Therrie's Thirty Days of Temperamental Cycle

Chapter 22: Bravery

Therrie has been hearing a lot of things about Bianca, hindi sa mga kasamahan nito kung hindi sa mga staff ng health facility. She tried to act unbothered and let it passed through her ears all those things she has been hearing, pero minsan hindi na niya kinakaya. Instead of fighting back that would cause a scene, lalayo na lang si Therrie o kaya naman gagawa siya ng ika-di-distract ng mga staff upang hindi na ituloy ang pag-uusap nila.

And that has been happening all day.

One of the things they said, Bianca was so weak she killed her own self.

Para sa kanya, hindi tama na marinig ang bagay na 'yon sa mga taong dapat tumutulong sa kanila. Instead, she would be hearing those hurtful words from those people pa talaga. But she can't do anything, she was grieving still. Kaya minabuti na lang ni Therrie na mapag-isa dahil kapag may kasama siya ay mas lalong bumibigay ang emosyon niya.

If I could've done something...

Iyon ang paulit-ulit na tumatak sa isip ni Bianca, but how can she do that when she's nowhere inside the facility when it all happened? She was out, looking for something that could get an answer to her situation, but ended up being dumped back into the place she doesn't want to be in anymore.

But all people she knew wanted her back. Hindi kasi nila alam kung anong nararamdaman ni Therrie. They believed something was wrong with her. Some believe Therrie was the main problem of her problems. She seeks and needs help, but those kinds of things were the things she doesn't need.

But maybe, Therrie doesn't need them at all. Not a single one of them.

"Tenorio!" tawag ng isang staff sa kanya.

Lumipad naman ang tingin ni Therrie sa lalaki at saka kumunot ang noo nito.

"Nandito ka lang pala sa garden, kung saan-saan pa kita hinanap," aniya. "Sumama ka sa akin sa visiting lounge."

"May bisita ako? Sino?"

Umiling ang staff sa tanong ni Therrie. "Wala kang dalaw, pero may tumawag at ikaw ang hinahanap kaya sumama ka na sa akin ngayon."

Hindi na naman nag-hesitate si Therrie kung hindi ay sinunod na lamang niya ang utos ng staff. She followed him heading to the visiting lounge. He then reminded Therrie she only got fifteen minutes to talk over the phone and it will automatically cut off once the time is over. Tango na lang din ang isinagot ni Therrie hangga't sa makarating sila sa phone booth. Itinuro nito ang telepono na gagamitin nito saka lumapit si Therrie at kinuha iyon at inilapat sa kanyang tainga.

The only people she was expecting to call her was Hernan—or maybe her family. She's not sure if they would call her, but sure about Hernan.

"Hello..." mahinang panimula ni Therrie. Senyales din na umaandar na ang fifteen minutes na ibinigay sa kanya. She looked at the staff who had his arms crossed and was just standing a few feet away from her. "Sino 'to? Hernan?"

"Therrie? Ikaw na ba 'yan?"

Namintig ang tainga ni Therrie nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na 'yon. Hindi pa siya sigurado kung tama nga ba ang naririnig niya o nagiging kaboses lang ni Hernan ang taong ito.

"Arkin?" panghuhula nito, pabulong pa nito itinanong ang pangalan.

"Yes, Therrie! Ako nga!" galak na tugon ni Arkin sa kabilang linya. "Mabuti na lang pwede kitang makausap ngayon."

"Oo nga pala... buti pinayagan kang makatawag."

"Well, sinubukan ko talagang matawagan ka. Sinabi ko na lang sa sumagot sa tawag kanina na ako si Hernan kaya siguro pinatawag ka rin. Hinanap ko rin talaga 'yong health facility na naroon ka. Nabasa ko kasi 'yon sa notebook mo... sorry kung binasa ko, ha?"