The Broken Soundtrack

Track 31: Breathe

Ini-imagine ko lang dati kung ano ang itsura ng langit - may mga anghel na kumakanta na parang choir tapos may mga naglalaro at naghahabulan habang lumulundag sa mga ulap.

Pero wala ako sa langit ngayon. Instead, nasa loob ako ng isang glass box, at gusto ko nalang makawala para makahinga na ulit ako.

"Jannah!" A voice echoed inside my head as I tried to find my voice. "Gising!"

Paulit-ulit ko itong naririnig hanggang sa mabasag yung glass box sa maliliit na piraso na siyang gumising sa aking diwa.

Coughing forcefully, I sat straight up from the cold and hard surface as water spilled from my mouth.

"Jannah, mabuti at nagising ka," someone said, but I couldn't recognize the voice.

Silence was taking over, as if everything and everyone was speaking in a different language.

I stared into nothingness, trying to bring myself back to where I was. I wanted to blink, but my eyes were so sore I just kept them wide open.

"Oh my God! Jannah, okay ka lang?" Fiona fussed, rushing towards my side.

"I am so sorry, bestie. Hindi ko sinasadya." That was Zander's voice this time.

"Jannah, okay ka na," someone reassured me, hands gently caressing my back.

My eyes darted towards that person, his hazel-green orbs meeting mine. Strands of hair covered his forehead and his face saturated with water. His clothes were completely soaked, even his shoes.

Si Laken ba ang sumalba sa akin?

"Pasensiya na talaga, bestie." Zander held my hands, squeezing it tight. "Kasalanan ko."

"Hindi, kasalanan ko," Mason spoke as he kicked something nearby.

"Tangina mo, Mase! Bat mo ba ginawa 'yon?" Benjamin scolded his friend, but I couldn't really bother.

"Jam, just stay still," Asher spoke, placing a towel around me. "The medics are coming."

My head wobbled as I turned to my side. Something didn't feel right inside me. Stretching my hand, I forced myself to stand up, but the moment I did, my bottom landed on the same concrete.

"Hinay-hinay ka lang," Laken hushed beside me, his hand supporting my back.

"Nandito na ang medics!" Fiona exclaimed as a group of guys in uniform made their way towards me.

"Okay ka na ba, miss?" sabi nung isang medic at napatingin lang ako sa kanya, not knowing how to answer that. May nilagay siya sa braso at daliri ko. Masyadong mabilis ang mga nangyayari kaya hindi ko na alam kung saan at kanino ako titingin.

"Kaya mo bang tumayo?" tanong nung isa pang medic.

Nang hindi ko siya nasagot, bigla nalang nila akong binuhat at nilagay sa isang platform.

"Dadalhin ka namin sa ospital" the medic informed me as he placed a soft, plastic tube in my nostrils, securing it on both my ears.

Tahimik lang ako habang nararamdaman ko ang pagpasok ng hangin sa loob ng aking sistema. Hopefully, it would help me find my voice and my sanity back.

"Ma, okay na po ako," I convinced the woman on my phone screen, not wanting to worry her more.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na ang nakalipas. All I knew was that when I woke up, I was already in a private room, the beeping sound of a machine consuming my ears. The plain white walls only added to the unpleasant scenery I was in.

"Ingatan mo ang sarili mo diyan, anak." Mom pursed her lips. I could tell she was trying her best not to show me any tears.

I nodded at her. "Opo, ma. Promise."