The Unseen Trial [Ace Lucifer's Series Three] ON GOING

Twenty Second Trial

BRYSON 22

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 11

"Kumusta pakiramdam mo?" Macey's still in her school uniform the moment she saw her. Dala nito ang maliit na backpack na kulay violet. Sakto lang para sa mga gamit nila sa school. Naka-upo ito sa malapit na monobloc chair, katabi ng kama niya.

She doesn't remember clearly what happened when she woke up few hours ago. All she remembers was passing out when Bryson came, and those delinquent students weren't able to do what they planned to her at her weak point. Nagising na lang siya at nasa hospital na siya, at may nurse na nagc-check sa kaniya, hanggang sa makatulog siya ulit, at nagising na si Macey ang kasama niya sa loob.

She hasn't seen Bryson, and she also doesn't know how many hours—or days... she'd been in the hospital. Kung wala lang si Macey ay paniguradong mag-isa siya, at panigurado 'ring tatakas siya sa hospital para umuwi.

Being in the hospital was giving her enough truth that her parents are oblivious to her welfare. Every time.

Macey touched her forehead to check her temperature, even it's obvious that she's in the hospital, and it's not like Macey needed to do it.

"Okay na 'ko." Iniwas niya ang leeg kay Macey, at hinarang ang kamay nito paalis. Macey looked at her with full of confusion before resting her back on the chair. Napabuntong hininga ito at humalukipkip. Gone the silly aura of Macey, and what she's seeing now was the serious mode of Macey, that she can only see every time that her best friend is competing during an academic contest, especially quiz bee.

Hindi niya nakayanan ang tingin ng kaibigan. She closed her eyes, and with her free hand from the IV fluid connected to her, she covered her arm using it, not even saying a word to Macey. She's trying to escape away from them. She doesn't want anything from them.

It's suffocating to think, and to realize that she's really using her friends for her own benefit, resulting to their own damage, just to save her. She's a burden to them... and if she will ignore it, and continue to do what she used to, they will end up like her parents, who got tired of her, and made her like nothing. Like non-existent.

She ruined her parents, and... she doesn't want to do the same with her friends. Habang maaga pa, lalayo na siya. Matagal naman na siyang hindi kumpleto...matagal na siyang sira... sanay na siya. She doesn't have to drag her friends on her, just so she can have someone to have with.

"Candace." She heard Macey. "Is this still about the contest? Dahil natalo si Bryson? Wala lang 'yon..."

Hindi siya sumagot.

Wala lang.

Wala nga lang ba?

"O higit pa?" Macey continued. Hindi niya nakikita ang itsura ni Macey, but she's sure that her best friend is done giving her time, and space.

She ignored Macey. She didn't said a thing, but she felt Macey's hands holding her wrist where the IV was attached. "Robot, may nangyari ba?"

"Macey, tigilan mo ako."

"Candace, mas close man kayo ni Bryson kaysa sa ating dalawa, pero 'yong mga hindi mo masabi sa kaniya, pwede mo namang sabihin sa akin. Best friend kita... kaya makikinig ako." Macey said softly, her thumb playing on her wrists.

Napalunok siya sa sinabi nito. "Umuwi ka na."

"Mamaya na wala pa si—"

"Kaya ko mag-isa rito, kaya umuwi ka na." she said without looking at Macey. Binawi niya ang kamay kay Macey pero hindi nagpaubaya ang kaiban.