Autumn Red with The Gang

Chapter 27

Padabog na nilapag ni Ally ang plato na hawak niya sa harap ni Exodus. Napapikit ito sa ginawa ng kasama niya dahil sa gulat. Inangat niya ang tingin niya at pabalik balik ang lakad ni Ally, tila hindi mapakali.

"Are you insane?! Bakit ka pumayag?" Bakas sa boses ni Ally ang pagka-disappoint at lungkot. Panigurado maya maya lang ay iiyak na ito sa sakit na nararamdaman niya.

"Pinsan ko siya, Ally. I can't say no to her. Alam mo namang kailangan nating bumawi sa—"

"That's pure shit! Pwede ka namang umayaw sakanya. Pero ano? Hindi mo ginawa."

Napahawak si Exodus sa buhok niya at huminga ng malalim. Pinipilit na pakalmahin ang sarili. "You don't understand, Ally. Malaki ang atraso ko kay Red at ayokong humindi sakanya. Alam mo naman kung gaano kadami ang napagdaanan niya diba? She needs me. As her best bud and family."

"Make me understand Exodus... make me." Hindi na napigilan ni Ally ang humagulgol. Niyakap naman siya kaagad ni Exodus at kumapit siya sa likod nito. Hindi mapigilan ni Ally ang sunod sunod na luhang umaagos mula sa mga mata niya. Hindi niya matanggap kung ano ang pinapagawa ni Red.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pang mapalapit ni Exodus kay Elisa. Pinilit niyang humiwalay kay Exodus at tiningnan ito sa mga mata niya. Nangingilid narin ang luha ni Exodus at halatang malungkot.

"Bakit?" Napasimangot ito, tila hindi naiintindihan ang tanong ni Ally. "Bakit kailangan mo pang gawin 'to? You don't have to do this, Dos. We can hire the greatest investigator! We can pay the right price or even higher!"

"Babe, calm down..." Exodus held her hand tightly, looking straight into her blood shot eyes, "I'm not in the right place to tell you why. Let Red open up herself."

"Dos, barkada tayo. Pero bakit nararamdaman ko unti unti na tayong nabubuwag? Nasaan na yung dating Gang?"

Exodus sighed, smiled, trying to hide the sadness blooming in his face, "It's part of growing up, Ally. We are growing, we are changing. Changing for the better. And don't ever think that Red is drifting away from us. Madami lang siyang iniisip. Let's just support her and show how much we love her, alright?"

Ally hugged Exodus tightly, "Alright. I'll try to."

"Thank you, baby. Thank you." He whispered and kissed her cheeks.

***

The next morning, Red woke up from her sleep, mourning. Not because someone is dead, but because she can't feel herself anymore. She feels like her soul drifted away from her body. She feels souless, lifeless and wrecked. She tried to close her eyes and remember all the good things that happened to her.

Her family. Her friends. Her nanny. The Gang. And might as well include, Elisa.

She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the stars sticked up in the ceiling. It's already 8 AM but her room is pitched black.

"Hi stars..." She whispered. Blinking not only twice to avoid the tears building up on the corner of her eyes. "Bakit sobrang gulo ng buhay ko? Can't I just be happy for a while? Akala ko okay na lahat... akala ko omce na bumalik ako sa pamilya ko, aayos na ang lahat... pero hindi pala. Mas dumagdag pa ang problema."

She remembered all the good times with her friends, family.

"Sana lagi nalang masaya. Pero hindi pala pwede, ano? Yung lagi nalang pasarap sa buhay. Pero hindi rin naman pwedeng laging pasakit, hindi ba? I'm a human too, stars... I have emotions, I have a broken heart, an empty brain and a lifeless body. Why can't you just end my life here? This is the deadend. I'm so fed up. I want to give up."

She harshly wiped the tears running down her cheeks. Tuwing mag isa siya, hindi niya maiwasan na makaramdam ng sobrang lungkot. Feeling niya kailangan na niyang magpa-therapy sa depression na nararamdaman niya. Narinig niya ang pag katok mula sa pinto niya, kaya kaagad siya nag talukbong. Humarap siya sa may bintana ng kwarto niya, talikod sa pinto. Naramdaman niyang lumubog ang gilid ng kama niya, sign na may umupo dito. Napapikit siya at pilit na pinakalma ang puso niya.

"Is she okay?" The soft voice made her heart sank. The sweet voice is coming from a her favorite girl, Ally.

"Obvious naman, tatanungin pa." She almost smiled when she heard Trish's voice. Masungit parin ang tono nito.

"Hey, stop bickering, alright? Natutulog si Red, baka magising." Natalie said. Para talaga itong nanay ng dalawa.

Kung sigurong wala siyang problema ngayon, gigisingin at gigisingin siya ng mga 'to at guguluhin. Panigurado ay makikigulo din siya at tatawa kapag nakitang mapipikon si Ally. Pero things are different now. Red can't even smile, Red can't even breathe properly. Feeling niya, gumalaw lang siya, mamamatay na siya.

"Ay jusmiyo! Bakit ang dilim dito? Akala ko may multong nag babantay kay Red!" Napapikit si Red ng marinig niya ang boses ni Blue. Nakakamiss din pala ang kaingayan nito at miss na miss na siya ni Red.

"Keep your mouth shut Blue, wala ka namang sense." Pambabara ni Grey dito.

"Hay nako, pati kayo mag aaway? Dun kayo sa labas!" Usisa ni Minton sakanila. Nakahinga ng maluwang si Red, buti naman at hindi parin nag babago si Minton.

"Is she okay?" Tanong ni Trench.

Narinig naman niya ang pambabara ni Exodus sa kanya, "Don't be stupid, Trench."

Narinig niya ang mahinang tawanan ng mga kaibigan. She clenched her fist and shut her eyes. Sana, nakakatawa rin siya kagaya ng mga kaibigan niya. Sana, okay lang ang lahat. Sana, bumalik ang lahat sa dati. She wants her old self back.

The real Autumn Red Montegralle.