Rachel's POV
“No Chel. The picture… it was nothing. I can explain it to you right away. Basta diyan ka lang. Hintayin mo ko... please.” Pagmamakaawa niya.
Still sitting in the lobby and still waiting for my flight. Sooner or later, I'll leave this country and I'll forget about him. Lahat ng masasakit na nangyari, kakalimutan ko na. Iiwan ko na silang lahat dito. Takot na takot nako magmahal ulit. Lagi nalang akong nasasaktan. I loved Austin so much... So much that it pains me to hear his voice. I remember all our happy moments and suddenly, they're ruined by some sort of infidelity. He cheated on me. My bestfriend lied to me. I just can't take that. I don't wanna hear his voice anymore.
“You don’t owe me an explanation. It’s ok. I’m leaving.” I can't deal with you... yet. Please give me time to process this.
"All passengers boarding to LAX, flight PR678, please proceed to the gate."
I hang up on him. I turned off my phone already. I'm so ready to leave all my burdens in here. I won't bring them with me. Kuya Nathan will be there to assist me; to help me forget about things that caused me a lot of pain.
Meanwhile...
News Flash: Isang kotse, wasak ng mabangga ang poste. Inilagan diumano ang kasalubong na truck. Driver ng kotse, malala ang lagay.
"Girls, that is Austin's car, isn't?" Tanong ni Luzy.
"Girls, pano to? Nakaalis na kaya si Chel?" Paola's worried.
"Let's try calling her..." Krizza got her phone and started to call Chel.
"Girls, cannot be reached na. Ano kaya nangyari kay Austin? Puntahan kaya natin?" Suggestion ni Krizza.
"Kahit na ganyan ginawa niya sa kaibigan natin, somehow, may pinagsamahan din naman tayo. Mabait naman siyang tao so... medyo naaawa ako sa kanya. We need to be there for updates. I'll try messaging Chel through FB, Viber, or Skype." Sabi ni Luzy.
Rachel's POV
After 15 long hours nasa Los Angeles na rin ako. I can smell the familiar scent. When I was little, I used to go to places na marerelax ako. I prefer staying on our beach house here, sa may Long Beach. Kaso ilang oras din kase biyahe dun kaya dumeretso nako sa main house namin sa Maple Ave. Pagkadating ko, sinalubong ako agad ni Kuya Nathan.
"How's our baby girl?"
"Kuya, not baby anymore. Come on. I'm a grown up woman. Hahaha. How's my favorite person? Are you feeling better? How about your right leg, kuya?" Sambit ko sakanya.
"Well, yeah, leg's fine. I can manage. I told mom that I'm fine but she still sent you here." Sabi ni Kuya.
"That's because I insisted, my big bro. I want to stay here, to take care of you, to help my most favorite person in the world." I hugged him.
"You shouldn't be here, lil sis." Bulong niya.
"Kuya doesn't want me here?" I pouted. Why is he saying this to me now?
"Krizza just called in earlier. She mentioned that once you got here, I should tell you to open your social media accounts since they weren't able to call you before your flight. Your phone's off right?" Kuya asked.
"What about it? Why should I open my social media accounts right now? Shouldn't I get some rest muna, kuya? Hello, Jet lag po." Kaway kaway ako kay kuya.
"It's your choice, baby girl. But I think it's urgent. They have been bombarding me for like 5 hours now. Di ba nila alam yung time zone dito?" He said.
"Alright, kuya. You need some help? Kumain kana ba?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Yes. Kumain nako. I don't need anything, baby girl. I'll let you know if I'll need help, a'ight? Just go get some rest."
Nginitian ko si kuya at umakyat na sa taas. He gave me reassuring smile. Telling me that he can manage. Went to my room at inayos ang mga gamit ko. Same old room. Malinis parin. Nilabas ko na laptop ko then I tried to check my accounts. As soon as i logged in, bigla ako dinalaw ng antok.
***
"Chel, come on let's eat." Naririnig ko kumakatok si kuya. Nakatulog na pala ako.
"Coming, kuya." I sat down then examined the place. Nasa Los Angeles na nga pala ako. Teka... Bakit naka open yung laptop ko? Ano nga kase balak kong gawin kanina bago ako makatulog? Ah! I remember. I checked all my accounts. Pagkabukas na pagkabukas ko, ilang notification ang nagpop up then i checked the messages. There are a lot but there's this message that caught my attention - Luzy. She messaged me.
"Girl call us please. ASAP. We need to tell you something. There's something you need to know..."
Yun palang nabasa ko, kinabahan na ko agad. What must've happened? I opened my messenger and called them urgently.
"Hey. What is it?" Tanong ko sa kanila. "Anong oras na ba diyan at gising pa kayo ha?"
"This is really urgent, girl. Look."
May pinakita silang video sakin. Oh tapos? Kotse, bumangga. Ano naman?
"Oh ok. Yan na ba sinasabi niyong urgent? Girls, kain lang ako saglit. Gutom ako." Sinigawan nila ako.
"Hoy babae! Di mo ba namumukhaan yung sasakyan na yan? Guess kung kanino yan. Yung nagddrive ng car na yan, nasa hospital. Agaw buhay."
Inisip ko kung kanino yung kotseng nabangga. Teka nga... Hmn... Tumulo bigla luha ko.
"Don't tell me... That's Austin's car? No. Kausap ko lang siya bago ako umalis. Hindi sa kanya yan. Girls, di kay Austin yan, right?" Sabi ko habang humihikbi.
"I'm sorry, Chel. Pero kay Austin talaga yan. In fact pinuntahan namin siya. Kakauwi nga lang namin e. Nasa ICU pa siya." Iyak lang ako ng iyak. I was speechless. I'm the one to blame.
“No Chel. The picture… it was nothing. I can explain it to you right away. Basta diyan ka lang. Hintayin mo ko... Please.”
I should've waited for you. This shouldn't happened. If only i listened to what you were about to say, this wouldn't happen. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry.
"Chel, come on. Kain na tayo." Kuya walked into my room and he noticed that I'm crying hard. He went to hug me.
"What happened?" Sinabi ko sa kaniya kung ano nangyari. Pilit ko sinisisi sa sarili ko ang mga nangyari. I lost my appetite. Ayoko kumain. I am to blame.
"Kuya, I want to go home."
"Alright, baby girl. I'll check kung may available earliest flight then I'll book your it for you. I told you na ok lang ako dito. Austin needs you. But for now, let's eat. Kahit konti lang. Wala kapa kinain mula kagabi."
I'll be home. I'm sorry, Austin. Sana mapatawad moko. I'll listen to you. I promise. Just... please be fine.
