SCARLET 2: ALICE (Emerald Series)

17

ALICE

"Seth!"

Pinunasan ko ang pawis sa aking noo. Napanaginipan ko si Seth. Tinatawag niya ang pangalan ko, nanghihingi ng tulong. Bumangon ako. Nag-aalala na ako. Hindi siya pumunta sa kasal ko. Hindi siya dumadalaw dito. Hindi man lang siya sumusulat upang mangamusta. This is not the Seth I knew.

Tumingin ako sa bintana. Malakas ang buhos ng ulan. Kung nasaan man si Seth, I hope he's okay. I might try to find him tomorrow. Hopefully wala nang ulan bukas.

I felt thirsty so I decided to go downstairs. Nahihiya akong gisingin ang servants para lang magpahatid ng tubig. Kaya ko naman 'to gawing mag-isa. I went downstairs and got myself a glass of water. Nakapatay na ang mga ilaw. Hindi nanaman siguro umuwi si Clyde. Nasasanay na akong mag-isa.

Pag-akyat ko, napansin kong bahagyang nakabukas ang pinto ng kwarto ni Clyde. May naririnig akong kaluskos sa loob. I quietly made my way to the door. Anong gagawin ko kung may magnanakaw? Sisigaw ba ako to wake up the servants or deal with it myself? I mean...pwede ko naman siguro gawin ulit yung nagagawa ko with my hands? Pero hindi ko rin naman alam paano ko nagagawa 'yon.

Sumilip ako sa loob ng kwarto. May nakahiga sa kama, curled up into a fetal position. Mas lumakas ang ulan sa labas na sinundan ng mga kulog at kidlat. A lightning outside lit up the room. Before the flash disappears, I saw his golden hair. It's Clyde and he's shivering.

"Clyde?" I called out as I open the door. It seems like he didn't hear me. Tulog ba siya? Nananaginip ba siya?

Lumapit ako sa kama at nakitang umiiyak siya habang natutulog. His breathing is labored and he's sweating all over. There was a flash of lightning again and I saw clearly how scared his face is.

I climbed over the bed and sat beside him. I took his hand and smoothed his hair. We stayed like this for several minutes until he stopped crying, his body started to relax. But the rain continued outside.

What kind of dream will make him cry like this?

Whatever it was, I should let him rest na. I should go back to my room and let him be.

Aalis na dapat ako sa kama when he pulled back my hand causing me to fall beside him. His eyes are now open. Nakatingin lang siya sa kisame.

Five minutes. Ten? Fifteen?

He didn't say anything. He just held my hand while looking at the ceiling.

I cleared my throat. "Clyde? Are you okay? Madalas bang mangyari 'to?"

He was silent for a minute, na para bang inisip niya muna kung sasagot siya. "Every night."

"Every night? Since when?"

"It started two years ago."

"And you haven't had any peaceful sleep since then?"

"I haven't had any proper rest at all."

I moved and faced him. "What were the dreams about?"

He moved so he can also face me. He's still holding my hand.

"Alam mo bang lima kaming magpipinsan nina Theo?" bungad niya. He started talking about a guy named Jude. He told stories about how close the five of them were. "Sobrang takaw 'non. Kaya nga nagkasundo sila ni Star eh."

He continued telling stories of Jude and Star and their memories at school. They were happy memories pero habang kinukwento ito ni Clyde, his eyes look sad. Maybe even with a hint of remorse.