When Love Was Found In Bicol (WLD)

Nine

Chapter 9: Sweet, Cold and Soothing

Jolaizza

Halos maiyak ako ng makita ang isang aksidente sa TV sa kahabaan ng main road sa Quezon City. Umuulan pa rin ng malakas at hindi ko alam kung magpapasalamat ba ako sa kaalamang hindi nag-brownout sa kalagitnaan ng pag-landfall ng bagyo. The news just gave me anxiety! Nararamdaman ko ang paninindig ng balahibo ko sa katawan at ang malakas na pagtahip ng puso ko gawa ng takot sa lintek na lalaking yun! I swear, I could faint if ever I knew that he's one of the passenger of that bus!

"Diyosko, wag niyo pong pababayaan si Zac." Rinig kong ani lola na siyang katabi ko sa sofa at nanonood rin. Her voice was hoarse like she's gonna cry any moment now.

Kagaya ng inaasahan ay nagalit siya ng malaman ang lahat. That was the very first time she yelled at me. She was fuming mad at me and at Zac. She said she wouldn't ever forgive me if something bad happened to Zac. It broke my heart but it's nothing compared to my worrying soul. Kahit ako ay hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko sa oras na may nangyaring masama kay Zac. Baka mabaliw ako kakaisip na kasalanan ko ang lahat!

"Hello, Ashley?" Pagkausap ni lola sa tumawag. Si Ma'am Ashley ang nakakatandang kapatid ni Zac. Nakausap ko siya kanina ng malaman netong tinulungan ko ang kapatid niya at hindi ko nagustuhan ang sinabi neto. But it wasn't painful, though all her words would make your heart bleed. She was crying while yelling at me and I knew that she was just worried for his little brother.

"Ganun ba?!" Napatingin ako kay lola ng marinig ang munting galak sa boses neto. She paused for a moment and heave out a sigh of relief that made me want to snatch the phone off her hand. May balita na ba sila kay Zac? Okay lang ba ito?!

"Salamat sa diyos at ayos lang siya. Diyosko, ang batang yun talaga! Mamamatay ako ng maaga dahil sakanya, eh." Lola's eyes welled while saying that. I sighed and felt my body weaken at the news. Thank God! Zac Radcliffe I'm really gonna strangle you if you ever get yourself in trouble!

It happened that he called a friend of him and told his location. We were all trying to contact him earlier but he wouldn't answer. Nag-riring lang yung phone niya at kinakabahan na talaga ako! And the rain won't stop pouring plus this sudden news! I can already feel my chest tightening, ready for an attack but thank God he's safe. At least it ease the freakin' tension I felt. Pero kinakabahan pa rin talaga ako. Mahuhupa lang ata 'to kapag nalaman kong nakauwi na talaga siya at nasa bahay na siyang talaga.

"A-Ano po ang sabi?" I ask once the call ended. Hindi ako tiningnan ni lola, galit pa rin talaga ito. She busied herself with her cellphone but she answered.

"Nasa Quezon na raw si Zacarias. Hindi niya sinabi yung eksaktong lokasyon pero gumagawa na si Ashley ng paraan para mahanap siya. Wag kang mag-alala, maayos ang lagay niya." May hint ng pagsusuplada ang pagkakasabi nun ni lola. I sighed, atleast she answered me and I'm glad to hear that.

I excused myself from her and went to the bathroom. Nanunubig ang mata ko at parang any minute ay maluluha na ako. Ang bigat na nga ng pakiramdam ko dahil sa kaba, nakakabigat pa ng damdadamin ang pakikitungo ni lola. Hindi ako sanay. Kahit kailan ay hindi ako gumawa ng bagay na makakapag-disappoint sakanya, ito pa lang. At nagsisisi ako. And now, I just want my grandma to forgive me.

Pinunasan ko ang luha at kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa. Sa nanginginig na kamay ay dinial ko ang number ni Zac. Kagaya ng sinabi ko ay kanina ko pa siya tinatawagan pero hindi niya sinasagot. Kung totoo nga na tinawagan na niya ang kaibigan niya, baka sakaling sagutin na rin niya ang tawag ko. I just want to hear his voice right now. I want to make sure that he's really alright.

I halted my sob when the ringing stopped and the silence from the other line filled my ears. I waited for him to say something, I wasn't breathing. Bumagal ang pagtibok ng puso ko at para akong nalusaw ng sa wakas ay marinig ko ang boses neto.