Breathe Again [MEDICAL MYSTERY #1]

CHAPTER 15: Blackmail

A/N: 

Trigger Warning!

This chapter contains really disturbing scenes which may cause anxiety attack, traumatic episodes, and psychotic episodes. Please read at your own risk. Do not read this alone if you have tendencies. Stop reading if needed.

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"ANGEL."

Nilingon ko ang tumawag sa'kin at nakita ko si Maui sa may pinto ng classroom namin. I can't look at her. Gusto kong magalit sa kanya dahil sinumbong niya ko kay Mommy, but at the back of my mind naiisip kong hindi ako matatauhan kung hindi siya nagsumbong.

"Ano 'yon?" mahinang tanong ko.

Naglakad siya palapit sa'kin at may inabot na flashdrive.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I recorded all the lectures during the times you were absent. Finals na next week, you have to catch up."

Tinignan ko lang iyong flash drive at saka siya tinignan. "Why are you doing this? Aren't you glad that I'm going down already?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Pwede bang tanggapin mo na lang? Nangangalay na ko!"

I pierced my lips between my teeth. "Maui, if you're just doing this to clean your conscience and to get away from your guilt, just stop. I'm not angry."

I heaved a sigh and turned my back on her. Pero hindi pa ko nakakalayo ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila ko paharap sa kanya. "Kunin mo na lang pwede?!" She forcedly placed the flash drive on my palm and closed my hand.

"I just don't want to fail my family, Angel. You know I came from a family of doctor, and it would be a disgrace for them if I do not excel in Med school. I admit it, I was threatened. Kahit hindi ka masyadong mag-aral, second place ka pa rin palagi. Paano pa kapag nag-aral ka pa ng sobra? Samantalang ako halos hindi na matulog kaaaral para lang ma-maintain ang highest place."

She exasperated a sigh. "Ayokong maungusan mo ko, pero mas ayokong maligaw ang landas mo. I don't want you to go down, I just want you to stay where you are. Hating you is just my defense mechanism."

I was startled when I witness her eyes sparkle. But she just looked up to hold back her tears. She licked her lips and looked at me again. "Please, bumawi ka sa Finals. Galingan mo sa Finals...pero huwag masyado." Then she left.

I don't know if matutuwa or matatawa ko sa tinuran niya. I know she came from a family of doctor. As the idiom says, isa siya sa mga med students na anak ng Diyos. That's why all these years, hindi ako nagsawang unawain ang galit niya sa'kin.

I mean, we all have a story to tell. We're all a book with hidden chapters so who are we to judge?

But she's right, kailangan kong bumawi sa Finals. I have to redeem myself. I have to prove to everyone na kaya kong bumawi, lalo na kay Gretta.

So I did.

I studied hard for the Finals, and when I say study, palagi kong kasama si Azriel. Madalas na rin siyang pumupunta sa bahay para doon kami mag-aral. Azriel and I never went back to the bar, we stopped drinking and smoking too. Tinotoo namin ang kasunduan namin na bumalik na sa dating buhay namin.

Especially he's still running for cum laude, kaya kailangan talaga naming mag-aral nang maigi.