Wild Beat [BxB] |ON-GOING|

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

I sped up my motorcycle. My hand was getting cold as I tightened my grip on the handle bar, and my heart beat fast thinking about what happened to Ace. 

Upon arrival, I was greeted by sympathetic nurses, but I barely registered their presence.

“Which room is my best friend who was brought here yesterday with me? Where's Ace?” I demanded, my voice tinged with desperation as I navigated the maze of corridors.

Their silence only fueled my sense of dread. Approaching the information desk, I provided Ace's full name, my heart pounding in my chest. The attendant hesitated, exchanging a hesitant glance with a colleague before finally speaking.

“Um, we're sorry to say, but— hindi na niya kinaya pa, masyadong maraming dugo ang nawala sa kanya,” a doctor murmured softly, his words piercing through me like shards of glass.

Shock washed over me as I sank to the floor, unable to comprehend the reality of what I had just been told.

“They're lying. Alam kong buhay pa si Ace,” I whispered to myself, clinging desperately to the hope that this was all just a terrible mistake. 

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakasalampak sa sahig, a few people started looking at me, but I just ignored them, stupidly staring into nothingness while thinking that my friend was still alive.

“Jix, anak—umuwi na tayo.” My mom suddenly hugged me as they arrived.

“Buhay pa si Ace, right?” My voice was unrecognizable, asking my mother.

“Jix, please, you need to rest. Umuwi na tayo,” my mom begged as she helped me stand up. Sa kabilang gilid ko naman ay ang tatay ko na inaalalayan rin akong tumayo.

Mabilis akong naglakad palabas ng hospital, “Jix, where are you going?!” My mom shouted as she asked me, but I didn't respond. Mabilis kong pinatakbo ang motor ko patungo sa bahay nila Ace.

When I arrived at Ace's house, their large gate was closed, giving the impression of an empty home. I peered through the gate, trying to discern any signs of activity. Pero walang bakas na kung may tao sa loob ng bahay.

“May hinahanap kaba, iho?” A familiar voice startled me. It was the elderly woman I had helped before, pulling her cart. I glanced around, wondering how she managed to get inside. 

This subdivision was known for its tight security. Paanong nakapasok siya dito? Maski ako ay nahihirapan ring makapasok mabuti nalang ay kilala ko ang isa sa mga bantay kanina.

Brushing the thought aside, I replied
“I'm looking for my friend.” I said, looking back and forth to the gate. She nodded knowingly and pushed her cart along.

“Makikita mo rin ang kaibigan mo, iho,” she said cryptically before leaving. I furrowed my brows because of what she said, and when she left, I headed towards the neighboring house, where I spotted a guard.

“Alam niyo ba kung nasaan ang nakatira diyan?” I pointed to Ace's home. The guard looked at me before answering.

“Ah, diyan ba? Kakaalis lang nila kahapon, doon na daw sa ibang bansa yata titira, hindi yata kinaya ng magulang ang pagkawala ng anak nilang si Ace.” His words hit me like a ton of bricks, sending my heart into a frenzy. I struggled to find words, my chest tightening at the news.

Unable to speak, I simply nodded and left, feeling a wave of disbelief and sorrow crash over me. Wala na talaga si Ace, tulala akong nagtungo sa motor ko habang hindi pa rin ma-proseso sa utak ko ang mga nangyari. 

As I arrived home, the news I heard weighed heavily on my mind. My parents greeted me with worried looks on their faces. I sat on the sofa and stared blankly ahead.

“Your things are packed, sumama kana sa amin, mas mapapabuti kung doon kana muna,” my mother said, holding my hand. I looked at her, feeling a mix of frustration and defiance.

“No, I don't want to leave. You go if you want to. Just leave me alone,” I replied, standing up and heading to my room.

Narinig kong tinawag ako ng tatay ko, pero hindi ko sila pinakinggan at sinarado na ang pinto ng kwarto ko.

I knew their flight back to another country was scheduled for today. They couldn't postpone it due to business matters. Alam kong importante sa kanila ang negosyo. I collapsed on my bed, stretching out my arms and legs, staring at the ceiling.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin maisip, I was still thinking that all this wasn't true. Alam kong hindi ‘to totoo, I still didn't know how to react to what had happened. That night I saw him, if only he hadn't taken the bullet, he wouldn't have been gone, na dapat sa‘kin dapat ‘yon. What if I hadn't followed them? Would things still be the same? Frustration boiled within me, and I grabbed at my hair, screaming into the silence.

Several hours passed before I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I remained silent as it opened.

“Jix,”my mom called out as I felt her presence on my bed.

“Your dad and I are leaving.” She lingered, and I stayed turned away from her.

“Don't you want to come?” she asked, her hand resting on my shoulder and caressing my back.

“No,” I replied, heading towards the door.

“Just go, so I can lock the main door,” I said, standing up as I reached for the handle. She took a deep breath before standing up, and we were used to this routine of them leaving.

As I walked out of my room, I saw their belongings in the living room. If I hadn't had an accident, they wouldn't be here either. 

Typical. My mom hugged me and held my cheeks.

“Call if you need anything,” she said, but I just looked at her in silence. My dad patted her back as a sign of letting go, and I watched them leave expressionlessly.

Nasanay na siguro akong ganito palagi ang routine namin since I was a kid, iniiwan lang nila ako sa tagapag-alaga ko at aalis sila na para bang wala silang anak. After they were gone, I quickly closed the door and returned to my room to sleep.

After a nap, I woke up to the growling of my stomach. I immediately checked my phone on the bedside table—it was already eight in the evening, and there was a message notification. Someone had transferred money to my bank account, along with a text from my dad. I set my phone back down and rubbed my face before getting up, too lonely yet peaceful. 

After washing my face in the bathroom, I stepped out of my room, flicking on the lights as it was too dark. The house was eerily quiet, so I returned to my room to grab my phone. I quickly connected my phone to the speaker and turned up the volume before starting to cook.

There were plenty of groceries in the pantry, and even the fridge was stocked. A few items were also laid out on the table. I ate and then went back to sleep, knowing I had to go to school the next day.

I needed to act normal, even though it tore me into pieces. Hanggang ngayon ay pinapaniwalaan ko pa rin na hindi totoo ang mga nangyari kahit sampal na sa mukha ko ang mga nalaman ko, it's just that my brain can't process what's really happened, because in just a snap, Ace is already gone. 

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