The Great Escape

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 16

Sign

Malapit na maggabi at hindi pa rin dumarating si Ephraim. Nakapag-usap na kami ni Dra. Feliza kanina at sinabihan ako na kakausapin na lang nang hiwalay si Ephraim. She told me about the precautionary measures and the dos and don'ts regarding my condition.

Tinuruan niya rin ako ng mga dapat gawin in case of emergency. Especially when I can't breathe or I feel as if my body was sinking.

Nakauwi na si Tamara sa kanila nang sunduin siya ng Mommy niya kanina after lunch. Pati rin si Nurse Marie na may duty pa ngayong gabi kaya nagpaalam na rin kani-kanina lang.

Tanging si Mommy at ang buong banda na lang ang natitirang bisita ko ngayong araw. Nangako naman ang dalawang maagang umalis na babalik sila rito bukas ng umaga bago kami tumulak ni Ephraim.

"Darating pa ba si Ephraim ngayon? Are you sure sinabihan mo siya na ibi-brief pa siya ni Dra. Feliza?" Mom asked me for the nth time.

Tumango ako. Since my speech gets slurred, I don't talk as much as possible. If I could answer their questions with a nod or maybe a one swift smile, I would.

Honestly, Ephraim's absence was making me anxious. Kahit na alam ko namang hindi siya ganoong klase ng tao, napapaisip pa rin ako. There's always room for possibilities. No one knows for certain what could happen in the future.

Paano kung nagbago bigla ang isip niya at ayaw na niyang ituloy ang plano? Nag-expect na ako. So all I have to do is to trust him that he'll be true to his words. Please don't disappoint me, Ephraim.

Hours passed and we are already done eating our dinner but there's still no sign of Ephraim. None at all.

"Kakilala mo si Ephraim 'di ba? You're kinda close to him based on how you treated him before, right? Tawagan mo kaya?" Si Mariette.

Alas otso na ng gabi at hindi pa rin nagpapakita si Ephraim. Psalm looked at me before he released a deep sigh.

"I wish I could but I don't have his number. Wala rin siyang social media accounts so there's no way we could reach him online," he waved his phone. "Don't worry. He will surely come."

I gave Psalm a swift smile before I nod my head. I trust him. He will surely come, like what Psalm said.

As we wait for Ephraim's arrival, unti-unti nang nababawasan ang mga bisitang nasa loob. Kiel was the first one to bid his goodbye since he still needs to finish his thesis. And this time, it was Dylan who's about to leave.

"Pagkatapos ng adventure niyo ni Ephraim, tugtog tayo ah? Jamming ulit katulad nang dati," he tapped my shoulder gently.

Tumango ako. "S-Sure."

Dylan gave me a sweet smile—one that reached his eyes. He's the most gentle and bubbly member among AUGUSTUS. He usually teams up with Nox and sometimes, Calumn. We can say that Dylan is the light of the band. They're the mood-setters.

Ilang taon pa ay ga-graduate na sila from college. Matutupad na nila ang iba pa nilang mga pangarap. Narito pa rin ako para masaksihan ang mga iyon katulad ng dati.

And because of my fatal disease, AUGUSTUS never accepted any gig. Right after I was diagnosed with ALS they have decided to stop for the mean time until I get better. Psalm told me, 'there's no AUGUSTUS if there's no Seraiah around'.

They never practice without me; they never hang out without me; they never perform without me. I was glad at first but sooner I realized, it's not fun at all.

Because I am snatching away their dreams. I am hindering them from reaching their goals. Mga hangarin na mayroon na bago pa man ako mapabilang sa banda.