If I have Nothing (Absinthe Series 5)

Kabanata 39

Kabanata 39

If I Have Nothing

When I left, I left my heart with Rhett. I entrusted everything to him. I held on to the promise I made that once everything is over, I'll come back.

Hindi lang naman ang mga magulang ko ang may gusto na umalis ako. Even him thinks that it's better if I was out of Trance's sight. They made sure that he couldn't get out of the country once I was out of it.

Totoo nga iyon. Hindi na ako binulabog ng kahit anino ni Trance but the memory of his murderous eyes and face was all I see every time I fall asleep. Hindi ko inaasahang siya ang taong maghahabol sa aking buhay. Hindi ko inaakalang dahil sa pagkamit ng hustiyang nararapat ay magagantihan niya ako sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay sa akin.

He was a devil. Hindi lang naman ako ang hinabol niya dahil nakarating din ang balita sa pamilya ko kung paano niya sinusundan ang ibang nagbigay ng kanilang statement. Even his friend who surrendered, he was also after him. Ngunit ako ang pinakapaborito niya. His sharp knife was able to touch my skin and his dark intentions were able to put my life in grave danger.

Kaya labag man sa loob ko, kailangan kong umalis. Hindi ko kayang iwan si Rhett pero mas gugustuhin kong umalis kaysa ang hindi na siya makita ng tuluyan dahil binawian na ako ng buhay.

Big sacrifices meant you're taking the risks. I sacrificed the dream of seeing him everyday for the sake that I'd be with him someday. Kung matapos man itong lahat ng walang nasasaktan sa aming dalawa ay ipagpapasalamat ko iyon.

And now, it's been almost eight years since we parted. I am already twenty seven and graduating in medical school in Stanford. Shifting to a new environment is a big adjustment to me especially if I am missing everyone from home. Pero sinanay ko ang aking sarili. I also limit my contact to them to prevent the risk of exposing my current location.

But everything's over now. Two years after I left, they caught Trance being involved in a drug syndicate. Patong-patong ang kaniyang kasong natanggap dahil sa paglabag sa iilang batas. The mighty bastard that belittles women before is now in jail. He was under the influence of drugs when he was stalking me and the other girls. Kaya hindi siya nahuhuli agad ay may nagp-protekta. My family didn't stop searching for him and when they caught him, they took the chance for him to pay for what he did to me and to the other girls. He went too far and being in jail isn't enough for me to forgive him.

I sighed. Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at tumingala sa nag-aabong langit. It's June and it's summer in California but it seems like it's going to rain. Hindi ako nanuod ng weather forecast kaya hindi ko alam kung ano bang ganap sa panahon.

Tumayo na ako at ibinalot ang aking sarili sa malambot na bathrobe na nakasabit sa likod ng sun lounger. I grabbed the towel and put in on my arm. Nilingon ko si Aira na ngayon ay nasa pool na at lumalangoy.

"Aira, I'll go inside now." I told.

"Alright!" she replied.

I sauntered my way inside our dormitory. Malaki iyon. It was like a big mansion because it consists a lot of rooms that accommodates some of the medical students in Stanford. Mas madali kasi kung pare-pareho kayo ng kurso ang magkakasama sa dormitory. You could review and study together. Other than that, I made a lot of friends ever since I set foot in Stanford. I was also open about my condition and everyone understands that one could go at a phase like that.

Being a medical student, one understands the other. My other friends helped me researched about my condition but still a cure hasn't been discovered for it. Tanging iilang treatments lang din katulad ng iniinom ko hanggang ngayon.

"Good morning!" I greeted those in the dining area. May long table doon at nakaupo na ang iilan naming kasama. They were already eating breakfast.

"How's the morning swim?" Johnny, a black American, asked.