After All There Was You || Macolet AU

22

Myles's heart raced as she pushed open the door, calling out, "Casey! Are you okay?"

The sight before her made her stomach drop. Casey was lying on the floor, barely conscious, near a small side table and a shattered vase that must have fallen during the commotion.

Without hesitation, Myles rushed to her side, kneeling next to her. "Casey!" She gently lifted her head and checked for any injuries. Once she was sure that there was none, she breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank God..."

Humingang-malalim si Myles para pakalmahin ang sarili, before she shook Casey's shoulders gently and called for the latter, her voice shaking trembly. "Casey? Casey... wake up, please..."

Casey's eyes slowly fluttered open and she blinked several times before they opened halfway. "M-myles...? Nandito ka pa pala...? Sorry-" Casey managed to speak out before Myles shushed her.

Myles shook her head, "Shh, don't talk muna. Stay still, kukuha lang kita ng tubig."

Casey, who's too weak to even respond, nodded slightly, tears now streaming down her cheeks. Myles gently helped her stand up at inalalayan sa pag-upo sa couch.

Ayaw man ni Myles makialam sa mga gamit sa bahay nila Casey, she had to make sure that the latter's in good condition. Agad siyang kumuha ng isang basong tubig para kay Casey at iniabot ito sa kaniya, with Myles's hand supporting from below as Casey drank from it, trying to prevent any liquid from spilling on the latter's clothes.

Nang matapos uminom si Casey, huminga siyang malalim upang pakalmahin ang sarili. Myles waited for a few moments before she decided to ask her what happened.

Ipinatong ni Myles ang kamay niya sa kamay ni Casey, "What happened before I bust in, Casey?" She asked, worry clearly heard from her voice.

"Sinubukan ko lang naman buksan 'yung ilaw pagpasok... tapos biglang umikot paningin ko, then ayon, nawalan na lang ako ng balanse bigla." Pagpapaliwanag ni Casey, her voice still shaky despite recovering.

This made Myles frown, "But this isn't normal, Casey... Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa'yo? I know you're the one to take your studies seriously, pero hindi naman to the point na pinapabayaan mo na sarili mo in the process."

Casey opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say a word, the front door creaked open. Pareho silang napalingon, at bumungad ang nanay ni Casey, who looks like in the same state as her daughter.

"Casey? Matagal ka bang naghintay? Pasensya ka n-" Biglang napatigil sa pagsasalita ang ina ni Casey, her eyes darting towards Myles, wondering why there's currently an unfamiliar figure inside their living room with her daughter. "Uhm, Casey... sino siya?"

---

Nandito sila ngayon sa ospital kung saan naka-confine ang lola ni Casey. At dahil namasahe lang pabalik ng bahay ang ina ni Casey, nag-volunteer na si Myles na ihatid sila dahil may sasakyan naman siya.

Katahimikan lamang ang bumalot sa buong biyahe nila kanina. Ni hindi pa nga nagagawang ipakilala ni Casey si Myles sa kaniyang ina.

Sabay na binisita nila Casey at ang kaniyang ina ang kaniyang lola sa loob ng kwarto nito, habang si Myles ay nagpasyang maghintay muna sa labas upang bigyan sila ng oras mangamusta sa kamag-anak.

Mga ilang oras din ay lumabas si Casey upang samahan si Myles sa labas. Bukod do'n ay nanghihina rin siya, lalo't nakikita niya ang kalagayan ng lola niya. Kaya naman mas pinili niya na lamang na lumabas, to save herself from breaking down in front of her mother and grandmother.

"-kaya rin sa SMU ako nalipat dahil nakakuha ako ng scholarship galing sa kanila. Pero hindi pa rin naging sapat 'yon, lalo nang ma-confine si nanay. Kaya ito, I'm doing everything I can para makuha rin 'yung 100k sponsorship na offer sa limang students ng SMU. Offer siya para sa mga kapos financially, pero ang kapalit is dapat hindi bababa sa 2.00 GPA mo this sem. Kailangan din running for Laude ka."