This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I keep on praying while I was traveling back to Zamboanga. I isolated myself from my co-teachers and even the chairman himself to mumble a little prayer for the safety of the kids and their families.

Ipinikit ko nang mariin ang mga mata. Terrorism had always been a problem but I never thought it would get this worse. And the kids...

Sa tuwing naiisip ko kung gaano sila katakot ngayon ay parang pinupunit ang puso ko sa sakit. They must be really terrified by now. What happened to them was very traumatic and I can only hope that their fear wouldn't turn into rebellion against their God, regardless of what religion they might belong.

"Parvana..."

Napaigtad ako at napalingon kay Chairman Fresco. He was in a very important conference when the incident happened. He is very calm in this situation but I know and I can see it in his eyes that he's blaming himself for what happened. He said he should've been there. Maybe it would make a difference.

Maybe it could. Maybe it couldn't. The fact that there were teachers who were injured and some of my students died... hindi ko pa rin iyon matanggap.

"I'm sorry. I know you're trying to be strong. We'll be in Mampang in no time."

I took a shaky breath and nodded. Ni hindi ko magawang tumbasan ang ngiti niya, kahit peke pa ito. The journey is making me dizzy. I could hear the phone calls from my other teachers, their worried voices floating around the room, and the soft sobs for the loss of the innocent people who got involved in the incident.

"Thank you, Chairman." I mumbled and excused myself out.

Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang naglalahong puno at mga bahay ay naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone sa bulsa. My heart pounded. It must be Zeus. I bet by now he'd discovered that I ditched him at his show.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay kong kinuha ang cellphone at nakitang si Zoey ang tumatawag. I hesitated for a bit before I answered her call.

"Zoey—"

"What the hell is going on, Parvana?" she fired as soon as I accepted the call. "Where are you?"

"Didn't Tita Linda tell you? I'm on my way back to Zamboanga. Something bad happened to the kids."

"Alam mo bang halos magwala na si Zeus dito nang bigla kang mawala?"

I pressed my eyes close. Yes. I can imagine he does.

"Parvana!"

"Let him be mad at me, Zoey." I said silently. "I want him to be mad."

"Mad? What are you talking about?"

"Look, there's so many things that I needed to tell you but right now... right now I just have to get to them as soon as I can. I lost some of my students, Zoey. My kids." I said in a shaky voice. I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to continue without breaking down. "You know how much I love them, right?"

"Mahal ka din ni Zeus, Parvana." She reminded me in a softer voice.

"I know." Tuluyan nang tumulo ang mga luha ko. I just realized how bad of a decision maker I am until I am facing the consequences now. My taking my hijab off, showing up at his face after ten long years, and now disappearing again because I have to... it was all a part and parcel of a big, tragic mistake.

"Please... please, call him, okay? Nag-aalala sa iyo ang tao. Kulang nalang ay ibalibag niya sa galit ang equipment sa backstage kanina nang bigla kang mawala."