Silent Phrase (Farwell Horizon University)

Chapter 27

Fuchsia Rainell Quivedo

"Run."

"Why are you running?"

"I don't know. I just have to get away."

"Away from what?"

"I don't know. Everything, I think?"

"No, you cant."

"I told you, I just need to get away."

"Away from what? From me?"

"No, not from you. From... from myself, I guess."

"Ah, yourself. Yes, that's a good one. You should be afraid of yourself. You don't know what you're capable of."

"Who are you? Kilala ba kita?"

"Don't play dumb, you know exactly who I am. I know all about your little secrets. I know what you did."

"Stop it. Just stop it."

"Stop what? Stop telling the truth? You can't handle the truth? You're too weak, too fragile. Do you want to hear the truth? I guess you're not ready."

"Tell me. What is the truth then?"

"You'd be surprised what you can do with that little hands of yours. You're a horrible person, you know what you did."

"No, I don't! Can't you just tell me?!"

"It's for you to find out. After all, I'm just your consciousness, it was not me. It was you who did it."

"You did it!"

"You did it!"

"You did it!"

"You did it!"

Habol-hininga akong nagmulat ng mga mata. I'm blankly staring at the ceiling without any thoughts on my mind. I'm wide awake but my soul is nowhere to be found. Ang tanging bagay na nakapukaw sa aking atensyon ay ang ingay sa labas. Madilim pa. Dahan-dahan akong umupo sa higaan at tinanaw ang bintana sa kabilang bahagi ng pader, ilang metro ang layo sa akin.

It's raining.

Nagsisimula na namang magpakita ang takot na iniiwasan ko. Hindi ko alam na babagyo ngayon. It was accompanied by lightning that flashes an eerie glow on the walls of my room. The sound of thunder rumbles in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment.

I hugged myself, lumalamig kasi kahit anong kumot ang gamitin ko. Sa bintana pa rin ako nakatitig. Made of glass rin kasi ito kaya natatanaw ko ang itsura sa labas. The wind starts to howl, causing the trees outside to creak and sway. I try to distract myself by thinking of happy memories, but they're quickly overshadowed by the ominous feeling that's settling in. Also, it's not that easy to think of happy memories because I'm full of despair.

Mga kaibigan ko na lang at iilang tao ang bumubuhay sa akin.

Mas lalong rumaragasa ang kabog ng dibdib ko. I try to take deep breaths to calm myself down, but my heart is racing like a wild animal. I'm trapped in this storm with no escape in sight. The only thing I can do is wait for it to pass and hope that I'll overcome this through.

"You're still afraid of rain?" Nabalik ako sa wisyo at napatingin sa pintuan. Professor Henderson was standing there, holding a glass of wine and wearing her brown silk nightgown. She looked elegant and sophisticated, even in her casual clothes.

Yakap ko pa rin ang sarili. Kumukulog kasi.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito, Ma'am?" Tanong ko. Nakahalukipkip lang siya doon bago inumin ang nasa baso.