Ghosting Madness

Chapter 27

27: The Clap Back
“The sun rose early that morning,
it also set late that evening. I wonder
why?"

My eyes are dead, staring at a white wall. The voices, murmurs, cries, and sighs coming from the people walking back and forth were hallucinating my senses. My head suddenly hurts like it was cracking open every time I hear people shouting for help. My hands are shaking still, with stains of blood left under my nails despite my rigorous washing earlier in the bathroom. 

I wiped my cheek when a lone tear suddenly rolled down. I couldn’t breathe the same air they breathe anymore. It…just feel so bad of me to live.

“Shel…Josh…” I stood up from my sitting position when Daela and Nella approached me from the opposite hall where the room they visited was located. Daela hugs me, strokes my back, and held my hand. Meanwhile, Nella couldn’t muster herself to even give me a piece of physical touch she used to do.

She was hesitant. Afraid that Pamela might see and think things differently. 

“Kamusta siya?” I asked her. 

She smiled and said, “He’s doing great, don’t worry…” before looking at Daela like she said the right thing. “But she still doesn’t want to talk to you, Josh. She’s completely lost,” Nella mentioned to Pamela.

“I know and I understand. I’m just…s-sorry…” I mumbled shakily. “Sorry, sorry…Hindi ko naman sinasadya,” I mentioned repeatedly while lowering my head.

“Shh.” Daela hushes and calms me down. She picks my head up and lets me rest on her chest. Her hand is continuously stroking my back. “Shel, alam namin ‘yan. You don’t mean any of these. Aksidente ang lahat.”

Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at napatalikod. “Pero hindi mangyayari ‘to kung hindi ako nagpadala sa emosyon ko. I was there. It happened because I called him…and I ran after−” I covered my mouth to stop hurting myself. “−How about Madness? Kamusta siya?”

Daela replied because she was the one who looked after him when he was brought to the hospital alongside the other. “He’s fine. But the doctor is looking for a family member of his. He told me he needed to consult with them…”

Oh god. I realized how I drastically turned my whole life on the other side of the table.

“…Tell us what happened.” I heard Daela asked politely. Binaling ko ang tingin ko pabalik sa kanila nang biglang manakit muli ang ulo ko. Napangiwi ako sa panaka-nakang pagkirot nito.

“Okay ka lang, Josh? I think I should call a nurse for you−”

“−No, Nels. Okay lang ako.” I stopped her before she could even walk away to ask for help. “Kailangan ko lang magpahinga kasi magdamag akong gising.” I smiled to assure her. “Salamat sa inyo.”

Daela looked at my eyes and asked again, “Sure ka? I think your apartment is still not ready. Your landlady is still asking someone to fix some of your things. She told me earlier in a call kasi number ko pala ang nilagay mong person to contact instead of my parents.” 

I bit my lower lip and just nodded.

“That’s fine with me. I just need a normal bed in a normal place, Dae. Samahan mo na lang ako please…”

“Siyempre naman.” She smiles and affirms my need. She held my hand and I knew from her touch that she’s here to protect me from harm. From anything that may hurt me. 

“Then, I’ll stay here with Pami. Take care, Josh. Babalitaan kita.” Nella told me while was left standing in the hallway. I saw her smile at me and nodded at Daela before going back to Pamela.