The Leftovers

25: NECKLACE

XEN'S POV

I can't focus while driving my car as fast as I can. My mind is too occupied by thoughts that can't help me in this kind of situation. But I couldn't stop the rush of those pessimistic creeps in my mind, giving the situation that Iowa was in right now. 

I called Benjie and Darren several times but they aren't answering their fucking phones. What exactly the hell is going on? 

The last update that I received from Benjie and Darren is that they are in the unfinished building behind PDH. And I'm still fucking million light-years away from that. Halos short cut na nga ang lahat ng dinaanan ko para lang mapabilis ang byahe ko pero parang walang pinagbago 'yong distansya.

"Maybe nililigtas lang nila si Iowa. Or should I say safe na sila? O baka pinipigilan nila si Lexi para makatakas si Iowa sa mga mata nito. I wish that's what's happening right now. I badly wish for Iowa's safety."

I've become a criminal of my own thoughts as I still cross the distance between me and Iowa's location. It's exhausting to both kill and bury those negative thoughts that keep on penetrating my mind as I try to be optimistic. 

Tiningnan ko nalang muli ang map kung gaano pa ba ako kalayo kay Iowa. It says that I am almost 30 minutes far from my destination and the worst is the heavy traffic just ahead of me. 

As I arrive at the location having heavy traffic, I rolled down my window and my ears were bombarded by the deafening siren of ambulances. Dumagdag pa roon ang busina ng mga sasakyan na gusto nang makaalpas sa pagkakaipit sa traffic. 

I tried to sneak a peek through my window just to realize that I am so fucked up. Rinig ko rin ang malulutong na mura ng driver na nasa bandang kanan ko. 

"Sir, bakit daw po gan'to kasama tong traffic dito?" hindi ko napigilang magtanong. 

"Eh, lumiyab daw 'yong gasoline station d'yan sa unahan eh," agad namang sagot nito habang bakas sa mukha ang pagkayamot.

"Ganun po ba? Medyo mahaba-habang pasensya nga ang kakailanganin natin dito," naisagot ko na lang sa kanya kahit ang totoo ay wala nang katiting na pasensyang natitira sa akin. 

Mabuti na lamang at nasa inner lane ako kaya madali na lamang sa'kin na mag U-turn. Bahala na kung masita ako ng pulis. I have enough to pay this violation but I have nothing to bring back Iowa's life if I couldn't save her. 

Nakita kong maraming drivers ang gumaya sa ginawa ko. At sa tingin ko naman, hindi ito ang tamang panahon para matawag na violation ang ginawa namin. 

Makalippas lang ang ilang minuto ay natanaw ko na ang jollibbe kung saan ko balak i-park ang sasakyan ko. Balak ko nalang makiangkas sa mga naka-motor para kahit papaano ay madaling makalusot. 

Matapos kong mai-park ang sasakyan ay agad akong tumawid at doon nakiusap sa mga may mabubuting loob na pasakayin ako. Mabuti na lamang at may isang lalaking rider na huminto sa harapan ko at agad akong pinasakay.