Change Me

Chapter 19: "Do you really want to know?"

[ CJ's POV ]

I glanced at Justin and I feel like dying when I saw him not breathing anymore. His chest was not heaving anymore and his eyes were now closed.

God, please. Don't let this happen. I'm begging you.

Nang tumingin ako kay kuya, 'di narin ito humihinga. Halos magkapareho sila ni Justin. Gun on their side, bloody, and not breathing.

"No!" I screamed as my upper body shot up. I was clutching my chest so hard and I suddenly have this difficulty in breathing.

Walang pagdadalawang isip, agad akong tumayo galing sa kama at tumakbo papalabas ng kwarto. Hindi ako tumigil sa pagtakbo hanggang sa nakalabas na ako ng bahay, I nearly even tripped as I was approaching the front spot of the house I was aiming. I can't see straight, my eyes blurry with tears.

"Kuya!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I furiously wiped my own tears, sobbing. "Justin! Oh my God... " I ran my fingers through my hair, fisting it. "Kuya!"  Hinanap ko ang katawan ni kuya at ni Justin pero wala na ang mga ito sa mga puwesto nito kanina. I couldn't find it anywhere near the house. That's when reality hit me.

It was a dream...

It was a nightmare...

I tried to stop crying out loud, creating these small sobs and whimpering. But it didn't stopped there. "No..." I half-shouted, covering my face with my own hands. 'Di ko maiwasang mapaupo nalang sa lupa. The small sounds I was making eventually turned into a more louder ones. I was crying on the ground miserably. "N-no..."

Parang totoo ang mga pangyayari sa panaginip ko. I saw it. I clearly saw it. Binaril nila ang isa't isa. They died.

Oh my God.

"Sweetie! What happened?" my sight was blurry with tears pero kahit papano nakikita ko parin si Lola Percy na papalapit sa kinaroroonan ko. Seige was behind her, a worried look written all over their faces.

'Di ko parin mapigilan ang pag-iyak. That nightmare really scared the crap out of me. It seemed so true.

"CJ, what happened?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Seige nang makalapit na ito sa kinaroroonan ko. She held out both of her arms to lift me up from the ground, but my knees were still weak so Seige applied enough force to help me stand. She immediately hugged me tightly. "Babe, what happened?" ulit nito.

"Sweetie..." Lola was now behind Seige. Nakayakap ako kay Seige kaya nakikita ko si Lola sa likod nito. She kept stoking my hair.

"I... I- oh my God," I blurted out, my voice cracking at the end of the sentence. I can't put my feelings into words. Walang ibang lumalabas sa mga labi ko kundi ang walang tigil na hikbi at ang paghagulhol.

Sa may likod ni Lola, nakikita kong nakabukas ang pinto. And I saw Justin. Nasa harap ito ng dining table pero nakatayo ito, staring back at me with a confused expression on his face.

Doon na nagsink in sa utak ko na panaginip lang pala talaga ang lahat ng 'yon. Pero imbes na tumigil sa paghagulhol, mas lumala pa ito.

"My God, CJ. Tell us what's going on, please," Seige pleaded.

"Oh my God," my voice broken. Walang tigil ang pagtulo ng luha ko.