Never Be Tamed

Chapter 35: Numb

Chapter 35: Numb

Unti-unti akong lumabas ng mansion nang hindi alam kung saan pupunta. Naririnig ko parin ang mga usapan at halakhak nila mula sa balcony. Pero wala akong maramdaman. My body caved in, refusing to feel.

Bumungad sa'kin ang buhos ng ulan pagbukas ng tagasilbi ng main door. Wala ang sasakyan at ang driver na nangakong ibabalik ako sa apothecary. But asking to be drive back wasn't an option for me anymore.

Hindi ko alam kung paano makakabalik sa apothecary. But I was desperate to leave this place. Naglakad ako palabas sa gate with the gloomy gray sky above and the sound of rain drowning everything in sight.

Bawat patak ng ulan ay dumadaosdos sa aking balat but I couldn't feel anything else. It seems like there were walls clumping, squeezing my heart tight.

Naglakad ako sa kalye na pinaliligiran ng naglalakihang bahay, but everything feels empty and secluded. There's no face to see, only walls and fences.

There must be a main road here somewhere. I could ride a bus from here... I could go back to the apothecary and everything will be fine. Tuluyang namuo ang hindi inaasahang luha sa aking mga mata. I'm okay... it's nothing. I'm okay.

Isang itim na sasakyan ang nakasalubong ko sa tahimik na kalye. I stepped to the side of the street, expecting it to pass through. Pero unti-unti itong huminto hanggang sa tumapat sa'kin ang pintuan ng backseat.

The window rolled down and from the backseat, a familiar voice called my name.

"Eleanor from the apothecary..."

I blinked back water from my eyes, drenched and cold from the rain, I stared at the face staring at me from the warm comfort of the car. Callahan.

"What are you doing in here?"

Hindi ako nakasagot at nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya. Napansin niya ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko at ang hindi pantay na paghinga ko sa ilalim ng ulan.

Binuksan niya ang pinto, much to the surprise of the older looking driver in front. "Sir..."

Hindi siya pinansin ni Callahan. Lumabas si Callahan mula sa sasakyan and stood in front of me under the rain. Pinagmasdan niya ako, eyes glaring, wondering.

"What are you doing making a mess like this?"

I lowered my gaze, shutting my eyes for a second to shake off my blurry gaze. "Sorry..."

Nawala ang patak ng ulan na dumadampi sa balat ko sa paglapit ng matandang driver na may hawak na itim na payong. It was only supposed to cover Callahan but he pushed the driver's hand to my direction so I could stand under the umbrella.

"This won't do," Callahan muttered before reaching for my wrist.

Pumasok siyang muli sa sasakyan habang hila ang aking kamay. Napaupo ako sa tabi niya, soaking the leather seat. The driver closed the car door before heading back in front.

I stared around the warm, cozy car before facing Callahan. "Kailangan kong bumalik sa apothecary..."

"Soaked like this?" he pointed out, an eyebrow raised. Bumuntong hininga siya saka sumandal sa upuan. "My house is around the corner. You should know since you've been in my place. At least dry yourself before leaving."

Hindi ako sumagot o tumanggi. Habang tumatagal, unti-unti akong nanghihina. Maybe it was exhaustion from all the field work from the previous weeks... or maybe because I could feel my heart shattering inside of me.

Halos wala pang ilang minuto nang makarating kami sa familiar na driveway ng Winslow mansion. The same towering trees lining the driveway muted the sound of the heavy rain. It must have been warm and peaceful living in a place like this... or this neighborhood. But I never would have dreamed of such lonely place to be in... where people live the most luxurious lives, unaware of the struggles of the people around them.