The Start of the Fall

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

LJ'S POINT OF VIEW

"Lj," I heard someone called my name. It's her voice, the voice that I know me and my friends misses.

"Jennie?" I quickly opened my eyes to find where she is, just to be greeted by endless darkness. The only thing I can see is my body like it's glowing when I know it's not. "Where am I?" I murmured.

Hindi ko malaman kung patay na ba ako o buhay pa. The last thing I remember is that I was drowning in the sea and now I'm here. Well then, maybe I'm already dead. Maaaring nasa langit ako o impyerno, o baka naman ay nasa purgatoryo ako dahil sobrang dilim. Is this what dead people see after they died?

"Lj," tawag ulit ng boses ni Jennie sa pangalan ko. This time I can see her in front of me. She's calling my name without actually moving her lips as if she's using telepathy. Suot niya pa rin ang damit niya pero ang kapansin-pansin lang ay wala na siyang sugat, pasa o kung ano pa man. She look serene.

I felt my eyes watered. "Jennie, ikaw nga," I quickly run to her and hugged her. Hindi siya nag-alinlangang suklian ang yakap ko kaya mas lalo akong naging emosiyonal.

"Jennie, Jennie, please forgive me. I'm so sorry. P-Pinabayaan kita kaya ka nakagat tapos hinayaan pa kitang maiwan mag-isa sa gitna ng kalsada at isakripisyo ang buhay mo para lang mailigtas namin ang sarili namin. Jennie, I'm so sorry," I said in between my sobs. I kept weeping like a child while hugging her tightly. "It's all my fault. I let it happened to you. Wala akong kwentang kaibigan. I'm sorry," I was drowning on my tears that the words that I'm saying become almost inaudible.

She wiped my face wet with tears while smiling gently at me as if it's her way of telling me that I shouldn't blame myself for what happened because it's not my fault.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita, Jennie? Is there something wrong?" Tinitigan ko siya sa mukha habang hinihintay ang sagot niya pero wala akong nakuhang tugon. She just shook her head and just continue giving me a comforting smile. "Nasaan nga pala ako? Patay na ba ako? Ang mga kaibigan natin, nasaan na sila?" I asked again but this time, instead of just smiling or shaking her head as an answer, her expression suddenly changed.

Ang kaninang kapayapaan na bumabalot sa kaniya ay napalitan ng pag-aalala. Hinaplos nya ang magkabilang balikat ko at inipit ang takas kong buhok sa likod ng aking tenga bago lumayo sa akin. Kinabahan ako sa naging kilos niya kaya tinanong ko siya ulit kahit alam kong hindi siya sasagot.

"Wait, what's happening? May nangyari bang masama sa kanila? Sabihin mo sa akin, Jennie. Please..."

Again, she didn't answer my questions. Patuloy lang siya sa paglayo sa akin habang kakikitaan ng pag-aalala ang kaniyang mukha. "Be careful," ang tanging tugon niya. Para siyang sirang plaka na paulit-ulit sinasabi ang dalawang salitang iyon. Sinubukan kong lapitan siya pero sa bawat hakbang ko ay ramdam kong parang hindi naman ako umuusad. Parang sa ginawa kong pagpupumilit makalapit sa kaniya ay mas lalo siyang lumalayo.

That's when I started panicking. "Hey! Wait, Jennie!" I stretch my hand while trying my best to reach her, but I failed.

"Be careful... Lj," her voice reverberated despite the fact that this place has no walls. Umalingawngaw ang bawat salitang sinabi niya hanggang sa nalaman ko na lang hinihigop na pala siya ng kadiliman palayo sa akin.

"Jennie!" I screamed her name on top of my lungs before I felt that something is forcefully dragging my body towards somewhere. "Noooo!!!"