Saving Harper

Hormones

I completely panicked.

I looked at the window in the bathroom. Wala kami sa second floor but there may be quite a long way down since there are a few steps going up sa bahay ni tatay. Shit! How am I doing this?

I opened the window and looked down.

OMG anak, kaya ba natin to? I think it was a 9 to 10-foot drop. Or maybe madilim lang kaya feeling ko it's a long way down?

Right on time someone knocked softly on the door. "Harper!" I could hear ate Tiff hiss from the other side. Relief washed over me dahil may tutulong na sakin maka labas. I unlocked the door and she hurried inside and handed me my phone.

"Nakalimutan mo to sa labas, ohmygod muntik pa tong makita ni Xavier kasi tinawagan ka nya! Buti nalang naka silent. Yung bag mo nasa sofa pa ni tatay! I couldn't get it kasi makikita ako ni Xavier. Buti nalang din wala kang dalang kotse."

"Ohmygod how am I going to get out ate?" Her eyes diverted to the opened window.

"Harper! Were you just planning to jump?!" Lumapit din sya sa bintana to check the way down. "Mom and dad will kill me pero if ayaw mong harapin si Xavier, I'll help you. Matatalon mo ba yan? Tangina Xavier will kill me after akong patayin nila mommy for doing this or mauuna si Xavier na pumatay saakin."

I rolled my eyes. "Wala syang karapatang patayin ka. Kylie remember?"

"Okay sagot mo naman ako." I joined her sa window.

"I think if I lowered myself naman, kaya na?" We were both looking down, measuring the drop.

"Shit bilisan natin baka masabi nila mommy na nandito ka. Pero I think they won't naman. They'll probably think I'll hide you." It made me panic once more. Ahhhhhkkkkk. Maybe I should just hide. Pero saan??? "Bakit ang aga nyang umuwi???"

"Ewan ko dun! Dapat next week pa sya e. Di pa tayo nakakapractice!"

"Forget about practicing ate, you can help me nalang na tumakas because I can't face him right now."

Tiff nodded and took my hand, inalalayan nya ko para makaupo sa ledge nung window which thank god was low and I swung one of my legs outside the window. Thank god din na naoopen yung screen door.

"Wait Harper, sure ka na ba talaga dito? And how are you getting home? Do you want me to drive you?"

"Paano? Tatalon ka din? No na I can just book a grab. Magtataka pa yung kapatid mo bakit bigla kang nawala. Tama na yung isa lang magbubuwis ng buhay saatin dito." I think they have enough trees around their property para pwede akong magtago if Xavier suddenly gets out of tatay's house papunta sa kanila or sa kotse nya. Oh no baka puntahan nya ko sa condo!

"Wait." Kumapit ako ng mas mahigpit kay Tiff, di ako sure kung dahil may sasabihin pa talaga ako or kinakabahan lang akong tumalon. "If he decides to come to my condo, pigilan mo sya, please." Tiff nodded urgently.

"Okay Harper, on three then you jump ha." She told me.

"Tangina do I jump on three or after three?" I panicked again. Jusko Harper, tatalon ka lang e.

"Uhhh ikaw ba? Ikaw tatalon e don't ask me!" Nakakahawa ang panic ko kasi dalawa na kami ngayon.

"After three nalang." We started counting ng sabay. "One...Two..." I prepared to swing my other leg sa labas ng window. Ahhhhhhhh!!! Kaya ko ba to??? Too late.