Unidentified Character

cнαpтer тweɴтy-ғιve: Deтerмιɴαтιoɴ αɴd coɴclυѕιoɴ

I laughed when Kieran finally reached me, his arms encircling my waist from behind. As you have may guessed we were playing tag — in the backyard this morning. I was laughing because I was enjoying this moment with him, at the same time I'm laughing at our childishness.

Nang harapin ko siya nagulat ako dahil nangitim ang kapaligiran. Napatingin-tingin ako sa paligid at napayakap ng mahigpit kay Kieran. Ginantihan niya ko ng yakap. Napapikit ako ng mariin ng maramdaman ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko. Can Kieran feel my heart beat? I glanced up at him, he was looking every where with fierce eyes. His guard was all up. Sobrang kinakabahan ako sa sitwasyon namin. I almost shook out of fear. Isinubsob ko ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

My eyes widened and I inhaled sharply when I felt his body harshly pulled away from my embrace. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari ay hindi ko na siya napigilang makuha at mahila ng kadiliman.

"Kieran!!" I shouted from the top of my lungs, reaching out for him.

Napabangon ako sa kama na humihingal at kapos sa hininga. My sweat was trickling down my forehead and cheek. Exasperated, I wiped it off with the back of my hand. I scanned the room, Kieran's room. Where is he? I quickly yanked the covers off my body and got out of the huge bed. It feels really cold and lonely when he isn't with me. I walked towards the door and went out after closing it. I do not want to think about that terrifying dream. 

While walking on the hallways, I could feel my goosebumps. Why do I suddenly feel like it's really dark and terrifying in the hallway? I looked behind me and then turned my head to face forward when I saw nothing but darkness. I decided to think of another thing. Last night, we came home after dancing. Kieran was surprisingly able to walk home with me. He didn't look drunk at all. His voice and movements doesn't give away that fact. The only thing that makes him drunk is his strange and very flirty choice of words and of course, the sudden change of personality. He was literally all over me when we got to his room.

Inamin rin sakin ni Kieran habang nasa party na nagseselos siya kaya niya nagawang sunduin ako mula sa kwarto ni Phoenix. Mabuti na nga lang raw at naalala niyang may party sa kapit bahay kaya may nasabi siyang rason ng pagsundo sakin. He kept complaining about me not considering his feelings, he also reprimanded me - he said that a normal girlfriend doesn't go to another guy's bedroom. Well, that's true but what's wrong is he lacks trust.

Nang makababa ako ng hagdan dumiretso ako sa kusina para kumuha ng maiinom dahil bigla akong nauhaw. Umiinom ako ng tubig nang makarinig ako ng mga nagmamadaling yapak. Napatingin ako sa archway para tingnan kung sino ang palapit. Napakunot noo ako nang makita si Phoenix na pumasok sa archway at nagmamadaling lumapit sakin. Ibinaba ko ang hawak na baso at hinarap ang humihingal na si Phoenix.

"Anong nangyari Phoenix?" kinakabahang tanong ko dahil parang may mahalaga siyang sasabihin kaya siya nagmadaling pumunta sakin. Hindi naman niya kasi ugaling magtatakbo at sa itsura niya ngayon para ngang may sasabihin siyang importante. Sana naman ay hindi masamang balita o pangyayari ang sasabihin niya.

"Nakita mo ba si Kieran?" tanong niya habang nakahawak sa gilid ng counter top at hinihingal parin. Umayos siya ng tayo at sumandal doon.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Hindi. Paggising ko wala na siya sa kama eh." My eyes widened as realization dawned on me. I covered my mouth with my hand. Not believing my own thoughts and probably the fact that something happened to Kieran. Is this the reason why I had a nightmare? Is that a sign or a warning? Ipinagbibigay-alam ba sakin ng panaginip ko na mawawala si Kieran? Is he kidnapped? I gulped before bringing my hand down. I need to calm down. I smiled awkwardly. "Baka naman may pinuntahan lang si Kieran?"