(EulBert Story) Across the Sea

Chapter 10

Lianna / Eula

I never saw Albert since our encounter this morning. We both got home on our villas and I don't know what he was thinking when he left. I was suddenly feeling tired though and was in no mood to wonder about his thoughts.

Sa buong maghapon ay inabala ko nalang ang sarili ko sa kung ano anong mga bagay na pwede kong magawa. Hindi rin maganda na parang simula nang dumating ang lalaking iyon dito ay siya nalang lagi ang iniisip ko. Though thinking of him satisfies me. Ewan. This is basically emotional cheating at ayaw kong mas lumalim pa ang nararamdam kong ito.

I want to have friends, yes; after all, who wants to live isolated? But he was different. There's something in him... No, I shouldn't be putting other interpretations to his gestures. I should not create more conflict and add misery on my life, even though I feel the other way around when I'm with him - I feel happy.

Fuck those contradicting statements, Lianna.
You just said you'll stop thinking about him.

.

.

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Mabilis lang natapos ang araw. The night came and I decided to take a shower first before eating my dinner. I was brushing my hair when a spark of lightning reflected on my mirror.

Shit. Hindi ko nacheck ang weather advisory today.
I should've ask someone to accompany me tonight.

I closed my room curtains. I started having heart palpitation but I tried hard to remain calm and went straight to my kitchen and prepare my food.

Carrying my plate and a glass of water, I headed back to my living room. I just made a few steps when the lightning cracked the view of the night sky from my window and then the loud sound of thunder grumbled.

The lights turned off and darkness covered me.
I felt my body trembled as I put my hands to my ears, slipping my grip from the plate and the glass - following the blaring smash sound of the broken glass wares. My body was shaking while hearing the howling wind outside my home. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Wala akong pakialam kung nagkalat ang mga basag na pinggan sa paligid ko. Gusto kong magtago pero hindi ako makagalaw kaya umupo nalang ako kung saan ako naroroon habang nakapikit at mahigpit na tinakpan ang aking dalawang tainga.

"Stop. Please... stop" I pleaded in between my sobs and started praying

I was all by myself conquering this fear again. Hindi ko na naman alam kung paano malalampasan ang gabing ito.

I continued uttering my prayers for the rain to stop. Until... "Lianna? Lianna are you there!?" I heaved a sigh when I heard someone called me, then a few knocks followed "can you open the door!?"

Hearing him made me want to cry more.

He's here. Albert is here.

"Lianna, open the door. Are you okay?" halos kalampagin na ni Albert ang pintuan nang wala siyang makuhang sagot sa akin.

Another loud growl of thunder echoed so I held myself tighter.

"Lianna, I'm still here. Please open the door"

My knees are shaking but I know I need to find my strength to get there. I need to open the door.

Nakita kong gumuhit na naman ang kidlat at alam ko na kung ano ang kasunod noon, kaya nagmamadali kong tinungo ang pintuan.
Something inflicted pain through my right foot but It did not stop me, mabilis kong narating iyon at nabuksan.

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.
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Albert

The face of an afraid Eula met me as she opened the door. In an instant, she buried herself on my chest and held me tightly.

"Albert" she called my name as if she was relieved

"What happened?" I asked but then I just heard her soft sobs. Mahigpit lang siyang nakayakap sa akin at tinatago ang mukha sa aking dibdib.

I heard her murmuring "stop" every time there's a roaring sound of thunder

"Lianna, I'm here" I said and caressed the back of her head

"Let's go inside" I suggested, but she just held me tighter. Bahagya ko siyang inihiwalay sa akin para matingnan siya. I held both of her cheeks and wiped the tears that were flowing there.
"Hush, stop crying. We need to get inside"
her eyes are sparkling even in the darkness.

"I'm scared" I heard her say and sob.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you" I said, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. Somehow, I felt that it made her feel a bit at ease.

"Let's go inside hmm?"

"I-I think I have a glass splinter on my right foot"
she whispered tenderly in a verge of tears

"What!?" I hissed to her statement but I did not spend much time asking how she got wounded.
I just carried her in bridal style and went straight to enter the neerest door. Well, I guess this is her room.
.
.
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I shifted Eula down on her bed before kneeling in front of her to see her cut.

"Kailangan nating gamutin iyang sugat mo" saad ko habang binubuksan ang flashlight ng aking cellphone. "Where's you medical kit?"

"It's inside that cabinet" hand trembling, she pointed the table on the other side of the bed. Tatayo na sana ako para puntahan kung ano ang itinuro niya pero mabilis niya akong pinigilan.

"Don't . Don't leave me" saad niya at marahang hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"I'll just get the kit" I told her, but she still shook her head in disagreement.

It's still raining hard outside pero unti unti ng tumitigil ang kulog at kidlat. Stunned into stillness by the look of Eula fearfully sitting on edge of the bed, I kneeled down again to level her.

"You will still see me, aabutin ko lang doon" I softly said, then took her chin between my thumb and forefinger and lifted it before claiming her lips for a soft kiss as I tried to give her an assurance.
"I won't leave you, honey"

I studied her face in the dark and after a moment I saw the tension on her shoulders relax. I gripped her hands once more then walked to the bedside table that she pointed to get the kit.

.

.

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Finally, the rain stopped. Tahimik lang si Eula nang matapos na akong gamutin ang sugat niya sa paa.

"Akala ko galit ka" she said, now calmer

"What made you think na galit ako?" balik kong tanong sa kanya habang inaayos ang first aid kit at hindi siya tinatapunan ng tingin.

"Kaninang umaga"

"Forget about that. I was just-"
Yeah. I was pissed because she doesn't laugh on my jokes.

Ang babaw, Albert.

"You're just?" she waited for me to continue

I shrugged off not wanting to answer her question.
"You should sleep now, tumila na ang ulan"
saad ko bago tumayo at inayos siya sa kama.

"Albert" Eula called and bit her lower lip before she continued "can you stay for the night?" she then moved herself to give me space on her bed.

I tried not to suppress a smile, but I failed.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Nothing" kibit balikat kong muling saad

"Huwag mo akong tawanan, Albert. I'm really afraid of lightning and thunder" she pouted

"You're not afraid of anything before." I murmured while pressing my back against the bed's headboard.

"Huh?"

"Wala. Come here and sleep" I held her closer to me.

Albeit difficult, she tried to sleep. I soothed her back until she totally doze off.

•

I barely recovered from my trauma last night