Parallel Intersection

Chapter 18

"Jam!"

My heart wildly beats as I saw number of people flocking on me. Mabilis nila akong niyakap habang ako naman ay naiwang tulala.

My mind is still processing who these people are. Hindi naman sila ganon karami. I think they were around ten. Tatlong babae at ang natitira'y puro kalalakihan.

"Jam!" Matinis ang boses na iyon. I tried to smile at her.

"S-sorry, nabibigla pa ako e."

They all panicked. "Can you still remember us?"

They almost asked in unison. I looked at them, one by one. Tingin ko'y ang ilan sa kanila'y mga kaklase ko at karamihan ay mga kasamahan ko sa org.

I nodded. "I remembered some...including your names." I laughed a little.

Mukhang nakahinga sila ng maluwag dahil doon.

"Are there some puzzle pieces on your mind?" Napatingin ako sa lalaking nagsalita.

Medyo chubby ito. May tamang tangkad lamang. Sa aura niya ay mukhang malapit din nga kami.

I bit my lower lip. "What exactly happened?" I curiously asked them.

Nabalot kami ng mahabang katahimikan. Tila ba walang ni isa sa kanila ang gustong magsalita.

I sighed. Tanging ang malalim kong paghinga ang naririnig sa loob ng silid. I managed to smile a little.

"Mas nauna ko pang maalala mga formulas kaysa sa dahilan kung bakit ako napadpad dito." I tried to said it while slightly laughing. Hindi man lamang sila natawa roon.

"I'm sorry." Isang mestisong lalaki ang nagsaad noon. If I'm not mistaken, he's Aries. One of my orgmate.

"Bakit...Aries?" My eyes went on his hands. He's firmly clenching it.

"Aries, it's not your fault." Dinig kong saad ng medyo chubby na lalaki.

"Ced, I knew it was mine."

Kunot-noo kong pinagmamasdan ang dalawa. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang kanilang sinasabi.

I looked at the others, hoping that they would explain to me what's going on.

But...I heard nothing.

"It was our fault, Aries. No one wanted for it to happened. It's an accident." A lady with straight black hair said.

Namumula ang mga mata nito. It was as if she's trying to control her tears and yet she failed too.

"Ate Jam." Saad niya gamit ang nanginginig na boses.

Nagmamadali itong lumapit sa akin at saka ako niyakap.

"H-hindi naman...namin alam...na ganito ang mangyayari e. Ate Jam...sorry..."

My lips parted. My breathing hitched. I looked at the girl hugging me with indifference.

"May ginawa ba kayong masama sa akin?" Halos manlamig ang aking likuran matapos marinig ang sarili kong tinig.

Isang morenong lalaki ang dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin.

"Jam...I'm John. I'm your friend since day one." Mahigpit nitong hinawakan ang aking kanang kamay. "I won't do anything bad to you." Nanghihina niyang paliwanag sa akin.

Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang isang tao na kilalang-kilala ko. There is something about this person that makes me feel calm. Na sa dinami-rami ng mga taong nandito, alam kong higit ko siyang mapagkakatiwalaan.

"Carly." It was just a whispered that made them almost froze.

"Carly...where is...Carly?" Isa-isa ko silang tiningnan.