Love Above It All

Chapter 22

My head was spinning as I entered the building. Instead of using the elevator, I used the stairs like old times. Malakas kong isinara ang pinto at napasandal roon.

Rapid breathings filled the whole unit. I looked at my trembling hands. Nanginginig pa rin ako habang tinutungo ang bintana. Itinaas ako ang blinds at binuksan 'yon para sa sariwang hangin. Tears were starting to fall.

Bakit ganito? Bakit ako bumabalik sa dati? No! I'm fine! Stop it, Solanna! He's a scam. Nagloloko lang siya. Wala kang pamilya. Kung meron, bakit hindi sila nagpakita noon pa?

Twenty years! I am existing for twenty years already and they'll show up just now?!

My knees weakened so I closed the window and went to the couch instead of the bed. I hugged my knees as I cried silently.

Coco went to me. Ikiniskis niya ang balahibo niya sa akin na parang alam niyang may nangyayari sa aking hindi maganda. Nagtatampo pa rin ako sa'yo, Coco. Kung hindi mo ako kinalmot hindi ko siya makikita sa labas. But it was my fault tho, if i only didn't force you to sleep beside me. Kumawala ang hikbi ko at hindi namalayang nakatulog ako.

The weird thing is, my nightmares visited me. Pero hindi ito nangyari. Sinapo ko ang tiyan ko at sinipa ng sinipa ang hangin para mawala ang sakit pakiramdam.

She stabbed me! She stabbed me in my stomach!

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking tiyan habang may nakabaon roon na kutsilyo. My eyes widened, terrified from what I saw. I started to get covered with blood and I felt something wet dripping down my thighs.

Blood. The white dress was already tainted with my blood. Pero bakit ako dinudugo sa ibaba ko?

"No, no, no! My baby! My baby!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I kicked my feet. Trying to get rid of the bad feeling on my belly. Naliligo na ako sa sarili kong pawis at luha.

My body was shivering, I am almost out of breath when someone's arms caged me. I was trying to fight back but I cannot overpower his strength. Sino ito?! I mewled like a child when he shushed me.

"I'm here... I'm here, my love. Connor's here. Calm down.. it's just a dream."

When I heard his voice and I sniffed his familiar scent, imbes na itulak ko siya paalis ay isiniksik ko ang katawan ko sa kanya. I cried on his chest as he caressed my hair softly.

"M-My baby..." I cried. I didn't even know why I was saying that.

"S-She.. She stabbed me. My baby died. Connor... my baby died. I was covered with.. blood. B-Blood." Nagsusumbong ako sa kanya habang idinidiin ko ang mukha ko sa kanyang dibdib. His hold on me tightened and his body enveloped to mine, his warmth comforted me but I still couldn't stop shaking.

"It's just a dream, Mahal. No one's going to stab you. Walang mananakit sa'yo. Shhh... it's just a dream Serafina."

But if this is also a dream don't let this end. My love is here. He's here. I'm not alone now.

Sure I'm not alone in my thoughts. When I woke up, I was still on the sofa. My eyes were puffy and my hair is a mess. Walang Connor.

I looked at Coco who's sleeping peacefully on the bed. Bumuntong hininga ako at tinawagan siya ngunit out of reach. Aning oras na ba roon? Madaling araw pa lang yata. Maybe he's asleep, so I called Astrid just to hear her voice, and it'll comfort me.

I don't really remember when's the last time I talked to Connor more than five minutes. He's aloof. It made me down for some time but I had to study and work.

Astrid takes me out most of my free time. Minsan naman tulog lang ako at naglalaro kasama ni Coco.

I checked my phone. Pinalobo ko ang pisngi ko habang naghihintay ng message ni Connor. Ang alam ko lamang ay nasa New York ulit siya para sa Pasko, 'yon ang sabi ni Tita Caroline noong huling nakausap ko siya, e.