Photographs of Her

16. Ocean's pain

OCEAN'S POV

Pigil hiningang pinunasan ko ang luhang patuloy na umaagos mula sa mga mata ko, maraming tanong ang bumabalot sa utak ko, bakit nya nagawa ito? Bakit ngayon pa? Anong dahilan? Nagkulang ba ako?

Sa ginagawa kong paulit ulit na pagplay ng video ni Kendrick at Irina at mga litratong kasama nito ay paraan ng torture sa sarili ko.

I smiled sadly and gripped tight on the steering wheel. "Wala pala akong inaantay." I mumbled and drove away.

I checked myself before going out of my car. I smiled again hoping it would reach my eyes, but then my tears started falling down as his photo flash my mind. I inhaled large amount of breath before deciding to go out, carrying my leather back pack.

Kitang-kita ko ang pagaalala sa mga mata nila ng matanaw akong naglalakad papasok, hinahanap nga ako ng pamilya ko. It's already 2 AM in the morning, hindi oras ng uwi ng matinong babae.

"Where the heck have you been Ocean Aquiesha?!" Daddy's thunderous voice echoed the lounge. I kept my head hanging low, as they shot me their questions.

"I'm sorry, for making you all worry. Goodnight." I said softly before walking out on them, rinig ko pa ang pagtawag ni Mommy pero hindi ko sya kayang harapin. Not now, I'll just make her worried.

For the first time, I felt empty. Wala sa sariling binuksan ko ang gripo at tulalang tumapak papasok sa bathtub, there I felt the water touching my skin, as I cried my heart out silently.

LAKE'S POV

"Anong oras na? Hindi pa nababa si Aquie?" Nagaalalang tanong ng asawa ko. I sighed worriedly and shook my head.

"Lake, hindi ganito si Ocean, something's wrong." She's right, hindi ganito ang kapatid ko, sa katunayan unang beses na umuwi sya ng madaling araw at ramdam kong may dinadala sya.

"Lake puntahan na natin si Ocean, nagaalala ako." Aniya dahilan para umakyat ako at dumiretso sa pintuan ni Ocean. Pero ilang ulit ko na syang kinakatok wala pa rin.

"She's not answering." I stated the obvious to my wife, making her roll her eyes heavenward. Walang atubiling bumaba sya at tinawag ang yaya ni Ella, tumawag pa sya ng tatlong katulong para dalhin ang susi sa kwarto ni Ocean. Walang tigil ang pagkatok ko dahil sa hindi malamang dahilan binabalot ako ng takot at pagaalala.

"Ocean---" naputol ang pagsasalita ko ng makitang walang nakahiga sa kama nya, hindi manlang ito nagusot. "Ocean? Princess?" Patuloy na tawag ko. "L-L-Lake..." Ade's broken voice caught my attention, bakas sakanya ang takot at gulat habang nakatingin sa loob ng walk-in-closet ni Aquie all the way to her bathroom.

It was like a signal for me to run all the way there,but to my shock the whole walk in closet was flooded with water coming from the bathroom.

There I saw my sister, pale as a paper, sleeping peacefully with the cold water.

Dali-dali kong binuhat paalis sa loob ng bathtub si Ocean,dahilan para maramdaman ko ang init ng katawan nya. She was still sleeping peacefully.

"Call Mom and Dad! Prepare the car!" I hurriedly said in panic and worried. Why Ocean? What's happening?

***
"LAKE AUGUSTINE!!" I saw our Dad running through the hallway with his worried face. He's still in a scrub suit at mukhang kakagaling lang nya sa operation.

"Where's Ocean?! What happened?!" Galit pero nagaalalang tanong nya. "VIP ward 2, room 14." Simpling sabi ko, dahilan para magmadali sya lalo.

"Alexander..." my Mom called my Dad as she started crying again, holding Ocean's pale hands. Simula nung dumating kami rito sa hospital hindi parin sya gumigising. Ang sabi ng Doctor pagod lang daw sya at mataas ang lagnat.