In a Split Second

Chapter 14

#IASS14

"Oh my God Dominique what happened?" she asked while caressing my hair but I couldn't look at her because I just want to hug her for a few more minutes. Hindi ko inakala na nandito siya ngayon pero laking pasasalamat ko dahil kahit papano ay may tao paring masasandalan ko.

Unti-unti akong kumalas sa yakap niya at pinunasan ang luha sa mukha ko. I probably look like shit right now. "Reign, how? bat nandito ka? kamusta yung mommy mo?" I looked at her still sobbing as I tried to calm myself. She looked at me apologetically and held my hand.

"I'm sorry, kung alam ko lang na mangyayari toh, sana hinatid kita sainyo. I'm sorry Dominique." she said and hugged me again. 

"No, Reign. It's not your fault, don't blame yourself." I said and tried to smiled at her but she just looked at me with worry across her face.

"Can you tell me what happened? why are you covered in blood?" she asked still schocked and continued to examined me.

Hindi ko napansin na may mga mantsa ng dugo sa damit ko at pati narin sa katawan ko. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes trying not to remember the tragedy that happened to my family. Hindi ko siya sinagot at tumungo nalang ako.

"Okay uhmm I understand if you're still not ready to talk about it--" naputol ang sinabi ni Reign ng biglang nagsalita yung kasama kong pulis. Hindi ko napansin na kanina pa pala niya kami inoobserbahan.

"Excuse me miss pero kaano ano niyo po ang biktima?" sambit ng pulis

"I'm her friend. Reign" sambit ni reign at nilahad ang kamay sa pulis.

"Maari ko ba kayong makausap? May mga itatanong lang kami sayo" sambit ng pulis at marahang ngumiti

"Alright" tumango si Reign at tumingin sakin, I nodded and assured her that I would be fine. She hesitated at first but she eventually followed the police.

"I'll be back," senyas niya at tuluyan na siyang nawala sa paningin ko.

I noticed I'm still at the police station and everyone is busy doing their work. Some are looking at me with worry across their faces while some didnt bother to even look at me. Umupo muna ako sa sa upuan malapit sa exit at inobserbahan ang mga tao.

I have never been to a police station before. At that moment I knew my life would never be the same. 18 yrs of existence but I feel as if my life is falling apart, like I have no reason to live anymore. I scanned my hands and there were stains of blood. My family's blood. I was about to cry again when I saw Reign in front of me. She tried to smile at me but I couldnt smile back.

Unti-unting lumapit sakin si Reign and offered her hand.

"Let's go. You can stay at my place at the meantime," sabi niya at bahagyang ngumiti. Inabot ko ang kamay niya at tumayo.

"Anong pinagusapan niyo?" tanong ko

"Uhh wala naman, may mga tinanong lang siya at sabi niya nag aalala daw siya dahil baka wala kang matutuluyan. I said I can let you stay at my place hanggat maayos ang lahat," sambit ni Reign at lumingon sakin.

Niyaya na ako ni Reign na umuwi pero tumigil ako nung nakalimutan kong magpasalamat sa pulis na tumulong sakin. Lumingon ako sa paligid at nakita ko siyang kakalabas lang ng office. Nakita kong tumingin siya saamin at tumango. I mouthed a "thank you" before turning back to Reign as we exit the police station.

****

"We're here," sambit ni Reign at sabay kaming bumaba ng sasakyan niya.

Hindi ito ang unang beses na pumunta ko sa bahay ni Reign pero may mga bagay na nagbago. I scanned the whole surroundings and I saw their beautiful garden. Mayroon ding fountain sa gitna at umiilaw ito dahil gabi na. Napapalibutan din ng mga halaman ang paligid at iba bang mamahaling sculptures. Wala ng mga katulong sa labas dahil gabi narin.