Protecting What's Hers

𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Katherine Evans

"How's Sidney?" Tanong ko kay Chastity sa kabilang linya.

Tatlong araw nang naka - confine sa hospital ang pinsan ko at kasalukuyang binabantayan siya ng mga magulang nito. Andoon din ngayon si Chastity.

"She's okay, I guess. She'll be discharge on Sunday."

I nod my head in relief.

"That's good to hear. I'll try if I can come visit tomorrow. Just send my regards kina tita."

"I will. How about Felicity?" Napatingin ako sa second floor kong saan tanaw ko ang pinto ng kwarto kong nakabukas ng bahagya.

Felicity's been feeling down lately, and that's valid.

Hindi ko masukat kong gaano kasakit ang niraramdam ng babae. The feeling of betrayal, losing a friend and those scenes that I know was stuck on the back of her mind will probably form a trauma that I know will haunt her forever.

"She's already asleep. She has been through a lot, Cha. And I don't know how to ease her pain."

"Just let her mourn, okay? And be there for her, be her emotional support."

I nod my head na para bang nakikita ako ng pinsan ko ngayon. I decided to end the phone call at umupo sa sofa na siyang nakaharap sa bintana.

Doon kitang kita mo ang mga sasakyan na siyang dumadaam sa kalsada. The light streaming from traffic-clogged cars makes me feel at ease.

Daniel Salvacion.

Hindi talaga namin inakala na kaya niyang magagawa iyon. The moment that I received a phone call regarding the incident in the club ay agad akong nag drive papunta doon.

I've violated a lot of traffic rules at that time. Beating the red light, over speeding and overtaking in a double yellow lane road.

Hindi ko ma - explain ang nararamdaman that time. I almost called dozens of Saints just to pray na walang may mangyaring masama sa babae.

And thank god she's okay, physically.

Kinabukasan, Felicity asked me if she could visit Sidney in the hospital. Kaya't heto kami ngayon nakatingin sa pinsan kong parang hindi sinaksak.

"You're prohibited to bear weights nga. Pag 'yang tahi mo bumuka ako nalang mismo tatahi niyan pabalik,"

"It's just a basket of fruits, Katherine. Masiyado kang oa."

I rolled my eyes in response and crossed my legs habang nakaupo sa sofa at nakatingin sa kanya.

"How are you?" she stopped arranging the fruits on the basket at napatingin sa akin.

"I'm good, I guess," my cousin said, shrugging her shoulder ah she took a seat on the bed, with her legs crossed at kumuha ng isang pirasong ubas at kinain ito. "I still can't talk about it , Kath. Masiyado pang presko sa utak ko ang nangyari."

I nod my head, listening attentively sa mga sinasabi niya. "I'm just glad you're alive."

Kaswal itong sunod sunod na kumuha ng ubas while shoving it inside her mouth. "I know, it was traumatizing though. I hope that guy will hopefully rot in jail."

Tumango - tango ako pagkatapos. "He'll pay for what he did for a lifetime, Sidney."

"Surely he will, he is such a creep you know. I wonder if he's the one behind stalking Felicity."

My eyes immediately shoot up at napadako ito sa dalagang nakahamulikipkip lang sa gilid at naka tingin sa amo nito.

Daniel is truly the one behind Felicity's stalking at wala pang ibang nakakaalam kundi kami dalawa at ang pulisya.