Freed Souls

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Worried

Astralla

I sipped on my wine glass while staring at the open field from afar. I know it's too early to drink but I wanted to calm my mind and the fresh morning air was not helping me.

I drew a deep breath for the nth time as I shook my head.

"I've heard what happened," Abel sat beside me. "How is she?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Room. I don't know how is she." Nilingon ko siya sandali at binigyan ng tipid na ngiti. "I don't wanna lie and tell she's doing good because clearly..."

She's not. Hindi nga niya ako gaano kinakausap.

"What really happened?"

Sumimsim ako sa alak habang inaalala lahat ng sinabi sa akin ni Lola. Kung paano nagpakita ang hamog ni Aya kung paano ito tinaboy ng anak ko palayo. Pero ang mas gumimbal sa akin ay ang makita kong buhat-buhat ni Lola ang walang malay kong anak habang palabas ng gubat.

It felt like my heart dropped for a moment at that scene.

I was too preoccupied that I didn't even notice the wine glass shattered on my grip. I opened my palm to drop the pieces of glass with my blood. Ilang segundo lang ang lumipas ay naghilom din ito agad.

"You okay?"

"I-I'm scared..." I mumbled and that's when my voice broke.

"Hey..." Hinarap ako ni Abel sa kanya. "Don't be."

My lips quivered. "I know but..."

"But don't you think that's good?" he asked. "I mean the fog never listened to her. Bakit nung sinabi ni Aya na umalis ito ay umalis talaga ito? Don't you think that's... an advancement? Saka hindi nito sinaktan ang manggagamot na tumulong kay Aya."

"She doesn't understand that, Abel. Ang alam niya lang ay kasalanan na naman niya..."

Huminga ako nang malalim bago tumingin sa himpapawid. Saktong tumatawid ang isang uwak. For a moment, I thought it stared at me using those sharp eyes. Just like that, it disappeared from the thin air too.

"Kailan ba babalik si Brix?" he asked next.

My eyes dropped at the ground. "Soon?"

I am not sure either.

"Don't you think he should be here too?" he questioned next.

Lumunok ako bago umiling. Tumayo na ako at inayos ang sarili. Kailangan ko nang bumalik sa kwarto ni Aya dahil baka mag-isa na naman siya. Baka umalis na sina Tegan at Koko.

"Sige na, Abel. Pupuntahan ko muna si Aya," pagpapaalam ko.

"Don't stress yourself too much, Astra. Magiging maayos din ang lahat."

"Hopefully..." tipid na sagot ko.

Pagbalik ko sa kwarto ni Aya ay wala na siya roon. Napailing na lang ako habang nakatingin sa nakabukas na bintana. Okay na rin siguro ito. At least mahihimasmasan siya kapag kasama ang mga kaibigan.

I sat on her bed. Parang may bumara na naman sa lalamunan ko.

He should be here by now. Lagpas na ito sa pinangako niyang araw na babalik siya. Siguro masyado siyang naging busy. I understand that. He's no longer free from responsibilities. But all I know is... he should be here by now.

Humiga ako at niyakap ang unan ni Aya. Sininghap ko ang naiwan niyang amoy roon.

I know I just talked to Abel but it felt like I needed someone who would understand me even more. Someone who knows not just to comfort me but to make my worries turn into laughs too.