Wattpad Academy

Chapter 26- Rain

Chrim's PoV

As soon as Kuya Melrein catched me, I closed my eyes and prayed that everything's just a dream--no, a nightmare. A nightmare that I should JUST MOVE ON FROM but as I open my eyes, it made me realize that no, it wasn't a nightmare. It's a reality I could never escape.

The lights in the ceiling of the hospital hurt my eyes so no, it's definitely not just a dream nor a nightmare I should get awaken from. Ang mga tubo't mga aparatus na nakakabit kay ate Mariel, ang mga doktor at nurses sa paligid ay totoo.

"Get her away from here." I heard kuya Christian's voice and the next thing I knew, hinihila na ako ni Kuya Melrein palabas ng hospital. Bumalik kami sa Academy't hinayaan nya akong makalanghap ng fresh air UTMT (under the mango tree) na nasa field. It's refreshing but even the refreshing air can't blow away the overflowing thoughts in my mind.

"Why.. did you said she's fine when she's not?" I asked without looking at him.

"Alam kong hindi ka kakain at magpupumilit kang pumunta sa ospital kung sinabi ko ang kondisyon nya." That made me stop. He's right.

"What's... her real condition, then? What actually happened?" Matapang kong tanong, inihahanda ang sarili sa isasagot nya pero hindi ko pa rin kinaya't napayuko na lang.

"She was shot by a gun in class." That made me look at him.

"W-what did you just said?" I asked nang nakakunot ang noo.

"Nakatayo noon si Mariel sa klase namin nang bigla itong matumba. She was shot by a gun na sa tingin namin ay hindi lang siya ang puntirya." Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

"The gun came from the outside. Malakas na binasag ng bala ang bintana bago tumama sa kanya. A girl sitting beside the window is also in the hospital pero hindi na ganoon kalala ang sitwasyon nya. Tinamaan siya ng mga bubog sa pisngi at braso niya--," Naputol ang sinasabi niya nang may marinig kaming p-putok ng baril.

Hindi agad ako nakagalaw sa kinauupuan ko. The sound came from my back. I don't have the strength to look behind me. Agad na tumakbo si Kuya Melrein patungo sa kung saan.

Unti-unti, I tried to stood up and turn around. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad patungo roon. A girl's lying in the middle of the field. Napatakip ako sa bibig ko at napaluha. I can't believe this is happening. Wattpad Academy's my dream school--every wattpader's dream school but what's happening? Bihira na ang klase dahil madalas ay natatakot na ang mga guro kaya hindi na napupuntahan ang mga klase nila.

"Hey, hey, hey. Stop crying. It shouldn't bother us--," I cut him off.

"It would bother me of course! Sunod sunod na ang patayan sa loob ng Academy ko, you think it won't bother me? Damn! It's my fault." I said as I tap my chest.

"Ssh. I was just saying it shouldn't bother us because there's an upcoming competition in the academy, right? Stop it, Chrim. Everything will be fine." He said as he grabs my hand from my chest and squeezed it.

"No. Walang competition na mangyayari." I heard gasps around the field. Miski si Kuya Melrein ay nagulat sa sinabi ko. May dumating na ambulansiya at isinakay ang babaeng nabaril.

"Chrimmy.." Pahinang pagkakabanggit niya sa pangalan ko. The rain started to pour.

"I'm sorry." I said as I run as fast as I could, not minding how the rain touches my skin. Hindi ako pwedeng magpaulan, hihikain ako panigurado. Hindi pa ako nakakaligo sa ulan simula nang ipinanganak ako. Isa iyon sa mga pangarap ko pero hindi talaga pwede. I don't care about it now and continued running under the rain kahit may masisilungan naman ako sa gilid ko. Hanggang sa makalayo na ako't wala nang malapit na masisilungan pa.

There are tears flowing down my cheeks when someone suddenly grabs me and look at me intently in my eyes.

"Listen, most of all, ikaw ang dapat na hindi maapektuhan nito. Ikaw ang dapat magpakatatag dito. You should be the one leading us not to lose hope over this. Buhay ang usapan, do you see those faces a while ago? They were throwing you expressions that are hoping not blaming. Hindi ka nila sinisisi, they are hoping na may magagawa ka." He stopped for a while and tried to wipe my tears away kahit pa nababasa na rin naman ng ulan ang pisngi ko.

"Please trust yourself. Trust the admins... Para sa Academy." He said pero napailing na lang ako.

"How can I trust myself kung.. ako mismo kinalaban na ang sarili ko? How can I trust myself kung alam kong ako ang nagpapahamak sa inyo? I can't trust someone that brings harm to everyone lalo na kung ang someone na 'yon..." I stopped for a while at tinanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa magkabilang pisngi ko.

"Ay ako." Pagpapatuloy ko at tinalikuran siya. I am now breathing heavily. Hindi ko na kinakaya ang lakas ng ulan.

But he didn't let me take a step. Instead, he pulled me again and I felt his warm hands on my both cheeks...

And his warm, soft lips pressed on mine.

Hindi ako makagalaw. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.

Humiwalay siya sa halik at nagsalita,

"But I can. I can and I will trust you... And so I will help you. We're in this together."

...
A/N: SO AYON, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER, WALANG BIBITAW! LOLZ 😂

THANKS FOR READING!
SEE YOU NEXT CHAPPIE, MWAMWA!