I Could Fall

Final Chapter

Orion drove without any direction in mind. Hindi naman ako umangal. We were both still reeling from the conversation we just had. Walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa sa buong byahe na 'yon.

Gabi na nang ihatid niya ako pabalik sa village namin. Wala pa rin siyang imik kahit na huminto na ang sasakyan sa harapan ng gate namin. He didn't turn off the engine.

"Thank you," I murmured.

He pursed his lips. His head turned to the window, avoiding looking at my way. I unbuckled my seat belt and reached for the car door handle. "Goodnight."

I waited for a few seconds but when he still didn't say anything, I opened the door and stepped out. Pagkasara ko ng pinto ay hindi nag-aksaya ng oras si Orion at agad pinatakbo ang sasakyan paalis.

Nanatili akong nakatayo roon at pinanuod ang sasakyan na maglaho sa panginin ko. I understand the silent treatment he gave me. I recently told him not to hope for me. Hindi ko ginusto pero nasaktan ko siya.

I stayed outside for a while, even when Orion's car was nowhere in sight. Huminga ako nang malalim bago naglakad palapit sa gate at pinindot ang doorbell. The guard swiftly opened the gate for me.

There's a slight heavy feeling in my chest but my shoulders feel lighter. I know the heavy feeling will eventually fade away. I might have learned not to feel guilty for everything, but I can still feel hurt. In Orion's case, it might not be my directly fault but I still caused him pain. 

I wish there's a way in life where no one gets hurt and everyone's happy, but how would one be able to appreciate a pain free and happy life if the concept of sadness and pain don't exist?

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad at napasinghap nang makita ang itim na BMW ni Ali na nakaparada sa harapan ng aming foyer. 

Of course he'll be here! I left abruptly and sent him a vague text. Pagkatapos ay hindi ko pa sinagot ang tawag niya.

Inilabas ko ang phone para tingnan ang missed call ko mula sa kanya. I didn't check it. My eyes widened when the missed calls for him were around ten and there's five text messages from him.

Alister Santiesteban:
What is it, baby? Why didn't you wait for me?

Alister Santiesteban:
Saan ka pumunta? Can I go there?

Alister Santiesteban:
Why aren't you answering my calls and texts?

Alister Santiesteban:
Please answer, baby. I'm worried.

Alister Santiesteban:
Hyon Alexandria.

I can hear his stern voice uttering my name in my head. Bigla akong kinabahan. Nagmamadaling ibinulsa ko ang phone.I hastened my way inside the house. 

It's already seven o'clock and I expected everyone to be at home already. I went to the dining area first, but no one's there. Kahit maid ay wala. Maaga pa kasi para sa dinner.

Maybe they are at the back of the house like last time? Tumuloy ako sa patio. The lights were on but no one's there. Pati sa poolside ay wala. Did they go somewhere? Pati si Ali ay kasama nila?

Kunot noong bumalik ako sa loob. Paakyat ng hagdan nang makasalubong ko si Geraldine na may dalang tray. Her mouth turned into an 'o' when she saw me. "Ma'am Hyon!"

"Good evening. Where's everyone?" 

"Ay!" Medyo napatalon pa siya nang sabihin 'yon, parang nagulat sa tanong ko. "Ang parents niyo po umalis. May party daw po na pupuntahan. Hindi pa po nakakauwi si Sir Hadeon. Si Sir Zeno naman po, nasa kwarto niya na. Yung  boyfriend niyo po nasa kwarto niyo. He-he. Doon po pinapunta ni Sir Zeno. Dinalhan ko nga po siya ng juice. He-he."