This Is Not Strange

Chapter Forty-two

Bridgette

Everything that had happened suck the energy out of me. Hinayaan na ako nila mom and dad umuwi ng island, pero pinabantayan naman ako sa bahay. Pati si papilo pinagsabihan na rin ako na itigil ko na raw ang kahibangan ko, dahil nakakadagdag ito sa stress ni mamita. Pagkatapos kasi nilang isugod sa hospital, kinausap nila agad ang doctor ni mamita. Inatake raw ito at kapag nastress ulit ay maari ulit siyang atakihin.

  I have been banned from using social media and pinalitan na rin nila ang number pati ang phone ko, dahilan kung bakit hindi ko matawagan si Ella. Heaven knows how much I want to see her, pero I can't escape the guards. Para na akong preso na may malaking kasalana sa ginagawa nila.

  Ngayon ang uwi ng parents at grand parents ko, at pinagsabihan nila akong kakausapin pag-uwi. It's been two days, but it felt like years since I last saw her. I want to run towards their house, tell her na it'll be alright, na I will do everything para maging maayos ito, but I can't.

  I've heard from the maids na pumupunta siya sa bahay but hindi siya pinapalapit ng guards, which saddens me. Bakit parang ang bigat naman ata ng parusa ko?

  A minute later, may narinig akong katok sa pintuan kaya mabilis ko itong binuksan. Mabilis akong niyakap ni Pen at agad na pumasok sa kwarto.

  “Kailangan mo ikwento lahat ng nangyare,” she said, sitting at my bed.
 
  I sigh before narrating everything. From the awarding, hanggang sa sampalan, up to my mamita's sudden collapse. Pagkatapos ko magkwento, nakanganga lang si Pen na nakatingin sa akin. It took her a while bago pa siya nakasagot.

  “Holy crap, that's so messed up,” she commented, shaking her head.

  I nodded at her in agreement. “They won't even let me out kahit sandali. Mas malala pa ako sa isang preso. And I badly miss her na, I want to call her pero I have no access sa kanya. They cut it all.”

  My best friend grin after hearing it. She walk to the door muna and locked it bago siya bumalik. May kinuha siya sa bulsa niya at ipinakita ito sa akin.

  “Your guard strictly told me not to bring my phone kapag papasok ako. But they didn't told me not to bring an extra phone.” She passed it to me.

  “Oh my! You're a blessing talaga!” I pulled her for a brief hug before opening the device.

  May load na raw ito at pati ang number and extra account kung saan pwede ko kausapin si Ella is narito na rin.

  I shoot her a grateful look na sinagot niya lang ng malapad na ngiti. “Welcome.”

  Mabilis kong ni-dial ang number ni Ella and I impatiently waited for 20 seconds bago niya ito sinagot.

  “Ate P?”

  Oh how I missed her voice.

  “I missed you.”

  “Bridgette! Kumusta ka na? Anong nangyare sa'yo? Kinukulong ka ba nila? Pinapakain ka naman, diba? Hindi ka ba pinapabayaan? Pwede ba tayong magkita? Gosh, nag-aalala ako sa'yo. Hindi ka naman sinaktan, diba?” Mabilis ang pagsasalita niya, but I'm fast enough to understand it all naman.