There, Somewhere

Chapter IV

"Akala ko ba kaya mo?"

"I can."

"Ba't 'di mo pa ginagawa?"

Natahimik ako, hindi sigurado sa isasagot. All the things that I need to dress my scrapes are in front of me right now. I should begin it really, but the problem was my fear.

Nasa sala kami ng bahay nila, and like what he said there was no one inside, maliban nalang sa driver niyang nasa labas na may inaayos sa isa sa mga sasakyang nakahilera sa garahe ng bahay nila.

I cleared my throat when he remained looking at me, expectant. I took a lungful of air before exhaling it out slowly and reached for the alcohol and gauze. My hands started to tremble but I fought it and slowly opened the alcohol when someone called my name.

"Ma'am Ferry?!" I looked at her, dumbfounded. Not expecting for a presence of a familiar person inside.

"Ate Chel?" I said with equal surprise she displayed. Her eyes were wide, her jaw dropped. Agaran niyang ibinaba ang meryendang dala niya sa mesa at dali dali akong hinagkan, ignoring the guy in front of me.

Ang mga tanong na mabilis na umusbong sa isip kanina'y mabilis ding naglaho nang maramdaman ang init ng yakap niya. The questions slipped off my tongue when I felt her caress my head, the gentlest way, similar to what I remembered. My anxiety gradually subsided.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong niya sa akin bago niya ako pinakawalan, still oblivious of what I was holding and my injuries. I merely smiled, fighting the urge again to cry.

I missed her, too. I suddenly wanted to tell her what happened earlier, gusto kong biglang magsumbong. Like before. Pero alam kong wala ako sa posisyon at wala rin kami sa tamang lugar.

"Na'ko! Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay nagtanong siyang muli. She held my arm and looked at my elbow, and then she examined my knees. I was wearing a ripped baggy jeans therefore, my knees weren't spared of the accident.

"Wala lang 'to Ate Chel." I said before glancing at the man who looked utterly perplexed of what was happening. His brows were in a deep furrow, his eyes in deep question while it traveled to Ate Chel and me.

Nagkatinginan kami nang ilang sandali bago siya tumikhim. Pero hindi iyon pinansin ni Ate Chel at lumuhod na siya sa harap ko, eager to attend to my injury.

"Na'ko, may dugo. Napano ka ba, Ferry?" She asked me again, concern plastered on her face.

"Nadulas lang—

"Nasagasaan ko siya."

"Ano?" mahinahon niyang tanong, halatang hindi narinig ang kung anong lumabas sa amin ng amo niya.

"Nasagasaan ko—

He didn't even finish his sentence when Ate Chel went berserk. I sighed

"Ano?! Diyos ko. Totoo ba Xian? Ferry?" I blinked at her outburst. Nagpalitan kami ng tingin ni Xian, parehong gulat. I wasn't able to talk. I saw him straighten before answering.

"Opo, Ate Richelle." he guiltily replied. Maging siya ay tila kinalimutan na rin ang mga tanong niya pansamantala.

"Pagagalitan ka ng Mama mo rito, anak. Bakit hindi kayo nag-iingat. Xian?" Sabi niyang muli, medyo galit na. Tumingin naman sa akin si Xian, tila biglang nabahala sa sinabi ni Ate Chel.

"Sorry po." He solemnly said.

"Diyos ko! Maha-highblood yata ako sa inyong dalawa." she vigorously rose up and situated her hands on her hips. I pursed my lips at sandaling pinasadahan ng tingin ang bagong alaga ni Ate Chel. Nakayuko siya at tila takot na mapagalitan.