Traversing with the Infinity (Sun Rays #1)

Chapter 33

Trigger Warning: abduction, depression, and violence. Read at your own risk.

Chapter 33

I never thought I would face another dreadful moment like this. I refused to believe it. It was too painful, too gut-wrenching.

My heart was drowning in fear and worry, as if the very thing I had feared the most had wrapped itself around me, suffocating me, making my hands shake and my body sweat even more. My mind was a storm, too chaotic, and impossible to calm.

Bakit ganito pa? Bakit si Lolo Kenzy pa? Bakit kami pa ang napagdiskitahan? Why did it have to be us?

I started questioning everything. Every reason, every purpose, every cruel twist of fate.

Why does this have to happen?

Why must I face the possibility of losing someone I love?

Why is the world so merciless?

Hindi naman ako nagkulang, hindi kami nagkulang. Please. . . not my Lolo Kenzy. Not him too.

In my mind, I was pleading, begging the heavens to spare him, to let him be okay.

"Si Lolo Kenzy. . . P-pupuntahan ko siya sa ospital. . ."

Paulit-ulit akong nagsusumamo na sana ay maging okay at maka-survive si Lolo Kenzy. Isinakay ako ng iba naming kapitbahay sa pampasaherong tricycle nila para makarating agad sa ospital sa Centro, kasama ko si Lola Rosana. Kahit siya ay hindi maalis ang takot at kaba.

I still couldn't stop crying as I clung tightly to Lola Rosana. Our hands were clasped together, as if trying to soothe each other, but neither of us wanted to calm down.

Nanlalabo man ang paningin ko, hindi man maayos ang paghinga ko sa kaba, kumikirot man ang dibdib ko sa pag-aalala, dire-diretso akong bumaba mula sa tricycle nang makarating sa ospital na tila ba wala nang mas mahalaga ngayon kundi ang kapakanan lang ni Lolo Kenzy.

I felt like the weight of every cruel word was sinking into my mind, swallowing me whole until I could barely recognize myself. The fear clawed at my chest. . . and I was terrified I would not be able to hold myself together. Cold sweat dripped down my skin as I ran, my vision blurring with my unstable breathing.

"Papa. . . Papa!" My voice trembled, breaking under the pressure of the sobs I was trying to hold back. But I was already here, seconds away from falling apart.

He was sitting in a row of chairs, tears streaming down his face. Tita Racquel was next to him, her hand gently rubbing Papa's back but it wasn't enough to calm him down. My eyes were drawn to the blood spots staining his clothes, and I knew all along that something gone horribly wrong. Mas lalong sumikip ang aking dibdib at hindi ko nakayanan ang nakikita ko.

There was blood on his clothes. He must have gotten it while he was with Lolo Kenzy on their way here. The thought sent a chill through me, wrapping around me like a creeping horror I couldn't escape. Lolo Kenzy was probably hurt. . . but why?

Why did he have to go through that?

Why did any of this have to happen?

"Anong nangyari?! B-bakit nila ginawa 'yon?! S-si Lolo Kenzy. . . Si Lolo Kenzy. . ." My body weakened quickly as my voice faltered. Tears streamed down my face, drowning out my words. Nag-unahan lang ang mga luha ko. My cries covered my words I couldn't talk properly.

Nalaman namin sa mga pulisya na kagagawan nga talaga iyon ng pamilyang Tuazon, kung saan nanggaling si Mama.

Bakit nila kailangang gawin 'yon? Ano ang nagawa ni Lolo Kenzy sa kanila?