Symphonic Waves (Ciudad de Escalante #6)

Phase 25

"No, this can't happen... again," I cried after cleaning my nose. For a week, I lost count of how many times my nose bled after doing an ample amount of work.

Ngayon, nasa university ako at umaasang wala munang pumasok sa loob ng banyo habang humahagulgol ako sa takot at pangamba. Hindi ko alam kung itutuloy ko pa rin ba ang competition. But it is already the last day. I fought too hard to get at this point. I can't give it up now.

"Breathe, Ceres. It will not happen again," I tried to comfort myself, and not to think what I've been through.

But I'm failing!

Anxiety is slowly drowning me whole.

Leukemia, that relentless adversary I thought I had conquered, will not threaten to reclaim its hold on my fragile existence for the third time, right? But I can't ignore the symptoms I'm struggling with. I've been here before. I know these signs very well.

Every ache becomes a coded message, a puzzle I desperately try to solve for days. And I extremely fear the answer it may reveal. Each throb in my head, each crimson droplet I'm experiencing lately, it's not a normal thing for me. It serves as a cruel reminder of a past I fought so hard to escape.

"Hush, Ceres. Everything will be fine..." I whispered and closed my eyes to pray silently. This is all I can do. This is the best solution to stop whatever I'm feeling right now. I need to focus on the Bio-Quest.

God, help me go through this all.

Nang matapos magdasal, dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mata at tinitigan ang sarili sa salamin. Then, I stared at my body. I traced the scars on my skin, each one a testament to resilience. I inhaled deeply. You're courageous, Ceres. Remember, that.

You won't suffer again, I'll make sure of it.

"Nervous?" Someone asked playfully.

Agad tumalim ang tingin ko nang makita ang repleksyon ni Sylvan sa bintana. I didn't know he's sitting beside me. I'm too occupied of the possibility that I'm relapsing from my cancer, so I didn't notice his presence. Nasa school bus pala kami ngayon at patungong lahat sa arena kung saan gaganapin ang Bio-Quest.

"Stop bothering me, Sylvan," I said firmly and kept looking outside the window. I don't have time in any of his games or teasings. I don't think I can even entertain a conversation right now.

"Congrats. I heard you aced a lot of competitions," sabi niya at inignora ko lamang iyon. "But sadly, not the Bio-Quest, Cerestine. I'll make sure I'll win, no matter what it takes," he added which got my attention a bit.

Natatawa akong humarap sa kanya.

"You're really desperate, aren't you?" I mocked.

Sylvanus grinned. "Desperate? Just a little."

I shook my head at his reply. A little, tsk. But, I can't blame him for being desperate though. Aside from the cash prize, malaki talaga ang incentives at exposure na makukuha kapag naipanalo ang Bio-Quest. Ang alam ko, ito lang ang contest na sinalihan niya. His confidence is really out of this world. He's so sure that he'll win.

"Wanna sleep? My shoulder is free," Sylvan offered when I closed my eyes.

"No thanks," sabi ko at sasandal na sana sa bintana nang hawakan niya ang ulo ko. My eyebrows furrowed when he stopped my head from leaning against the window.

"Mauuntog ka kung papatong mo riyan," he whispered, and put something on my head, so I can use it as my pillow. Agad kong nilayo ang ulo ko para tingnan kung ano ang nilagay niya. It was a soft navy blue hoodie which has an addictive scent like him.