"I'm afraid to close my eyes... don't wanna be left alone in the dark..."
Lagpas na one year ang friendship namin ni CJ! Last week, sa park kami nag celebrate ng birthday ko at inalala namin ang umpisa ng aming pagkakaibigan. May polaroid camera akong dinala at ginawa namin na photographer si Manang. Binigyan nila ulit ako nung cupcake na may kandila. Pero binili na nila sa store at mas marami na may iba't ibang flavor yung inabot nila sa akin at yun yung pinaghatian naming tatlo.
Bumaba ako saglit sa may kitchen at sinabihan si Manang na samahan ako sa pag bike namin ni CJ mamaya. Nagpagawa rin ako ng sushi rolls para pandagdag sa merienda. Ang ipagpapalam namin kina Papa ay group project ang pupuntahan ko sa isang bahay ng classmate. Hindi na rin naman sila magtatanong ng iba pa dahil kasama ko naman si Manang. Pagbalik ko sa kwarto, I went to the bathroom and showered quickly. After kong makabihis, napansin ko na may ilang medals pa pala na naiwan sa side cabinet ko. Ipinalipat kasi ni Papa yung mga nakuha kong awards dun sa gamit niyang library. Para daw pag may ka-meeting siya ay madaling makikita ng mga kausap niya. Pandagdag lang talaga ako sa shelf of accomplishments nila Mr. and Mrs. McLaren. I grabbed the medals and walked towards the library. I was surprised when I heard my parents' voices arguing about something. I cautiously approached closer and noticed that the door was left ajar. I peeked at them.
"How could you do this? How could you smear my name with your dirty doings?!", my mother yelled while pointing a finger at my father's face. "You thought I didn't know those indiscreet affairs you were having?! I always keep my mouth shut as long as your dirty women know their places. But how dare they go to my party and you flaunt them freely?!", she screamed then threw the glass of wine she's holding.
"I understand that we really didn't love each other. We left our first loves because our families forced us to do so. We thought we could start anew once we got married. You started an affair, one after another and I kept silent but this is too much! Our relationship is broken beyond repair! I couldn't continue to live with you anymore!", she said with her voice shaking with hurt and anger.
I didn't finish hearing the rest of their argument. I dropped all the medals that I was holding and ran downstairs. I know that they will soon file for a divorce. But they are full of pride and lies so I'm sure that they will still pretend in public that everything's okay. They always forget that I still exist! Who will have me in their custody? I hate them so much!
Busy sa may kitchen si Manang at hindi ako napansin na nagmamadaling ilabas ang bicycle sa gate. I don't care if they'll punish me again sa paglabas ko mag-isa, I want to get away from my toxic parents! Gusto ko ng makita agad si CJ. He's my only source of happiness.
Tumigil ako saglit sa pagbibisikleta ng napansin ko na dahil sa pagmamadali ko ay hindi ko nakuha yung ilang drawings na ginawa ko kahapon sa school. Kaso ayaw ko naman ng bumalik sa bahay. Saka ko na nga lang ipagmamalaki yun kay CJ. Nag start na ako mag pedal uli ng bike. Nadaanan ko pa yung sinasabi nilang isang bahay na may bago daw nakatira. Curious ako dito kasi matagal itong na bakante tapos sabi nila Manang after may mag occupy, never pa raw nila nakausap yung new occupant. Sinilip ko ang loob nito at nagtaka ako. May bagong lipat ba talaga dun? Bakit parang wala naman na nakatirang tao at wala rin na mga gamit?
Isang kanto bago umabot sa gate ng subdivision, nakita ko na si CJ na nakaupo sa may sidewalk. Mukhang napaaga din siya at hinihintay niya na lang ako. Naka gilid yung bike niya sa isang poste. Bumalik sa isipan ko yung nasaksihan kong pagaaway kanina nila Mama. Ipinilig ko yung ulo ko. Ayaw ko muna sila isipin. What I need right now is my friend.
"CJ!", malakas na tawag ko sa kanya. Kumaway siya sa akin at excited na itinuro ang bisikleta niya. Tumayo siya at nagsimulang mag pedal para magka salubong kami.
Ngiting ngiti kami habang pumapadyak palapit sa isa't isa. We were almost near each other when I saw from my peripheral vision a heavily tinted black sedan. My eyes widened in shock and I felt goosebumps on my skin when I realized it was moving fast towards our direction. I looked back at CJ, his eyes were fixed on the ground while pedaling his new bicycle. From behind him, I saw a man wearing a guard uniform. He's also running towards us. A minute too late, the security guard screamed CJ's name as he tried to cover him and at the same time to hold me.
I felt the car's bumper hit the side of our bicycles. CJ's eyes grew wide in terror and reached for me but the guard managed to pull half of our bodies towards him. He tried to partially hug us tight as the car's bumper fully hit us hard. I felt our bodies fly and dropped hard to the ground. I groaned in too much pain. Then, I heard a loud screeching of car tires followed by some voices shouting from afar.
I tried to slowly open my eyes and move my body. My vision is kinda blurry but I saw a lifeless man lying beside me and he was covered with something like blood? I winced as I felt another pain surging in and there's a metallic taste in my mouth. My eyes involuntarily started crying. My tears mixed up with the warm blood running down all over my face.
"I'm sorry... Please... help me... Mama ... It hurts too much... Papa... come help us..."
BINABASA MO ANG
Book 1: LILIKA
Teen FictionI was born in a world full of ambition and greed. My parents chose my name that means love and happiness but since birth, they didn't give me their affection. They only taught me pain and perfection. In a sudden absence of constraint, I met other...
