Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22
pain

Puno ng bahid ng dugo ang puting damit na suot ko. Nakaupo ako sa labas ng emergency room, katabi si Satari. Claire was getting reprimanded by a Hiñago na ngayon ko lang masyadong nakita ang mukha. Lau was standing beside her, as if she was scolded too.

"How can you think so rashly, Claire?"

Dumagundong ang boses ng sundalong si Cadmael Hiñago sa hall ng ER. Mabuti na lang at malalim na ang gabi at wala nang nakakarinig kung hindi ang mga nurses at doctor na nagra-rounds. Claire looked down, she looked rigid with the blood sprinkled across her dress, making her look like she came from a war.

"Ikaw rin Lau!"

Lau was the same. She was wiping the blood in her hands while getting reprimanded by the Hiñago who emits the character of a lion.

"Cadmael ni hindi na nga ako nakasali sa party dahil sinundan ko yung mga yon. I attempted to stop them by myself even though I knew that I was outnumbered. Bumalik ako sa Casa para i-imporma pa ang ibang guwardiya at maghanda na bantayan ang daungan. I went there by myself ahead kahit alam niya na baka mauna sila kapag hinintay ko pa kayo."

"The last thing you could've just done is to prevent any shootout from happening until I reach the area. Why didn't you follow my orders?"

"Natutukan na si Rahim ng baril, Cadmael! What do you expect me to do? Sit still and hope when I can do something to protect my friends?"

"Kung ako rin naman ang nasa sitwasyon ay gagawin ko rin naman iyon, Cadmael," sabi ni Lau sa mahinahong paraan. "If we didn't fight, we could be dead by now."

Some of the Hiñagos are waiting outside the ER too. Nakaupo sa bleachers sa gilid si Anton. Rheese was leaning against the wall and Daniel sat on the floor, tired. Ligtas ang kapatid ko at nasa ibang kwarto siya inaayos ng doktor dahil nadaplisan rin ng bala. Kasama niya si Jang.

Magkatabi kami ni Satari. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mag-alala dahil kanina pa hindi makaimik, nakatingin lang siya sa kawalan, at biglang iiyak matapos ng ilang minuto. I made her lean on my shoulder as a way to console her at dahil doon ay mas lalo lang ata siyang naiyak.

I can't help but to rise and look inside the window of the emergency room. Naninikip ang dibdib ko habang pinapanood na ginagawa ng doctor and lahat para kay Deo.

It's all because of my decisions...

It's all because I didn't distance myself from him.

No one is to blame but me...

Lau came to my side and wiped my tears. She made me lean on her shoulders.

"No one is to blame but the one who pulled the trigger. Always remember that." she kneeled in front of me. "I'm sorry..."

I struggled to talk with her just to keep my mind occupied.

Later on, Don Hiñago, accompanied by their men came rushing and immediately, the Don peeked into the emergency room's window.

"Mahabaging Diyos..." mahinang usal nito at pumikit ng mariin habang tila nagdadasal.

Pagkatapos ay nilingon niya si Claire. "Anong nangyari, hija?"

Claire kneeled weakly. "Pasensya na po..." that was when Claire's eyes started to form their own tears as if ashamed of what happened.

Lau also bowed guiltily. Halos malagutan ako ng hininga ng lumuhod siya sa harap ng Don.

"You two did what you could do best. Thank you for that but don't kneel. Hindi niyo kasalanan, mabuti na nga lang at hindi kayo napahamak." He lifted Lau. He sighed and looked to the ceiling while his hand were on his waist. "Pinaghandaan na natin ito. Hindi lang natin alam kung kailan ulit mangyayari."