In a Split Second

Chapter 22

#IASS22

Nagising ako dahil sa pagpatay ng makina ng kotse. Unti unti kong binuksan ang mata ko at nakitang nasa tapat na pala kami ng bahay ni Reign. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi padin ako makahanap ng matutuluyan dahil mas lalong nagiging busy ang araw ko. Sa umaga ay estudyante ako at sa gabi naman ay nagtatrabaho ako kaya kulang ang oras ko sa isang araw.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door when I felt Inspectora's hand on my wrist. I looked at her with a confused expression.

"What?" I boredly said

"What's wrong Dominique?" she said with a worried expression

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. "What do you mean what's wrong?"

Nagulat siya sa sinagot ko at umayos ng upo. Tinanggal na niya rin ang seatbelt at humarap sa akin.

"What you did there was very rude and unprofessional," saad niya at matalim na nakatitig sa akin

"What did I do?" gulo kong tanong

Umawang ang labi niya at marahang tumawa. "Are you kidding me Dominique? Don't tell me you don't remember what happened?" seryoso niyang tanong.

I was starting to get confused. What is she talking about? I don't recall anything. Ako ba ang may mali o siya?

She clicked her tongue and massaged her temple. "Listen, Dominique. I know everything that is going on is hard. I know it's not easy to cope up with all your problems. I'm trying my best to help you but if you don't cooperate, everything will go to waste," mahinahong sambit niya habang nakatingin padin sa akin.

I was silent for a few minutes and processed what she said. Umiwas ako ng tingin nang magsalit ulit siya.

"Dominique, I know what you're going through right now. Hindi lang ikaw ang may ganyang pinagdadaanan. I lost my mother once and--" hindi ko na tinuloy ang sasabihin niya at hinarap siya.

"I don't have time for your life story Inspectora and I have no interest of what you're going to tell me," sambit ko at binuksan ang pinto ng kotse.

Pity.

I guess I loathe that word more than anything. Araw-araw nalang ay puro malulungkot na mukha ang tumitingin sa akin. I'm getting emotionally and mentally tired each passing day and I feel like I'm about to give up. This is certainly not the life I have imagined.

Umaliwalas ang mukha ko nang makita ko si Reign sa pintuan ng bahay. I wonder what she's doing outside at night. It's getting late though.

Tumakbo ako sa kaniya at sinalubong naman niya ako ng yakap. I guess this is all I need. A hug from a dear friend of mine. My bestfriend.

Kumalas ako sa yakap at malapad na nginitian siya. "Anong ginagawa mo dito sa labas?" tanong ko

She rolled her and chuckled. "Waiting for you obviously. Late ka na lagi nauwi ah? baka sa susunod hindi ka na umuwi," sambit niya at bahagyang nagtatampo.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya ulit. "Thank you, Reign"

"Hindi ka na ata masungit ngayon. Ano bati na tayo?" tanong niya at sumilay ang ngiti sa labi niya.

Tumango naman ako at sabay kaming pumasok sa bahay. Inakbayan niya naman ako hanggang makapasok kami.

I guess despite all painful events that occured in my life, there's still a place that I could call home.

****

Reign's POV

"I'll see you later Dominique," sambit ko sa kaniya at naghiwalay na kami ng direksiyon.