Chasing After Wind // Jordi GDL FF

Chapter 17

I could hear voices, pero masyado silang malayo. I was conscious once again pero ramdam kong konti na lang at mawawalan ulit ako ng malay.

I looked around. Madilim pa rin. Wala pa ring malay si Francis sa upuan niya. Sinubukan kong sumigaw para makahingi ng tulong pero walang lumalabas.

On the distance, small dots of lights were moving frantically.

The car lurched forward into the darkness in front of us before stopping. Muntik na kaming nahulog sa bangin pero may nagpipigil sa sasakyan.

"Kyla!" someone called.

My breathing was erratic. Nakalimutan ko na yata kung paano huminga.

"Kyla!"

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata. I was a coward, I know. Kahit na kaharap ko na ang kamataya't tila wala na akong pag-asang mabuhay ay hindi ko pa rin ito magawang tanggapin.

I could never face death without breaking down.

I let the darkness consume me once again. Just as the voices started getting louder.

I could feel panic rise in me as I heard voices once again, thinking that we were still in the car. Nang binuksan ko ang aking mga mata'y hindi ko pa maintindihan ang lahat ng nakikita.

As though my brain was still on the process of starting up after a long period of rest.

Iginala ko ang paningin sa kwarto.

I was in a room.

Bahagya akong nakahinga nang maayos dahil sa napagtanto. Bumaling ako sa dextrose at sa tubong nakakonekta sa aking katawan.

Naaalala ko pang may nangyari, pero hindi ko matandaan kung ano.

There was a dull and dragging pain in my brain kaya matagal-tagal pa bago ko napansin ang dalawang taong kasama ko sa kwarto.

I recognized my sister standing near my bed. She was turned away from me, her body visibly tensed habang sinasalubong ang tingin ni Juan na malapit sa pinto.

"Ate?" I managed to croak out.

Another wave of relief crashed into me when I realized that I could bring myself to speak again.

Ate Mica turned towards me. Hindi nakalagpas sa tingin ko ang patago niyang pagpunas ng luha. Her eyes were red-rimmed kaya puno ng pagtataka ang mukha ko habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

"Are you okay? May masakit ba sa'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong niya. She thought of hugging me before stopping herself.

I was still trying to wrap my head about everything dahil saktong bumalik rin sa akin ang lahat ng nangyari bago ang aksidente.

Francis tried to kidnap me. Nicki started a rumor about me. Girlfriend ni Jordi si Nicki. And I fucking kissed my best friend.

"Tatawagin ko lang ang doktor," wika ni Juan bago kami iniwan ni ate.

Both of them shared somber looks kaya madali lamang na magkaroon ng kahit kaunting ideya na hindi sila maayos ngayon.

All of the things that happened that day and now my sister's obviously trying to get herself together.

"Ate, may problema ba?" garalgal ang boses ko habang nagtatanong.

Her eyes shone with unshed tears habang kinakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi.

"Wala!" she said, too enthusiastic to be genuine. "I'm just so glad na gising ka na! Mom and Dad will be glad once they find out na gising ka na!"

She forced a smile to convince me that she was really alright. I thought of pushing her on to tell me what the problem really is pero hindi pa ata ako handang makausap siya nang maayos dahil tila lumulutang pa ang isip ko.