Contrasting Colors (Veles High Series #2)

17 | Alessandria

Alessandria’s POV

AS THE JEEPNEY went faster, the image of the big guys running after us minimized bit by bit. Yet the terror which enveloped my whole body has not left yet. I could still feel my knees shaking and my nape sweating in uneasiness.

“Alessa, ayos ka lang ba?”

I don’t know whether I should nod or shake my head. The person I least expected to help me was sitting beside me in the jeepney, looking at me with her worried eyes.

I looked down on my black ankle boots. They’re filled with dirt due to all the running we did a while ago. The smell of smoke from those guys’ cigarettes clung to my clothes, making me feel as if they’re still here behind me, wanting to lunge at me.

Arabella softly squeezed my hand. “Wala na sila, Alessa. Ligtas ka na.”

I bit my lower lip. Her words were supposed to comfort me yet I can’t bring myself to believe it. I know she meant well, I know Arabella’s worried about me…but I don’t want to tell her I’m okay when I’m really not. 

“May bababa ho ba ng Zone?”

“Ako po, Manong!”

The jeepney halted. I watched as the mother assisted her child in getting off the jeepney. The little girl was giggling while holding her Barbie doll. My Mom used to buy me the same kind of dolls, they wore fancy dresses and hairstyles—reason why I developed a liking with fashion.

“Gusto mo na bang umuwi, Alessa?”

Arabella’s voice tore my eyes off the mother and child. Do I want to go home? But I guess the question should be… do I have home?

I live in a huge house. We have lots of maids and cars, a swimming pool, a library and a movie room. Sometimes I overhear my classmates in Archimedes saying they envy me for I have everything—beauty and money.

What they don’t know is… it may look majestic on the outside, but the inside is as hollow and empty as a cave. There are lots of delicious dishes in the dining yet no one to share with. Various movies in the theater room but seats are vacant.

Can I still call it home when I only feel alone and blue everytime I’m inside? Isn’t a home supposed to make you feel safe and loved?

“I…I don’t want to go home…” I admitted. “But I don’t know where to go.”

Arabella only nodded in understanding.

After a while, she asked the jeepney driver to stop. I thought she will leave me in the jeep but she smiled and pulled me. I followed her because I don’t really know what to do.

Huge trees greeted my eyes. The cemented road we were walking on earlier became rough soil filled with rocks and pebbles. We continued walking until we reached the entrance of the beach; a signage was hanging on one of the trees. I knew this was Kaliraya Beach, located at the far end of the town of Veles.

It’s a secluded and underdeveloped beach for there are no hotels and restaurants around the area. There is no entrance fee because it’s not really a tourist spot, even the locals of Veles doesn’t come around that much here.

From what I heard, there was a drowning incident that happened here years ago…and eversince that, people of Veles have feared the wild and unruly waves of Kaliraya.

The wind gushed against my face. Beige was the color of the sand while the waters looked grayish from where I’m standing.

I watched as Arabella placed her yellow backpack on the sand. Then she pulled out a scarf and laid it out. “Tara, Alessa. Upo tayo.”

Masyadong maliit ang inilatag niyang panyo kaya hindi rin kami kasaya. But I don’t what has gotten into me, I still sat beside her despite my skirt getting dirty. For a while, we were just sitting there, quietly watching the waves go back and forth.

Clubs were my go-to place whenever I need to think. For the longest time, I thought the deafening sound of party songs would be the only thing that would comfort me.

I never thought I’d feel at peace in this dreaded and secluded beach, with only the splashing waves and chirping birds as my background music.

“Na-miss ko dito.”

I turned my eyes on Arabella when she suddenly spoke. She wasn’t looking at me though, her gaze was on the sea. “Alam mo ba, madalas kaming magpunta dito nila Nanay noon. Si Tatay kasi ay magaling lumangoy at gustong-gusto ko kapag tinuturuan niya ako. Kahit maraming natatakot dito sa lugar na ‘to, ito pa rin ang paborito kong lugar…”

“Dito kasi nanggaling ‘yung pangalan ng kapatid kong babae, si Raya. Noon kasing pinagbubuntis siya ni Nanay, madalas hilingin ni Nanay na magpunta kami rito. Kapag daw kasi naririnig niya ‘yung tunog ng alon, parang gumaganda ang pakiramdam niya.”

The story that Arabella was telling me seemed like a happy memory but her voice sounded lonely.

“Pakinggan mo.” Humarap si Arabella sa akin at ikinabigla ko ang pagngiti niya. “Sabi-sabi ng mga taga Veles na mapanganib daw ang tunog ng alon dito. Parang nagbabadya raw na kumitil ng inosenteng buhay… pero ako… pakiramdam ko para nila akong hinehele at pinapawi ang kung anumang mabigat sa aking dibdib.”

Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya. Pinakinggan kong maigi ang mga along pabalik-balik sa dalampasigan. At sa paglipas ng bawat minuto, unti-unting kong naramdaman ang pagpawing sinasabi niya.

It didn’t make me feel brand new but it has calmed the demons lurking inside my mind.

And that’s enough for me.

To feel at peace even for a while.

A comfortable silence came in between us as we watched the sun slowly setting, as if surrendering its brightness to the moon. Black took over the blue and orange skies.

“Arabella…”

She turned and smiled at me. “Hm?”

“T-thank you…” I said then I looked away.

To be continued…

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sin's note: hala i forgot to update yesterday hahaha i'll update tomorrow and sa Thursday night na langggg~