STORM's P.O.V
Naliligo ako ng may kumatok sa pinto ng banyo.
"What?" Pinatay ko ang shower para marinig ang sasabihin nito.
"May tumawag sa phone mo. Sinagot ko na."
Ah. Baka sina Yuan. "I'll call back." Bubuksan ko na sana ulit ang shower ngunit narinig kong hindi nya daw kilala ang tumawag.
"She sounded like she really needs help. The screen name shows Cassandra. You know her?"
Automatic na nahablot ko ang towel saka lumabas. "Did you just said Cassandra?" Ibinigay nito ang phone saken at nakumpirma ko ngang ito ang tumawag.
"You can't call her back. Mukhang namatay yung phone niya kanina while we're talking. Nawalan daw siya ng gas and she's in the middle of Dingalan, Aurora. I think she's alone. Why don't you go and check?"
Pagkatapos kong magbihis ay agad na sumakay ako ng sasakyan. Why did she call me? Marami naman siyang kaibigan at isa pa, pwede niyang tawagan si Harold. Why me?
ALAS-ONSE na ng gabi ng marating ko ang Dingalan, Aurora. Hindi naman traffic kaya medyo mabilis ang byahe. Pinabagal ko na ang pagpapatakbo in case na madaanan ko si Cassandra. Hindi naglipat-sandali ay nakita ko nga ito na nakasandal sa sasakyan habang nakaupo sa kalsada. Wow. Hindi ba siya natatakot? Other girls will just stay inside. Aba, iba.
Bumusina ako at nakita kong nasilaw ito paglingon. Nakangiting lumapit ako dito saka bumati. Para namang hindi ito makapaniwala sa nakita.
"B-Bakit ikaw ang nandito?"
"What do you mean, ba't ako?" natatawang saad ko. "You called my number, right?" Maybe you're wondering how it happened. Let me tell you. Remember when she passed out before and I brought her in the house? I saved my number in her phone as Emergency Friend in case she needs one. Mukhang may mga kaibigan naman ito but I find her mysterious and secretive. I believe most of the people will talk their heads out to strangers.
"I talked to a lady..." she said.
"Ah. That's Fein. She's my cousin." Tiningnan ko ito at napansin kong parang namumugto ang mga mata nito. Her hair is quite messy. "So, what happened? Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
Hindi ito sumagot.
"Do you still feel awkward talking to me? I'm sure wala naman akong ginawang masama sayo before para pakitunguhan mo ng ganito. Though, we can't erase the fact that Harold and I were rivals with Stef before but, wala na rin kami ngayon. And you're happy with Harold, right? So let's be friends. I'm really a good person."
Napatungo ito.
"I can assure you. I'm a good man. Mukha lang hindi." I tried to make her smile pero nanatili lang itong nakatungo. Then I saw her shoulders shaking.
"H-Hey.. Nagbibiro lang naman ako." Hahawakan ko sana ito sa balikat ngunit nag-angat ito ng paningin. Tears are rolling down her cheeks.
Mukhang malaki nga ang problema nito. I cleared my throat. "Let's go to my car. There's water inside." Ngunit hindi ito tuminag sa pagkakatayo. Patuloy pa rin ito sa pag-iyak.
Marahang hinawakan ko ang balikat nito. " You need to rest. Tahan na." Inalalayan ko itong tumayo ngunit parang nanghihina ang tuhod nito. "Can you walk?"
She nodded weakly.
"Kung gusto mo, bubuhatin nalang kita."
"I'm ok---"
Ngunit hindi na nito natapos pa ang sasabihin dahil bigla nalang itong nawalan ng malay. Mabuti nalang ay maagap kong nasalo ito. I feel her forehead and found out sobrang taas ng lagnat nito. I immediately went to the car and drive back to the nearest hospital.
BINABASA MO ANG
Marriage at the Age of Sixteen! (ON-GOING)
Ficção AdolescenteWould you love each other because of your arranged marriage? Or love each other because your heart tells you to do so? A story about a girl named Cassandra Valle who at the age of sixteen became married to Harold Benitez, one of the school's hot guy...