Secrets Behind Finding Rafael (Published Under PSICOM Publishing House Inc.)

1:16 AM

Beverly

"Hey, Bevs?" Dae called me again. Naniningkit ang mga mata niya sa salamin na may sulat. "Gawa ba ito ni Rafael?"

Napalunok ako ng laway nang malala.

"Baby? May na-ka-relasyon ba siya sa . . ." He blinks for a moment and then somehow, flash a seems to be small secret smile, "squad natin?"

"I-I really don't know." Came by my close to whisper voice.

"Anyways, baka gawa lang ito ng ibang estudyante dito." Sambit ni Dae bago lumabas ng comfort room. Agad ko naman siyang sinundan dahil ayoko nang may maalala pa sa comfort room na ito. What happened here should stay here.

Ang sunod naman naming pinuntahan ay ang iba pang mga room dito sa gymnasium. Pero walang Rafael ang nagpakita sa amin. All we saw was nothing but darkness with silent as the main thing.

I sigh sadly.

Hanggang sa may maramdaman akong tumatapik sa likod ko.

"Don't lose hope, Bevs. We are going to find Rafael." Said by Dae. Hindi ko alam kung saan pa siya nakakakuha ng lakas sa ganitong sitwasyon namin. Sa ideyang ilang oras na lang, masisira na nang tuluyan ang future naming lahat.

I nod at him as we continue to walk away from the gymnasium. Tumila na ang ulan. Kaya't malamig na hangin na lang ang humahampas sa aming mga balat.

My eyes never leave the maroon tiles of stone of the pathway as I walk. But when I turn my gaze towards our way, my eyes focused to the area towards where the school swimming pool could be seen.

Napapakurap, kusang huminto ang mga paa ko.

"How about we go to the swimming pool area?" Dae asked while still walking. Hindi niya napansing natigilan ako.

"N-No." My body began to tremble as my knees began to turn wobbly.

Dae faced me with a confused look on his eyes. "Bakit naman? What if nandoon pala si Rafael? Can we atleast, like, take all of the chances we have right now?"

Huminga lang ako nang malalim.

Mabuti na lang at madilim ngayon. Hindi niya makikita kung gaano ako nahihintakutan sa mga segundong ito.

"Come on, Bevs. Don't overthink. I got you." Dae gave me a boyish grin.

I sigh for the nth time

Paano nga kung nandoon si Rafael?

Paano kung nandoon lang pala siya?

Would I rather choose my fear over finding him?

The answer is . . . no.

Siguro ito na nga iyon.

Ito na nga siguro ang oras na dapat ko nang harapin ang kinatatakutan ko.

I have to face this damn swimming pool area now; the place where my fears started to envelope me like a metal chain.

Today is Wednesday. Ang PE na napili kong pasukan ay ang Swimming. It's for the reason that it's my favorite sport. Bata pa lang ako ay sa swimming na talaga ako nahilig.