I found myself standing in a wide field, the azure sky and the rustling of trees looked so unreal. Kids were giggling behind me, which made me turn my head toward them.
They were playing. They looked so happy.
Napakunot-noo ako nang mamukhaan ang isang batang naglalaro roon.
It looks like... me.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from the left corner, making me curse in frustration. What just happened left me speechless. Blood started to fill the entire vehicle. Everything was a mess!
I tried to help them, but I couldn't even move.
"H-Help... someone help them!" I tried to shout, but no one dared to listen.
Moments later, a woman held the kids' hands. She tried to separate them. They were holding on to each other, crying and begging not to. But they ended up... walking apart.
Napaluhod ako at kusang nakaramdam ng kirot sa puso na parang... ako mismo ang nandoon.
What's happening?
Why am I crying?
Why is everything gone? Where are they? It's getting darker and darker.
Help.
I need help!
"HMM!!"
I suddenly woke up in a dark place. My hands were cuffed, and my face was covered with cloth.
"HMM!" I tried to shout, but I couldn't. Even my mouth was covered.
I have no idea why I'm here, but I'm sure I'm inside a cabinet.
Pilit kong kinakalas ang nakatali sa mga braso ko, pero mas humihigpit lamang ito. Pati ang dalawa kong paa ay nakatali.
I don't think I can escape just by trying to loosen the ties on my hands. I need to do something.
I tried to bump my body against the door in front of me. Nothing happened. But when I did it again, stronger than the first, I cursed under my breath when suddenly the cabinet fell down and so did I!
Fuck!
Oh God... My head hit something! It fucking hurts!
Kahit nakatakip ang buong mukha ko, naramdaman ko ang pagkahilo dahil sa pagkatama ng ulo ko sa kung anong matigas na tumama roon.
Kagigising ko lang mula sa pagkahimatay at ngayon mahihilo ulit ako?! No fucking way!
I need to escape!
Sinipa ko ang cabinet sa buong kaya ko. Masakit man sa paa ang pagsipa, desperada na ako. I used everything I could just to open this shitty rectangular box. But suddenly, I felt numbness in every part of my body.
Argh! Bakit ba 'to nangyayari sa akin lahat?!
Nanatili ang sakit sa aking ulo dahil sa pagkatama nito. Nahihirapan din akong huminga dahil sa liit ng espasyo at nakatakip pa ang mukha ko.
I tried to calm down, trying to process everything that it will be okay... that someone will save me from this shit.
But I'm not sure this time...
The person who was there when I needed someone is being accused of being a traitor. Maybe this is my karma for accusing Felix.
Suddenly, my tears started to gather around my eyes.
I am scared, tired, and mad. A flood of emotions echoed through my system and now I ended up crying.
Because maybe... that's the only thing I can do in this cruel world.
That maybe, no matter how hard I try to stop all of this and escape from here... I will always end up crying. Because I know no one will save me this time, and this might be the reason for my grave.
But "around the hollow, there's a tiny light." I wanted to keep that in my mind, to have the hope to live and to survive.
A tiny light around the hollow... where are you?
Funny. Hoping for something, just like waiting for luck, is definitely funny.
I think... this is the end.
"AZALEA!"
Napamulat ako nang may sumigaw sa aking pangalan. Pamilyar, at nakilala ko kaagad kung sino iyon.
"F-Felix? Felix!"
Gamit ang buong lakas ko, ay sinipa-sipa ko ang paanan ng cabinet na dahilan ng paggawa ng tunog upang makuha ang atensyon ni Felix.
Akala ko nananaginip lamang ako sa boses ni Felix, pero hindi. Naririnig ko pabalik-balik ang sigaw niya.
"AZALEA!"
Kusang humagulgol ako ng iyak nang marinig ko ang boses niyang palapit. Tila bumuhos lahat ng luha nang makalapit na nga siya.
"Calm down, okay? Tinatanggal ko pa ang kadena. Huminga ka ng malalim... don't panic, okay?"
Gusto kong pigilan ang pag-iyak ko, pero patuloy lamang ito.
Nang matanggal niya ang kadena at mabuksan na niya iyon, kaagad niyang kinalas ang tali sa aking mga paa at kamay. Sunod ay tinanggal niya ang takip sa aking mukha. Nasilaw pa ako ng kaunti dahil sa liwanag ng paligid.
Nang mahagilap ko ang pagmumukha ni Felix, wala na akong pag-aalinlangang niyakap siya.
Kusang bumuhos ulit ang mga luha ko nang maramdaman ko ang pagyakap niya pabalik.
Hindi ako nananaginip. Totoong nasa tabi ko si Felix at niligtas niya ako.
I knew this would happen. I knew that in the midst of the hollow, he was the light. He was there to save me.
Naramdaman ko ang pagbuhat niya sa akin hanggang sa lumulutang na ang aking mga paa sa sahig. Nakayakap lamang ako sa kaniya at ayokong bumitaw.
"Felix..."
"I'm sorry, I was late."
Umiling ako nang sabihin niya iyon.
No, he was never late to save me. Because he was always there to save me.
"No, you have nothing to be sorry for... thank you, Felix... thank you."
Mas hinigpitan ko ang yakap ko sa kaniya hanggang sa kusang napagod ang buong sistema ko at nawalan ako ng malay sa mga bisig niya.
YOU ARE READING
That Playgirl's Karma
Mystery / ThrillerShe played with hearts like toys until karma played back. Azalea Louise Gutierrez, known as the campus playgirl, never expected her charm would lead her into chaos. After breaking up with Ryle Santiago, her ex becomes the victim of a shocking campus...
