Painful Escape

Chapter 36

iii.

I went to work pero wala akong masyadong ginawa since Owhen is in Germany. I guess his father gave him work to take care of their hospital there. He will be there for a week, he texted me. My work went smoothly at pagkatapos ay umuuwi na rin para makapagpahinga. Just like what I planned. I went on a vacation. We are supposed to go to Japan this week pero namove 'yon next month since Owhen is not available.

Luckily, Cassy agree to do my work for me although I already finished most of it before taking a leave. It's just a short vacation, 3 to 5 days? 

I sighed while waiting for the bus. I did not use my car or take my phone with me to have a vacation peacefully. I need peace. I need to think clearly. Ofcourse nagpaalam naman ako sa mga close friends at family ko para aware sila. 

Tinignan ko ang relo ko, it's already 3 in the afternoon. The bus is supposed to be here at 2:30 p.m. pero wala pa. Maybe because of the heavy traffic. Habang nakatayong naghihintay, halos mapatalon ako nang may teenager na kumalabit sa 'kin. Based on her physical appearance, she's 17 or 18 years old. She's smiling at me while holding her phone. I don't who she is.

"Ate, uhm..." she awkwardly grinned.

"Why?" tanong ko.

"Ikaw po si Shaneen Meritt 'di ba? Younger sister of Shal Meritt?"

Umawang ang labi ko. It's been a while since the last time na may nakakilala sa 'kin. Probably because I'm always at the hospital at halos ngayon na lang lumabas.

I smiled. "Yes, I am."

Lumaki ang ngiti n'ya sa labi. "Pwede po bang magpapicture?"

I bit my lower lip and nodded. Lumapit s'ya sa 'kin at nagselfie. After that, she's really happy, abot tenga ang ngiti.

"Ang ganda n'yo po, sobra! Kaya agad ko po kayong nakilala kasi halos magkamukha po kayo ni Kuya Shal. Alam ko pong hindi po kayo artista at mas pinili n'yo po ang pagdodoctor. Finafollow ko rin po kayo sa Instagram noon pero dinelete n'yo po ata 'yon. Pero grabe ang ganda n'yo po talaga sa personal!"

I slightly laughed. "Thank you."

"Ay Ate, pwede po bang magtanong?"

Wala pa naman ang bus na sasakyan ko kaya sumagot ako ng, "Sure."

"Sobrang tagal na pong hiatus ni Ate Cleo Meritt, kelan po s'ya babalik sa showbiz? Madami na pong nakakamiss sa kan'ya. May pamilya na po ba s'ya? She's not updating any of her social media po, e."

I trembled when I heard her name. Natulala ako. I don't what to say because I don't want to talk about her anymore. That incident traumatized me so much.

"Uh, j-just respect her privacy. I don't want to talk about it. I'm sorry."

Nagmamadali akong umalis sa pwestong 'yon nang hindi man lang nagpapaalam. I know it's rude but I might cry, I can't. I bit my lower lip. May lumilitaw na luha sa mga mata ko. Fuck. Bahagya ko 'yong pinunasan. Sakto at dumating ang bus kaya kaagad akong pumasok at naghanap ng upuan. Luckily, kaunti lang ang bumabyahe dahil hindi naman bakasyon kaya mag-isa lang ako sa two-seated.

Tahimik ako habang nakasandal ang ulo sa bintana. Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang mga lugar na dinaraanan namin. The whole bus is silent since the conductor is not yet collecting our fee. Thoughts came into my mind. A lot of what ifs. Shit. This is bad. I tried to sleep since I don't want to overthink things. Ni wala pa nga ako sa pupuntahan ko, nag-iisip na ako ng kung ano-ano. 

Nagising ako dahil sa ingay. Nasa Dau na pala kami, nagstop kami sa isang terminal ng bus dito. I continue sleeping since I'm literally tired. Nagising na lang ako nung malapit na kami sa last bus stop, kung saan ako bababa. I just bring one luggage so it's not hassle for me. It was already nine in the evening when I arrived at the resort-hotel. Kaagad naman akong sinalubong ng naka-unipormeng babae at lalaki. I already reserved a room here. The boy get my things and the girl pointed the direction where I'll stay for I-don't-know-days.