When Everything Falls (De Chaves #1)

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY

The sharp stab of the fear and the definite tug of the anxiousness crippled my mind. What was he doing here? Was he here to find me? O nagkataon lang? Wala na akong oras para mag-isip. While I was running somewhere else, I could feel the rapid and aggressive thuds of my heart against my chest. I hoped that he did not notice me; that he did not recognize me. Paano ako makakaalis dito sa resort? This wasn't the place for me right now.

Along the empty hallway toward the hotels, I felt the wrapping of coldness in my stomach despite the searing sun hung atop. While I was running, I couldn't help but to think about what happened that night— the night when they killed my Mother; how they ruined my future; and how they destroyed my dreams. The excruciating mixture of anger and fear rolled over to the pit of my stomach as I sauntered elsewhere. My knees were wobbling intensely but I mustered all the strength I had to escape from the danger that might jeopardize the life I was building right now.

Yes, I was seeking for revenge— for justice to be served but unfortunately right now was not the right time. Ano ba naman ang makakayanan ko? They can easily wipe me out of this lifetime without anyone noticing my disappearance. I shuddered when I felt the surge of draining fear quake through me. This wasn't the right time to feel the inferiority complex; I needed to escape but never let the wave of their superiority take control of my mind.

Driven by the desperation to hide for a moment while I ponder for the reason I might tell to Louis why I needed to go home, I swerved in the right hallway toward the bathroom. Hindi ako pamilyar sa lugar na ito, I just wanted to make sure that Bellamy lost his sight on me. Hindi ko alam pero noong tumama ang kaniyang mga mata sa akin bukod sa takot and pangamba ay nakaramdam din ako ng lungkot ang pagkasabik. I missed him but my ridiculous feelings had been overpowered by the fear in me.

Dali dali akong pumasok sa isang cubicle sa CR ng mga babae. I sat on the seat and covered my face using my palm. My chest was abruptly rising and falling and I could not tame the fear that slowly suffusing on my system. I could not grapple the monster of fear that slowly eating me and pulling me to the excruciating past. I knew that I should stop wallowing to the ridiculous fear that I felt toward them but I could not help it. I was powerless; I had nothing.

Nanginginig ang aking kamay habang nakatakip sa aking mukha. I was petrified by his presence but I needed to think of the way to escape in here without getting his attention. If, in unfavorable circumstance, he recognized me, I need to run to Maripusa and we needed to leave Ilocos Norte right away. The danger was twinned with him; he was with the danger I tried to elude myself from. I closed my eyes as I took my phone from my pocket and saw a message from Louis. I opened that immediately.

From: Louis

Nasaan ka? Anong nangyari at bakit ka umalis bigla, Leigh?

Pumikit ako ng mariin. I needed to think of a better excuse why I left in a sudden. When I opened my eyes, I immediately typed my reply.

To: Louis

Sumakit ang aking tiyan, e.

From: Louis

Ah gano'n, ba? Gusto mo bang padalhan kita ng gamot? Nasaan ka kung gano'n?

To: Louis

No need. Nasa CR ako. Can I go home now, Lou? Masakit talaga tiyan ko, e.

From: Louis

Okay. Ihahatid na kita sa inyo. Hintayin kita sa labas.

Hindi na ako umangal pa. Huminga ako ng malalim at tumingin sa kisame. What did I do? Why do I need to be placed in a debacle like this? I had done nothing to step onto someone’s life.