right strings

-073-

- psyche pov -

"it's already late.. bakit nandito ka pa?" binuksan nya ang water bottle na binili namin sa loob ng convenient store atsaka inabot sa akin, kinuha ko naman 'yon ka agad.

"i just want some... fresh air" i answered him, in matter of fact.

"sinong kasama mo?" tanong nya ulit.

"i am alone, i.. ran away for a mean time" jake was that kind of a friend that i trust the most. in fact, telling him my story wasn't kind of hard anymore to me. at some point it makes me lessen my anxiety.

"did something happened?" i nodded, tumungo ako at nilaro ang bote sa kamay ko.

"i visited mom from the hospital..." i sighed, i calm myself down. "jake.. you know i trust you right?" i almost whispered

"i am willing to listen always, psyche" i smiled, kahit hindi naman nya nakikita. i just feel so overwhelmed.

"my mom was in coma for five years. it happened when dad accidentally pushed her on a stair because she was protecting me from my dad" he was silent, he was really a good listner huh.

"you know.. we aren't his real family, his legal wife can't pregnant so he left her and he met my mom. they had me."

"he was expecting a son, but he had me instead so he was little disappointed for me. that's why he always pressuring me so much to my studies. i need to be the best version of myself by his guide, so i can protect the title of his surname and his hospital" i heard jake sighed,

i looked at him to assured him that i am okay, i gave him a smile telling him that i am used to be in pain.

"since my mom left me alone in the house, i used to grew up alone, i used to be believed that i have friends.. but they don't feel the same way.." i felt like my smile suddenly faded and tears just flowed down to my cheeks.

"when they.. hurt me.. with their words and actions, when dad.. hit me, with his words and hands.. i.. felt.. so.. alone, i.. felt.. like i have no one to hold on to... i have no rights to be happy..." i didn't bother to wiped my tears,

"i used to cried alone, and ran away like this to escape... but at the end of the day.. i always come home to the same house, to the same person who hurt me and my mom, same circle of people who just saw me as a loser and a human bank" i paused for a while to grabbed some air.

i sniffed and jake was just looking at me, he remained silent, i don't have any idea what is he thinking about right now.

"i begged dad for me to transfered school, i remember kneeling infront him for me just to run away with the people who treating me the way i don't deserved to be... he tried to hit me a lot of times until he finally said yes, for a one condition"

"i need to do well, passed in medical school, and be a doctor in the future... so i had a lot of private classess, but it didn't worked out for me though, because i am not like the daughter he's imagining. earlier, when i visited my mom.. he suddenly entered the room interrupting us.. he suddenly told me how much he is disappointed to me because i can't be accepted in the medical school unless i will pass the entrance exam..."

we suddenly fell in silence for a couple of minutes, i just calm myself down and wiping my tears for the whole time while he was looking straight.

"why.. don't you.. report him.." his voice sounds so serious and worried, i faked a laughed.

"mom loves him... and besides, kay dad yung hospital, my mom's life depends on his life as well" sagot ko sa kanya. he sighed deeply.

"i am sorry for telling you this, this might be uncomf-" he grabbed my hand and squeezed it a bit making me stopped from talking.

"no- it must been hard for you all through out the years, i wanted to let you feel that you aren't alone anymore psyche," a tear suddenly fall from my eye again.

the way he throw words, it feels like it isn't just a word because i can feel it. he really mean it.

"where.. does it hurt?" i continued to cry and point my chest using my free hand. "here jake.. it doesn't beat anymore.. she's so tired to function now" i don't know to managed to say those words while struggling because i am crying so hard.

"here..." he placed a band aid on the palm of my hand he is holding.

i stared it for a long time but he suddenly opened it and placed on the tiny wound i have on my palm, it's because nadagil ito sa table noong sinubukan kong lumayo sa sampal ni daddy.

"it might hurt now..." he pasted it exactly on the wound. "but it will heal someday..." he gently brushed it. " i promised psyche..." he cupped my face and wiped my tears away.

"why are you so nice?" i asked in between my sobs. for real, jake was the definition of angel.. he has the purest heart.

i heard he laughed and continued wiping my tears away.

"we are fiends.. psyche, and a friend can protect you from everything against you.." he gave me his genuine smile.

"i also protect a girl, and a friend like you.. i  already saw her happy ending, you deserved it too"

"may sinasabi ka jake?" binitawan nya ang mga pisngi ko at mabilis na umiling.

"nakatambay kami sa bahay, gusto mo.. sumama?" i nodded immediately.

"let's go"