K Y S L E R
June 20, 2020
"Where did they go?" I asked her when she mentioned that her parents aren't home.
She looked at me through the camera of her phone, "They bought food and stocks for the store."
She shifted her gaze to whatever she's doing. It looks like she's cleaning her room.
I glanced at the time. It's almost seven in the evening.
"Anong oras sila uuwi? Will you be okay?"
She chuckled, "I'm fine. Medyo maliwanag pa and all the lights are on..."
She's holding a broom this time.
"Tsaka kanina pa sila umalis. They're probably on their way back."
I just nodded. She put her phone down but I can still see what she's doing. Mukhang isinandal niya sa isang bagay ang cellphone niya.
She stopped sweeping the floor to tie her hair. A lightning flashed and suddenly a sound clap of thunder came out from nowhere. Bahagya pa siyang napatalon sa gulat kaya natawa ako.
She probably heard my laugh because she glared and rolled her eyes on me.
"What? Kumidlat na. Dapat inexpect mo na na kukulog. Light travels faster than sound, 'di ba?" Natatawa ko pa ring sabi.
"I know. You don't have to go Albert Einstein on me," she coldly said and continued sweeping.
We've been like this for a few days now. She can already sleep at night as long as we're videocalling or her mom is sleeping beside her. It wasn't a problem for me. As long as I can help her, I would be more than willing.
When I felt the call of nature, I decided to put my phone down first and went to the bathroom.
Nang makabalik ako sa kama ko, hindi na siya kita sa camera. I tried calling her but she didn't answer. Maybe she went downstairs.
Tumayo ako para isara ang pinto sa balcony dahil umaanggi. Hindi naman ganoon kalakas ang ulan pero medyo malakas 'yong hangin.
All of a sudden, I heard a loud scream as the lights went out.
Shit.
Stacy.
Agad-agad akong tumakbo pababa ng hagdan.
"Kuya, saan ka punta?" Tanong ni Kai sa akin habang nakatutok sa mukha ko yung flashlight ng cellphone niya.
"Tabi!"
Agad naman siyang gumilid. Narinig ko ang tawag ni Mama na nasa kusina pero masyado akong occupied sa pagtakbo kaya hindi ko na siya nasagot.
Walang pakialam kong sinugod ang ulan papunta sa bahay nila.
Nawalan ng kuryente. Takot siya sa dilim. She's probably freaking out right now.
Nang nasa tapat na ako ng gate nila ay kinalampag ko iyon dahil naka-padlock.
"Stacy! I'm here!" Sigaw ko pero dahil kasabay no'n ang pagkidlat at pagkulog, inulit ko.
Nang wala akong narinig na sagot ay inakyat ko na ang gate nila. Bahala na.
Pinihit ko ang door knob. Pag minamalas ka nga naman. Lock rin. Kumatok ako ng kumatok habang tinatawag ang pangalan niya.
It took a few more minutes she opened the door.
"Are you okay? I came as soon as I heard your scream-" I stopped talking when she took a step away from me.
I couldn't see her clearly because of the darkness but I can feel her fear.
"Hey, it's me. Si Kysler 'to," humakbang ako papalapit sa kaniya pero itinaas niya ang kamay niya at humakbang palayo.
Bahala na kung mabasa ko ang bahay nila. Pupunasan ko na lang mamaya.
"No... No... Please... Don't..."
"Stacy, ako 'to! Huwag kang matakot. Ako 'to. Hindi kita sasaktan."
Sinubukan ko ulit lumapit pero umatras ulit siya, "Please... Stay away from me..."
Natanaw ko ang isang flashlight sa ibabaw ng cabinet malapit sa pinto nila kaya lumapit ako roon.
Akala niya ata sa kaniya ako lalapit kaya umatras siya ulit na naging dahilan ng pagtumba niya.
"Stacy!"
Agad kong sinindi 'yong flashlight at itinapat sa kaniya. Iniwas niya ang tingin niya roon at umatras ulit pero pader na ang nasa likod niya.
Niyakap niya ang tuhod niya at iniyuko roon ang ulo niya. I can see her shaking.
Lumuhod ako sa harap niya at itinapat sa akin ang ilaw.
"Look at me. Look at me, Stacy. It's me. You don't have to be afraid," mahinahong sabi ko.
I want to stand her up but I stopped myself from holding her. It might make things worse.
Dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang ulo niya. Tears are streaming down her face. Her lips are trembling.
"Kysler?" Her voice cracked.
"Yeah. It's me," I said while nodding.
Lalo lang siyang humagulgol. Itinakip pa niya ang nanginginig niyang mga kamay sa mukha niya.
"I... I heard your voice outside. But when I opened the door... I thought you were him," she barely said in between her sobs.
"Shhh. You're safe. I'm here."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Boy Next Door (QuaranFling Series #2)
Teen FictionIf not watching a random series in Netflix, Stacy Suaverdez spends almost of her everyday scrolling through her social media accounts during the quarantine period to keep her mind out of her thoughts. It was on a constant repeat not until the boy ne...
