The Traveller's Stop (RaStro x KaRa)

"Hold Onto Hope If You Got It" - 26

"Paanong dead, Architect? That can't be. Kailan? Paano?", Rhian struggled to ask. She has too many questions in mind at kung pwede lang ay itanong niya lahat ito sa kausap, pero as of now she has to know how.

"Third death anniversary niya ngayon. Kaya nga ako nalate eh. Kasi kailangan ko siyang unahin", Vic answered. Maaaring nakatawa siya ngayon habang pinupunasan ang namumula niyang mata pero masakit para sa kaniya alalahanin lahat. That was actually a quick recall of what happened three years ago, pero alam niyang dadamdamin niya na naman ito ng matagal.

"Okay. So you mean, she died three years ago today? May 14 2018, right?", Rhian tried to confirm. Maaaring palaisipan para sa kaniya na pagdugtungin ang mga pangyayari pero she has to have a clear mind. She has to think. Naaalala niya kasing same month and year sila nagsimulang magkausap ni Glaiza through a jammed electronic mail. Hindi niya lang maalala kung anong araw mismo.

"Oo nga"

"Paano? Tell me now, please", pakiusap niya. Naguguluhan man ang arkitekto ngayon sa inaakto ng kaniyang kausap, at nagdadalawang isip man na sagutin ang mismong tanong ay ginawa niya pa rin.

"It was an accident. Nasagasaan siya malapit sa The Traveller's Stop. I received a call from her sabi niya may pupuntahan siya. After that, another call came in. Saying na puntahan ko naman daw siya sa hospital. The doctors tried to revive her but she was dead on arrival. Ewan ko, kahit ako nalito sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari", pagkukuwento niya. Pareho silang balisa ngayon na nag-uusap. "The reason why at first ayokong tanggapin ang renovation project niyo noon. I couldn't even come close sa location ng shop niyo. Kasi iba na ang naaalala ko", she added.

Then a sudden snippet of memory came into her. That accident she witnessed from three years ago. This is probably the reason why kahit gaano pa ka-morbid ng nakita niya nung araw niya yun, eh parang may dahilan kung bakit kailangan nandun siya. Isang aksidente lang ang nangyari malapit sa coffee shop nila sa buong taon ng 2018. Masyadong malabo naman kung magkaibang incident ang tinutukoy nila.

"Oh my god. Please don't tell me hindi siya yun", she muttered. She has to do something and an idea just popped up. She wasn't sure if this will be effective but at least has to do something.

"Where are you going, Rhian?", Vic immediately asked nang makita niya ang kaniyang kliyente na mabilis na lumabas ng kaniyang opisina.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go. I--kailangan ko siyang maabutan", she said trying to keep her pace even if pakiramdam niya ay matutumba na siya sa pagkataranta at pagmamadali. Mabilis siyang sumakay ng elevator at pinindot ang ground floor.

Sinubukan pa siyang habulin ng arkitekto dahil pakiramdam niya Rhian is upto something and she has to know. Kaso hindi niya naabutan ang pagsira ng pintuan so she has to use the stairs.

This may be the longest elevator ride for Rhian and she has to be quick. She was silently praying na makagawa siya ng paraan ngayon and may maabutan pa siya.

She fished her cellphone from her purse and tried to open her Gmail account. Kaso walang signal ang kinalalagyan niya and she has to wait na makababa para lang magamit niya ang internet data connection ng phone niya.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit", she cursed under her breath. Bakit kasi kailangan pa huminto ng elevator sa kada floor diba?

Pakiramdam niya pa'y isang oras ang buong binyahe niya pababa ng palapag when in reality it was only about three minutes ang lumipas.

Nang makarating ng ground floor ay halos bungguin niya lahat ng taong nakasakay sa pagmamadali. She couldn't care less dahil alam niyang pag nahuli siya ay hindi na ito mauulit pa. Wala nang susunod pang oras. She has to save her. Her Glaiza.