The Lost Orb [PFS #1, The Bearer]

47 "Silent Hymn in Absence"

ALLISA ESTRELLA'S POV

THIS ROOM IS more lonely than I thought. Silence after silence. This kind of place is the perfect setting to face the war raging in your mind. Mabigat akong dumilat. After laying down who knows how many minutes inside the sunken bathtub, tumayo na ako.

I could feel the beads of water trickling down my skin as I yanked my white towel. I wrapped it around my body at pumunta na sa living room ng dorm namin ni Saskia.

She's not injured, that's why she stayed here instead in the infirmary. She's been laying for three days under a spell to sustain her body with nutrients, and to keep it free from contamination. It is often used for people who are in a coma to manage their bodies.

The effect wears off after waking up.

Kaya hindi halatang galing siya sa short coma kanina. After getting away from me, hindi ko na tinangkang habulin pa siya lalo na't ang bilis pala niyang tumakbo. I have no idea she was quick to run. She flees like the whole dormitory is caught on fire!

Alam kong masyadong mabigat ang lahat ng ito para sa kaniya, everything happened too fast. Kaya sana gusto ko munang ipahinga niya ang isip niya. I know that won't happen since I foresaw this one, may una siyang hahanapin pagkagising niya.

As I said, she's in the same situation as Ms. Florian. Another problem? She has a bad habit of neglecting her key concerns. She should be dealing with the Aslerians today, first thing first, they said they want to see her right after she wakes up.

When things really grow too troublesome for her that eventually clouds her mind, she subconsciously turns a blind eye on these, especially to the heavy ones. Naging defense mechanism na niya yata iyon. I may not speak of it, but I can notice that.

Naaawa rin naman ako. I have my empathy intact too. Ginagawa ko nalang ang best ko para magkaroon siya ng distraction kahit papaano. I always share new stories to keep her busy. Mga kwento lang iyon na nakuha ko kay Mr. Zaniel . . . from my step-father.

I never knew that they were true.

And this is why I'm preparing, I have to meet someone. Naupo muna ako kama ko at nagpatuyo ng buhok. I wore my white long sleeve dress, plain lang iyon na ginagamit namin tuwing session-free kami.

Masyadong abala nitong mga nagdaang araw. I've seen the aftermath of the invasion before but this one is different. Widespread destruction everywhere, countless mortals taken of their breath. We're still lucky to survive this one, because we have the privilege called artistry.

My chest tug at the weighing feeling. We're too young to experience life like this. Saskia is too young to lose so many things. Kaya naiintindihan ko rin ang reaksyon niya.

She didn't want to lose another one.

I am not good at reading people, like her innate skill. Sa halos isang taon naming magkasama, doon ko lang siya nakilala.