The Angel Without Wings | ✔

III: Invisible Daggers

III: Invisible Daggers

Sometimes, happiness can be frightening... because you know that it's going to end. No matter how much you wanted it to stay, it will always end. It's terrifying.

***

"Nike, saan tayo pupunta?"

"You'll know soon." I fought the urge to literally roll my eyes.

"Why can't you just tell me?" I grumbled under my breath.

"I can't."

"That again?"

"A little patience, bro."

Napabuntung-hininga ako. She's been saying that for two hours. Nakasakay kami ngayon sa bus at ewan ko kung saan kami pupunta nitong kambal ko. I was discharged from the hospital yesterday and believe it or not, I was even surprised that I'm alive. I told no one about the experience that I had that day, though. Sino ba naman kasi ang maniniwala sa 'kin kung sasabihin ko na nakita ko ang katawan ko habang inooperahan ako ng mga doktor? And besides... I'm still brooding over about that girl. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin matandaan kung sino siya.

"Am I alive? Am I dead?"

"You're alive, asshole."

Those are my sister's first words when I opened my eyes—a lovely greeting, indeed. She was gripping my hand and was sobbing while glaring at me.

"Damn you for trying to leave me like that. Damn you," she uttered between her sobs.

"I know," I said while patting her head. "I know, I'm sorry."

I stayed for a few days in the hospital. Tinulungan kami ni tito Elvin sa pagbabayad ng bills. He even offered us to stay at their house, but we refused. Sobra-sobra na kasi ang naitutulong niya sa 'min. We don't want to be a burden to their family.

"Nandito na tayo," sabi ng kapatid ko.

"Huh? Bakit tayo nandito sa probinsya ni lola?"

Imbes na sagutin ang tanong ko ay binigyan lamang ako ni Nike ng malungkot na tingin. Simula noong madischarged ako sa ospital ay naging ganito na si Nike. She's avoiding my questions and she's refusing to look me in the eye when talking to me. It was like she's deliberately hiding something from me.

Now we're walking towards the run-down house of our deceased grandmother. Patuloy lang kami sa paglalakad nang biglang huminto si Nike. Imbes na dumiretso siya sa bahay ay naglakad siya patungo sa...

"Bodega? Ano'ng gagawin natin dito?" tanong ko. She just ignored me and undid the lock on the door. Parang napuno na ako. Okay lang sa 'kin kung ayaw niya akong sagutin pero 'yung kahit tingin man lang, kahit isang glance man lang, hindi niya ako binigyan. "Okay, that's it Nike. What the hell is wrong with you?" I turned her shoulder and made her face me. "Simula noong nadischarged ako sa ospital, naging—" napaurong ako nang makita ang mga mata niyang mamasamasa sa luha. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

I felt the bubble burst inside me as I dug my nails in my palms. "For fuck's sake Nike, wala ka ba talagang sasagutin sa mga tanong ko? Umiiyak ka tapos sasabihin mong wala kang problema?" Nabigla na lamang ako nang iwinakli niya ang kamay ko. "Nike—!" her swift hands pushed the door open and the second that I saw what's inside, I was petrified. Napaawang ang mga labi ko at animo'y nawalan ako ng balanse.

"Wh—What the hell is this?"

"I'm sorry hindi ko nasabi agad. It's just—"

"What the hell is this, Nike?"

"Do you remember her?" nauutal at nanlulumong tanong sa 'kin ng kambal ko.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. Instead, I just stared at the concrete wall inside the room while asking a million questions inside my mind. I was literally frozen where I stood. And my eyes were fixed on the portrait hanging on the wall.

"Why is she—"

As if a cue on the current situation, my head started to hurt. Nabitiwan ko ang dala kong backpack at 'di sinasadyang maisandal ang ulo ko sa pader.

"Neon?!" mabilis akong inilalayan ni Nike bago ako tuluyang mapaupo sa damuhan.

I gritted my teeth while fighting the urge to scream. Talagang ang sakit ng ulo ko. It's as if something is banging on the door of my mind. Like a certain memory crawling out of my brain, trying its hardest to be remembered.

Then all of a sudden, I was in a different place. Everything was black and white, and it was cold, and soundless—a perfect image of a lonesome and solitary place. And then I saw a guy who looked like me running, passing in front of me, gasping for air, and desperate. He can't see me, but I can see him. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin no'n pero sinunod ko ang instinct ko at sinundan ang lalaking suot ang mukha ko.

"Riley, please! I'm begging you, please don't do this," the other me said while gripping the phone beside his ear. He's as white as a sheet and is obviously terrified.

But terrified of what?

He cussed under his breath habang tinitingnan ang caller. I took a glance at his phone at mukhang ibinaba ng kausap niya ang tawag. Mas binilisan niya pa ngayon ang pagtakbo hanggang sa nakarating siya sa isang mataas at lumang building. Mabilis siyang umakyat sa hagdan at huminto lamang nang makarating na siya sa pinto ng rooftop. Before opening the door, he inhaled deeply. Nang buksan niya na ito nang tuluyan ay pareho kaming nagulantang dahil walang katao-tao roon.

Pagkatapos ay biglang tumunog ulit ang cellphone niya. Mabilis pa sa kisap-mata ang pagsagot niya sa tawag.

"Riley—!"

"I'm sorry. I love you, Neon."

"Ri—!"

Namutla ang lalaking kamukha ko nang marinig 'yon. At animo'y isang signal ang pagbaba ng tawag dahil biglang umangat ang ulo naming dalawa at tiningnan ang building na katapat ng building kung saan naroon kami. And we were both dreaded when we saw a figure falling from the rooftop of the other building. We clearly saw how her white hair fluttered with the wind and her pale skin being kissed by the sun. Napaurong ako at nanigas naman ang lalaking kasama ko. And then the next thing that we saw was her unmoving body lying on the ground. 

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Sorry po sa late update. Nagkaproblema kasi ang internet connection ko.

NEXT UPDATE:

IV: Flightless Angel
SUNDAY, November 8.