Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Sixteen

"Ano? S-Si Abbie?" I asked. I had so many questions running through my head, each as confusing as the other one.

"Mike, go home." Ara walked towards Mike and ignored me. "'Wag na 'wag mong sasabihin kay Abbie ang sinabi ko kay Mika, okay? 'Pag sinabi mo kay Abbie 'to, I'd know. 'Wag ka na ring babalik sa kanya, ako nang bahala sa pambayad ng gamot mo sa Mama mo. Here's my contact number."

"P-Pero, e-etong c-camera na 'to, s-sa kanya 'to, hindi ko alam kung paano ibabalik sa kanya... tsaka alam ni Miss Abbie kung saan ako nakatira... p-paano na 'yun?" Mike was shaking like crazy.

Ako, naka-lean lang ako sa wall. I didn't know what to do, or what to think. Ano namang kinalaman ni Abbie sa amin? Why would she do something like that? And, bakit alam ni Ara?

"Ako nang bahala dyan." Ara got the camera from Mike. "Go home. Kailangan ka na ng Mama mo."

"S-Salamat. A-At, s-sorry. Sorry talaga." Mike said and took off.

Ara clutched the camera between her hands. Binato niya 'to sa ground that made the camera break a little, tas inapak-apakan pa niya that made it totally break into pieces. She took the biggest piece, which was the lens, and threw it in the trash can aggressively, the lens shattering on the way.

Ara breathed deeply before finally turning to me. "I'm tired, Mika. Umuwi na rin tayo."

It took me a while to let the situation sink in. "Ano? NO!"

We reached what looked like Ara's car ('cause she was unlocking it) nang mapatigil si Ara.

"Get in, Mika."

"Not unless you explain--"

"I'll explain on the way."

I looked at her. Ang dami ko gusto tanungin, sabihin... gawin. Pero di ko magawa. And so, I did the only thing I could do at that moment: get in her car.

Ara started driving as I felt my heart pounding hard from my chest. My mind has thoughts circling in like a hurricane. Abbie seemed so nice nung nagkakilala kami... why would she do this? Okay, I guess I could think of one reason why she would do this: I got the job that we were both rooting for and she didn't. Pero, grabe naman sa pagka-pathetic 'yung excuse na 'yun. And aside from that, ano pa ang kinalaman niya sa aming dalawa ni Ara? And, how on earth did Ara know about this? As far as I know she was just as confused with the pictures as I am. 'Yung tinginan nila ni Mike kanina... could that mean...

"I've known Abbie for a long time," Ara broke the silence. "I didn't know she was capable of something like this."

"Obviously you do," I snapped. "Paano mo nalamang si Abbie 'yung boss ni Mike?"

"I didn't believe it. Nung lumabas 'yung unang picture na 'yun... the only person I could think of na pwedeng gawin 'yun ay si Abbie. Pero naisip ko, ang dami naman niyang time." Ara managed to laugh at this situation, however, I was nowhere near laughing. "'Yun pala may inuutusan siyang iba. When Mike looked at me, I knew he was telling me something. He was telling me the one rule that Abbie gave him."

I was about to ask what rule that was when Ara asked, "Saan pala kita ihahatid? Saan ka nakatira?"

I told her the name of my condo and the way to get there before asking, "So, ano 'yung rule na 'yun?"

Ara hit the brakes as we approached a stoplight with the red light glowing over us. She looked at me. "To not let you know that she was behind this."

"Me? Bakit ako lang? Okay lang sa kanya na malaman mo?"

Ara shook her head. "Uh, no, of course not. Pero 'pag nalaman mo kasi... it would completely sabotage her plan."

"HER PLAN?" Napasigaw ako. Ara had to shush me kasi nagulat siya sa sigaw ko. "Ano? Anong plan? Bakit siya may plan against me?"