Mary Grace

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Three

Ilang araw akong nagkulong sa kwarto magmula nang mag-away kami ni Jeremy. He keeps on texting and calling me but I wouldn't answer the phone. Pakiramdam ko ay napapansin din nina mommy at daddy that there's something wrong with me even though I go to school every day.

"Is something wrong?" Was my mother's question instead of greeting me good morning as soon as I sat down on the table.

"Nothing." My usual reply. I will eat the breakfast silently and head off to school. I will make sure that Jeremy wouldn't see me by ditching my last period class. Hindi na rin ako halos makapunta sa Karlo's dahil palagi ko siyang nakikitang nakaabang sa labas.

"Mary Grace," I jumped a little when someone grabbed my shoulders. My mind went in chaos for just a moment but eventually calmed down when I realized that it was not Jeremy's voice. It was Danielle's.

"Danielle," I forced out a polite smile. "Hey... it's been a long time."

She looked sad though, although she smiled back at me. She gently grab my arms and lead me out of the building. Bigla naman akong kinabahan dahil papunta siya sa building nila Jeremy. "May gustong kumausap sa iyo."

Hindi ako sumagot. If it's going to be Jeremy, maybe it's about time that I talk to him. Nakakapagod din yung para akong nakikipagtaguan sa kanya. Hindi lang ako sa pakikipagtaguan napapagod, sa lahat-lahat na.

But it was not Jeremy who was waiting for me when we reached the back of the building. It was Mariah. She was facing the wall, doing nothing. Nakapambahay lang siya. I gave Danielle a questioning look.

She sighed and said silently. "Matagal na siyang nag-drop."

Tila natunugan kami ni Mariah dahil kaagad siyang bumaling sa aming dalawa. Hindi ko pa man naibubuka ang bibig ko ay niyakap niya na ako nang mahigpit. Naramdaman ko ang mainit na likidong tumutulo sa may balikat ko at ang pagtaas-baba ng mga balikat ni Mariah.

"I'm sorry..." She sobbed.

Danielle looked at us sympathetically.

I didn't know what to do at first. Yayakapin ko ba din siya o itutulak at itatanong kung ano ang hinihingi niya ng tawad. I just stood there for a while as she continued muttering sorry again and again. Finally, my hands crawled to her back and hug her tighter. Mas lalong lumakas ang hagulhol ni Mariah.

"You're such an idiot." I whispered.

She nodded her head. "Yeah." Her voice is broken yet I can sense that she's somewhat happy. Kumalas na siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin. "Yeah, I am."

Napailing na lang ako. I started wiping her tears away. "Why didn't you come see me sooner?"

She gulped. "I was so fucking scared. Akala ko hindi niyo na ako kakausapin ulit ni Danielle pagkatapos ng ginawa ko sa inyo. I'm really sorry." Napayuko siya at paulit-ulit na namang nag-sorry.

Danielle spoke up. "She came to me three weeks after we've visited her. We tried reaching out to you but it seems like you're very busy. Atsaka, hindi na rin kami nag-abala pang disturbuhin ka lalo na nang malaman namin ang nangyari sa ate mo..." Siya naman ang napayuko at nagkagat ng labi. "It may seem too late, but condolence, Mary Grace."

I nodded my head. "Thanks." I whispered.

She took a step and hugged me as well. Nakisama na din si Mariah at nagyakapan kaming tatlo sa mahabang oras. It seemed like forever when I last talked to them and somehow, a weight have been lifted off my chest.

"We don't know what's going on between you and Jeremy but we can see that you're not in good terms right now." Wika ni Danielle pagkakalas sa pagyayakapan naming tatlo. She gave me a worried look. "Are you okay?"