She, Who Came Back (GirlxGirl)

XI: Tirare

Eve didn't speak again hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay nila Jason at Ella.

Hindi muna ako lumabas sa kotse niya, pinagmasdan ko lang siya until my mind wonders off to the scene at the school hallway where she tried to protect me with tears in her eyes.

Seeing Eve like that hurts me.

"You cried," panimula ko, "when the vengeful ghost was about to hit me. Why?" Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang gusto ko marinig sa kanya. Part of me is telling to let it go, na ginagawa ko lang itong big deal kahit wala namang meaning.

"Pagod na 'ko. Pwede sa susunod nalang natin yan pag-usapan?"

I nodded. I don't want to take things too far and stress Eve even farther.

"Good night, Eve." I took off my seatbelt at bumaba na. Hinintay niya muna na makapasok ako sa loob ng bahay bago pinaandar uli ang kotse. I watched from the window as her vehicle turned right and disappeared from my sight.

Mabigat ang loob na napahiga ako sa sopa. Tonight was a roller coaster of emotions. I was feeling all happy and giddy and then there's now - sadness. Napahawak ako sa pisnge ko na hinalikan ni Eve kanina. She kissed me. Why? Nacutan ba siya sa akin? Bugso ng damdamin? Wait, she couldn't have gotten a crush on Kila, right? No way! Hindi pwede!

"Ginagawa mo?"

Napabangon ako sa sopa nang lumitaw si Ella na humahangos at may mga galos sa katawan.

"Ayos ka lang?" umayos ako ng upo. Siya naman pabagsak na umupo sa kabilang sopa, napatihaya at ipinikit ang mga mata.

"Bitag lang pala yun," aniya.

It took me seconds to fully understand her, "What happened? Asan si Jason?"

"Plano lang nila ang lahat. Nagpadakip ang isa para ihulog kami sa bitag," she groaned in frustration. "Malala ang sugat ni Jason kaya bumalik na muna siya sa alam mo na para magamot."

I huffed in disbelief. "So those vengeful ghosts are wiser and more intelligent. Muhkang mahihirapan kayo. Do you want my help?" The last part even surprise myself.

Napamulat siya, "Akala ko ba takot ka sa multo?"

"I still am," I shrugged. "Pero ewan. Gusto ko tumulong. Gusto ko rin ako mismo ang huhuli sa lalaking 'yon." Napahawak ako sa leeg ko. I can still remember the feel of his cold hand wrapping around my skin. Its making me even more mad the longer I think about that morning.

"Sige, sasabihin ko kay Jason."

"Okay ka lang ba talaga?"

"Wala lang 'to." Ella stood up. "May gusto nga palang makipag kita sayo."

"The who?"

"Bukas na."

"Atleast tell me their name."

"Bukas na." Mabilis na umakyat si Ella sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay at naiwan ako mag-isa sa ibaba na hinuhulaan ang misteryosong tao na gusto ako makita. Who could it be lalo na Ella can't even meet my eyes.

Kinabukasan ng tanghali, Ella and I parked near a river. May cabin dito at halos walang mga bahay kaming nadadaanan. It was a quiet place na ang mga ibon lang ang ma-iingay.

I followed Ella towards a table made of wood. May babaeng nakaupo doon, her back on us kaya hindi ko malaman kung sino. But my breath instantly hitches the moment I finally caught a glimpse of the woman's face.

I glared at Ella. I can't believe plinano niya 'to!

"I'm leaving," I gritted through my teeth.

"Elaine wait!" Now it was the woman coming after me. Mas binilisan ko pa ang paglalakad.