DISTANT {ALE}

Chapter 6

(ALYSSA’S POV)

     I ran out of the Blue Eagle Gym with tears streaming out my eyes like a waterfall. The flashbacks came rushing to me like an inevitable wave.

FLASHBACK

     “Ate Ly!”

     “Sofia! Bakit ka nasa Ateneo?”

     “May binisita lang.”

     “Oh. Sige ha, una na muna ko, may aasikasuhin pa ko.”

     “Wait! Ate Ly!”

     “Hmm?”

     “Um… si kuya Jovee, nasan?”

     “Uh, hindi ko alam eh. Bakit, may papasabi ka ba? Ako na lang magsasabi sa kanya.”

     “Wala, wala. Um, do you know kung sino kasama niya ngayon?”

     “Hindi. Sofia, you’re scaring me.”

     “Ate Ly, I think I know where he is.”

     …

     “Sofia, diba last time sabi mo din yan but it was a false alarm?”

     “No, Ate Ly. It wasn’t a false alarm. You just didn’t believe me and your so-called ‘boyfriend’ tricked you.

     “Sige, I’ll ask him.

END OF FLASHBACK

     I can barely see my way to my car due to the blurriness of my vision.

     I yanked the handle and the car handle opened. I threw myself in and tossed my gym bag and water bottle to the back seats.

     Then I forgot that my keys were inside my bag which was in the back seat. I puffed air out of my mouth and sighed in irritation. I reached behind me for the bag but they were too far. I positioned myself so that I would be able to grab the strap. My fingers inched closer and closer and finally grasped it. I snatched my keys out of the front pocket and threw my bag back at the back seat.

     My engine roared to life. I didn’t give it any time anymore to warm up, I put it on reverse and pressed my foot on the gas pedal.

     Too hard. I pressed it too hard. The inertia in the car was so strong, I flung myself to the wheel and the horn blew.

     I face palmed myself.

     Slowly, carefully, I eased my foot on the gas pedal and got myself out of the parking lot.

     The road was clogged with traffic everywhere I went. Annoying tricycles and motorbikes were trying to get in the way. I’ve had enough.

     I rolled my window down. “Kuya wag ka nga sumingit, alam mo nang hindi ka kakasya diyan, pinipilit mo pa!”

     “Eh nandito na ko eh, ano magagawa ko?!”

     I sighed in frustration and put the window up.

     Tinitigan ko na lang yung logo ng gasoline station until I had another flashback.

FLASHBACK

     “Jovee, san ka nagpunta kahapon?”

     “Ha? Ah sa ano lang… yung ano… yung La Salle.”