip niya ng tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. Mabilis niyang sinagot iyon.

"Hello?" Wika niya sa garalgal na tinig.

"Oh my god, Caye! Where are you? How are you doing? Who's with you right now? Fuck! Why didn't you tell me..."

"Brooke..." Iyon lang ang nasambit niya bago tuluyang napaiyak. "I don't know what to do... I'm scared... I can't believe this is happening. And to my brother! He was fine when I left. He was smiling! Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari..." Hagulgol niya.

"I will fly there as soon as possible. I'll be with you."

"P-pero may competition ka next week."

"Fuck the competion. You need me, Caye! A friend is what you need and I'll be there. Competition be damned!"

"Brooke..."

"I'll book a flight tonight so I could be there tomorrow. No arguments from you." Mariing turan nito.

She sighed. "Okay... Thank you, Brooke. This means a lot."

"Caye, it's no big deal. Have you told Lucas?"

"Not yet... I don't want to disturb him. He's in Paris right now for his concerto. It's a big deal for him."

"He'll be pissed at you for not telling him."

Malungkot siyang ngumiti. "It's for his career."

Tumigil ang sasakyan. Nakita niyang maraming tao ang nasa labas ng mansyon. Mga katrabaho sa ospital at mga kaibigan ng pamilya, pero karamihan ay mga trabahador sa rancho.

"Nandito na kami sa bahay. I'll call you later."

"Okay..."

As soon as she walked out of the car, all eyes are immediately on her. Diretso lang ang tingin niya habang naglalakad papasok ng bahay. Unti unting bumagal ang lakad niya ng makita ang kabaong na nakapwesto sa gitna ng sala. Her heart sank. That was when she started taking it all in.