Secret Within Me | (On-going)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"O-okay ka l-lang ba?"

Halos magkalapit na ang mga mukha namin, I don't know what to do. Nakaupo lang ako sa gitna nang dalawang matataas na shelves at siya'y nakayuko na tila ba'y sinalo lahat ng nagsidag dagang mga libro, ilang minuto ang nakalipas pero ganon lamang ang position naming dalawa ngunit inalok niya sa akin ang kanyang kamay. I hold his hands at inalayan akong tumayo.

Ipinagpag ko ang damit ko at patuloy na lumakad papuntang table. Kitang kita ko pa na panay sunod nang ghost sa kanya.

Oh! I remember na siya pala yung ghost na nasa gate ng school last time nang pauwi na kami ni Adie.

"It's a mere coincidence na nagkita ulit tayo, Sofia" he said as he cutted the silence between us. "Madilim na at parang uulan nang malakas, do you have a plan like going home early?"

"Nah, it's only 5 o'clock in the afternoon and I'm planning to read all of these books okay?" I answered. "At isa pa, I have umbrella so no need to worry about me."

He just sat on the chair across me at nakacling parin ang ghost while looking at me with a grudge. Creepy.

"Bakit ba ang ginaw"

"Ewan, I saw that you already had a jacket on you pero giniginaw ka" ibinalik ko ang attention ko sa librong binabasa ko.

While taking down some important notes ay nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba. It was the ghost whispering at me. "Subukan mo siyang lapitan, papatayin kita!" Naiinis ako kaya'y tumayo ako, grab my backpack and starting to put all the books I've got doon sa hidden shelf earlier. I'll be back tomorrow I guess.

Pabalik na sana ako sa table upang tignan if I left something ngunit umihip ang malakas at malamig na hangin dahilan kung bakit biglaang nabuksan ang mga bintana at nagblack out.

This is what I hate the most, the dark.

I admit it, I'm not that really scared of ghost, depende sa mga faces nila but madali lang akong matakot sa dilim. Like a trauma or maybe phobia sa dilim.

All I did is to sit in the cold floor waiting for the light to be back. I can't stand dahil wala akong strength at parang nagsh-shake ang mga paa ko sa takot. Tears are starting to flow and now I'm sobbing.

"Dad...dad..." That's all I can say. Nothing else.

Why I got scared of the dark? It's because of the accident na nangyari kasama si Dad. That afternoon, almost evening, when dad got shot and had an out of control while driving. It was dark. All I saw was Dad bathing in his own blood. Telling myself that I should've saved him that time but yet I'm also bloodied injured.

Malakas ang ulan at kasabay nito ay ang patuloy na pagbagsak ng aking mga luha sa mata. Naaalala ko na naman ang mga memories na kasama ko si Dad. Noon, kapag umuulan at si dad lang ang kasama ko, he always cook some congee tsaka titimplahan pa ako ng hot chocolate, since I was a little girl, rainy seasons are one of my favorite seasons. Pero ngayon na wala na si Dad, not anymore, I feel alone kasi.

I'm telling myself as always na huwag magpapadala sa emotion but look, I'm here sobbing in my knees. I can feel someone beside me. He handed me his handkerchief.

"Punasan mo na yang luha mo, magkakaeyebags ka niyan" he said. I just stare at his handkerchief at patuloy na lumuluha.

Kinuha niya ang panyo at pinunasan ang mukha kong basang basa dahil sa luha. But then, he hold my hand. I was confused.

It is warm.

"W-w-what are y-you doing?" Nauutal kong sabi, I don't know what to do. My heart's beating so fast. Is it because I'm scared? I don't know.

"I'm holding your hand because it is the second time I saw you crying" he said. "You're always crying alone"

"Don't worry, because starting today, I won't let you cry alone"

I'm still confused.

"From now on, you have my shoulder--"

"--you have my shoulder to lean and to cry on."

Why? Why are you always kind to me? Why, Adie?!

~•~