Retrograde | Jicheol

XIV

11:46 pm

Calling Seungcheol...

Call Connected

"Hello?"

". . ."

"Sino po sila?"

". . ."

"Uy. Hello? Ibababa ko na 'to."

". . ."

"H-hala! Umiiyak ka ba?"

". . ."

"U-uy. Ayos ka lang?"

"No... No, I'm not fucking fine."

". . ."

"I'm sorry for calling you this late. P-pero kasi bumabalik na naman sila."

"Alin?"

"W-wala na akong ibang matawagan and m-my mom's out of town and then they s-suddenly appeared. And I really don't.. I really don't know who to call..."

"Hey. Hey, it's okay. Hindi rin naman ako makatulog eh. I can help you with whatever you're dealing with right now. Tell me your name first."

"Jihoon. My name's Jihoon."

"Okay, Jihoon. Calm down, okay? Now tell me what's bothering you."

". . ."

"Shh. Shh, tahan ka muna. It's okay, nandito ako. Take a deep breath and calm down."

". . ."

"Okay. Ngayon, sabihin mo sa'kin kung ano 'tong bumabalik sa'yo."

"T-these nightmares... Hindi ko alam kung tungkol saan 'to pero pagkagising ko, lagi nalang akong umiiyak at nanginginig sa takot."

". . ."

"They seemed so fucking real! Those screaming and wails. Para akong hinahabol, liliwanag 'yung buong lugar tapos makakakita ako ng dugo."

". . ."

"'Yung sakit na nararamdaman ko sa panaginip ko ramdam na ramdam ko as if I was really there. that awful pain in my chest, the throbbing of my head. They seemed so real. And then that's it. I'll wake up gasping for air with the slightest hint of that pain."

". . ."

"Para akong mababaliw. Hanggang ngayon naririnig ko pa rin 'yung iyak ng mga tao. Ayoko na... A-ayoko na..."

"Shh. Jihoon, listen to me."

". . ."

"It's just a nightmare, okay? You're perfectly fine right now. Walang humahabol sa'yo. Nandito ka ngayon, kausap ako. I'm here for you. Now, I want you to drink some water. Pampakalma para makatulog ka ulit."

"AYOKO NANG MATULOG ULIT! Makikita ko lang ulit 'yun!"

"O-okay. Okay. No sleeping for tonight then. You can talk to me for as long as you want. Is that okay?"

"...Mhm."

"Okay. Hmm, saan mo nga pala nakuha ang number ko?"

"It's a long story."

"We've got all night, Jihoon. I'm all your- I mean ears. I'm all ears."

"I'm not really in the mood to story-tell tonight, Seungcheol."

"O-WAIT. 'Di pa naman ako nagpapakilala sa'yo ah?!"

"That's part of the long story."

"Anubayan. Kwento na kasi!"