Querencia (Midnight #1)

Chapter 30

Thirty
ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈✧༺♥༻∞

Nanatili nakahiga habang nakatitig sa kisame.

It's been three days since it happened. A few days may have passed but I could still feel the guy's touch against my skin. . . how I begged him to stop touching me and just let me go home. . . how it left a scar not only a memory but all over me.

Ilang araw man ang lumipas ngunit ito pa rin ako hindi naniniwalang nakauwi na ako.

I developed a trauma after what happened. Sa tuwing nagugulat ako, pakiramdam ko nand'yan na naman ang lalaking nambaboy sa akin kay nagsisimula na naman ako humikbi at sumigaw-sigaw. . . ilang beses kong sinubukang saktan ang sarili ko, ilang beses muntik ko na namang gawin 'yung ginawa ko noon.

If only Ate Hera wasn't here.

I don't know what happened to me anymore.

Appreciating her because after she learned everything that happened to me. . . without thinking twice, she got herself home, siya ang nag-alaga sa akin, siya ang um-encounter lahat ng pag-iyak at paulit-ulit kong sigaw na gusto ko na umuwi noong unang araw.

Day by day, I can say I am doing better.

"Ayoko pang bumalik sa Manila. Kaya ko namang humabol, Kuya. Kailangan ako ngayon ng kapatid ko," Ate Hera said.

Today is Sunday, this is the day she needs to go where her life's starting to evolve now. Friday 'yon ng umuwi siya, nanginginig at takot din katulad ko. She was crying that day while hugging me. . . paulit-ulit niyang sinabi iyon, paulit-ulit ko ring naramdamang ligtas na ako. . . but that day, whenever I'm alone, I'll start crying, scared that he might find, scared that he might do it again.

I hugged Ate Hera from behind. Gusto ko na siyang bumalik sa Manila dahil nando'n na ang buhay niya. I'll force myself to do better every day so that I'll be able to survive. . . I shut my eyes to suppress my tears from coming out.

"Uwi ka na ro'n. . . I can handle myself now, thank you for staying." I said, still hugging her.

Kita ko ang pagtango ni Kuya Hunter sa gilid niya ngiti naman ang ginawad ni Kuya Harlow sa kanya, bitbit na ang mga gamit niya.

"Let's go, Hera."

"Kuya, hindi nga p'wede!" Nagsimula nang tumaas ang boses niya kaya lalong humigpit ang yakap ko sa dalaga.

"Hera, you must go now. You still have classes tomorrow-"

"Putanginang mga klase 'yan! Kailangan ako ng kapatid ko. Na-trauma 'yung kapatid ko, paanong iiwan ko 'to?" She cuts Kuya Harlow off.

"Hera, kami na ang bahala sa kanya. . . halika na," Kuya Hunter insisted.

"Kaming bahala. . . Kuya, I was the one who witnessed how traumatized she was. . . kung paanong mismong kayong mga kapatid niya ay kinakatakutan niya rin lapitan o makita dahil natatakot siya na baka. . . balikan siya ng nambaboy sa kanya. So, tell me. . . how am I. . . how am I supposed to go knowing my sister isn't better yet. . . she fucking developed a trauma." She cried.

Ang kwarto ko ay napuno ng hikbi naming dalawa ni Ate Hera, hindi ko alam paanong napakalma kami ng dalawa naming lalaking kapatid basta't natagpuan na lang naming dalawa ang sarili namin ni Ate Hera na magkayakap sa kama ko, kasama ang dalawang lalaki na nasa dulo ng kama ko.

It's hard to think that I didn't even hear the concern in Mom and Dad's voice when they found out what happened to me, none of them came home after what happened to me, only my siblings and friends were really with me. At first, I was disappointed and hurt but. . . what's new, right?