Kronack Crown

Chapter 23

PAGOD NA isinandal ni Kalisz ang katawan sa sofa. She has been working herself all day long, only taking a break for eating and the bathroom. Sometimes she would stay in her room's balcony.

She spent her waking hours working for the past few days or it has been a week. Hindi niya na nga alam kung isang lingo na ba ang lumipas.

Mula nung araw na nagising siya kinaumagahan sa silid ni Kronack pagkatapos ng nangyari sa kanila o ng away nila ay bumalik siya sa silid niya.

Ever since that day, she has not stepped outside of her room. Manang Lor or Amy would bring her food on time. Both women tried to talk to her but she remained quiet. She knew it was wrong but she was afraid to open up to anyone again after what happened.

So, to avoid thinking about them— about everything — she worked a lot. Every time she was awake she worked. She accepts every editing job there is and does it. It feels like work makes her alive and sane. Baka paghindi niya pinagod ang sarili sa trabaho ay mabaliw na siya.

Auri also visited her a few times but she remained unresponsive with her. Hanggang sa sumuko na ata ito at hindi na siya dinalaw ulit.

It hurts, but she's not ready to talk to anyone yet. She doesn't even know when she'll be able to talk to them again.

Naisipan niya na ring umalis pero hindi niya alam kung paano. Kahit isa sa mga taong narito ay ayaw niyang kausapin. Hindi naman siya pwedeng mag-alsa balutan at languyin ang dagat dahil hindi rin siya kagalingan lumangoy.

Hindi niya na rin nabubuksan ang cellphone niya dahil hindi niya rin kayang kausapin sina Dessert at Vegas. Miss na nga niya si Vegas. But she's afraid to talk to the child without breaking down. The last thing she wanted for Vegas was to feel sad.

Kronack on the other hand has been quiet. He would visit her every day— a few times a day — but he would only check on her, stay for a while, watch her then leave. No questions asked, just silence.

And she appreciated it.

She's not ready to talk. She's not ready to go out and face the rest of the people that, she knew, know something about her already.

Part of her is already tired of all of this. Gusto niyang baguhin ang lahat sa kanya. Pakiramdam niya kasi bumabalik siya sa buhay na meron siya noong nasa hospital pa siya at pasyente ni Grant. Nasa loob lang ng isang silid at meron lang mga taong pumapasok para tignan ang kondisyon niya. Papakainin at papaliguan.

She escaped that place to be free. She hated the isolation it made her feel. But now, she's here, isolating herself and not talking again. Kulang na lang ang matulala siya ulit at talagang balik na siya ulit sa dati.

Tumayo siya at lumabas ng balcony. The balcony in her room faces the garden and further are trees. Mula nang nagkulong siya naging paborito niya na ang balkonahe. Nakatulong din ang paminsan-minsan na pagtambay niya dito para kumalma siya pagnapupuno na ang utak niya ng mga alahahanin.

Minsan kahit sa gabi ay narito siya. Lalong-lalo na pagnagigising siya dahil sa masamang panaginip.

Bumunot siya ng malalim na hininga.

What should I do?

She can't stop asking herself. Gusto niyang tanungin si Kronack kung ano balak nito sa kanya pero hindi niya naman matanong ang binata. Gusto niyang umalis pero sino ba ang tatawagan niya para makaalis. Nahihirapan siyang magtiwala ulit. Parang isa lang ang pagpipilian niya.

Ang tawagan si Grant at sabihing babalik na siya sa hospital. Magsorry dito at kay Dusk dahil sa ginawa niyang pagtakas at pagnakaw sa mga dokumeto at pera.