Aligning the Stars (GXG)

XX - Burden

Astrea

Hanggang ngayon ay pilit kong pinoproseso ang mga nangyayari. It feels like I'm stuck. As if my feet was glued on the ground, and my body does not know what to do.

"Aster.." Ms. Elise asks, her eyes looking confused, "D-do you have something going on with my sister?"

That's what snapped me back into reality.

Of what's going on.

"No.." I trailed off, shaking my head; not knowing what to say anymore. She just stood there, confused and not an inch of relief was plastered on her face.

I skimmed through my pocket to reach my car keys, finally having the initiative to go after Vida. "I have to go, susundan ko lang si Vida, Ms. Elise."

She left while she's intoxicated, with unsteady steps and slurred movements. And that's when worry gnawed at me, she shouldn't be left alone in that state.

"I-I'll come with you."

"I'm sorry," I exhaled softly, "But Vida isn't in the right state of mind.. and seeing you now might not help her. But I'll update you once I'm there, Ms. Elise."

Alam ko na nasaktan siya sa sinabi ko, the thought that her sister might be in trouble but she can't do anything dahil ayaw naman siyang makita ni Vida and seeing her might make it even worse.

"O-okay.." She said softly, trying to hide the hurt in her voice. "P-please.. sabihan mo ako kaagad kapag nakita mo na siya."

I nodded, " I'll make sure that she's safe and sound."

Matapos ng pag-uusap namin ay dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa parking lot para sumakay sa sasakyan ko.

Where the hell is Vida going?

Ang bilis kasi ng pangyayari. Everything was unexpected tonight, from confronting Khione– to her knowing my feelings for Ms. Elise, to overstepping again, to seeing Vida drunk and tried to kiss me and Ms. Elise seeing the two of us.

It's just too much.

But what's more important at this moment is making sure that Vida is safe. I care for her.. but just as a friend. Nothing more than that.

Pilit ko siyang tinatawagan pero lagi din niya itong binababa.

And then I remembered that I can still try to track her location. She made me download this life 360 app, nung pinuntahan ko siya sa bar.

I can still track her. Thank God.

I plugged my phone to the stereo, as I figured out where she is— nakasakay siya ng taxi.. and it's not going to the route where her condo is.

Mas binilisan ko ang pagmamaneho, trying to catch up on the taxi, hanggang sa nakita ko na ito. My heart was already pounding when I saw that the taxi was also speeding up.

And suddenly.. the memories of the accident flooded back, my hands trembling on the steering wheel. The sound of screeching tires, the smell of burning rubber, and the sight of twisted metal haunted me. I could almost hear my parents' last words.

But I couldn't let that paralyze me now.

Vida needs me, I reminded myself, gripping the wheel tighter. I forced myself to focus on the road, on the taxi ahead.

Her safety might be at stake here. I took a deep breath, pushing the fear aside, and accelerated even more. The city lights blurred past as I closed the distance between us.

My heart raced as I caught up to the taxi. I swerved in front of it, blocking its path before it could veer onto another route. The tires screeched to a halt, and I jumped out of my car, running to the taxi's back door.