Monarch High: War of the Brats

CHAPTER 57

My head was spinning when I woke up. It feels so heavy and hard to open my eyes and move. Kaya pumikit ulit ako habang pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. I felt comfortable laying in a soft mattress, though compared to being burned alive. I could still remember what happened, but I didn't have enough strength to open my eyes to see who rescued us from a fire. Ang tanging naalala ko lang ay kung paano kami nahila papalabas sa naglalagablab na apoy.

I slowly opened my eyes, I blinked a couple of times for me to adjust on the light. When I could open my eyes properly, I slid myself up and leaned my back on the wall. I heaved a deep sigh.

Napatigil ako nang biglang nagbukas ang pinto. Pumasok si Kuya at biglang nanlaki ang mga mata nang makita akong gising na.

"Priscillane?"

I swallowed and tried hard to say something. "K-Kuya..."

Kaagad nyang inilagay sa isang maliit na mesa ang paper bag at mabilis na lumapit sa 'kin. He checked me first before kissing my forehead and softly caressed my arm.

"You're awake! Do you need anything?"

Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko. Aside from my stomach that's already churning and my head slightly aching, I felt no pain, surprisingly.

"I'm fine..."

He nodded. Kinuha nya ang bottled water sa paper bag, he opened it before giving it to me.

"Drink water, first..."

He was stroking my hair behind while I was drinking. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang uhaw ko dahil muntik ko nang maubos ang tubig. That's why I got a hard time speaking. My throat was dry up.

"How's your feeling? May masakit ba sa 'yo?"

Ngumiti ako saka umiling. "I'm okay, Kuya."

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking sarili. The scratches and bruises on my arms and hands are very visible. I tried pinching one of them, and I flinched. May ibang masakit, may ibang fully healed na rin.

"Those are some scratches you get after setting on to a fire, Pink," tiim-bagang na sabi ni Kuya habang mabigat na nakatitig sa 'kin.

If it weren't for these serious bruises I've got, I wouldn't have realized the gravity of what I did. I could've died there with my body already burned. But I never regret that action, anyway. I'd always do that in a heartbeat.

"I'm sorry..."

I know that he's only worried about me. Sa totoo lang, takot na takot naman talaga ako habang nandoon ako sa loob, pero hindi iyon ang nasa isip konaiisip ko 'yung batang ililigtas ko. Hope was asking for help, I couldn't play deaf.

"Don't do that again! Do you know how worried I was when I learned that you went back on that burning auditorium?! I'm close to punching Pharaoh because of what you did!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Kuya at napaayos ng upo sa kama. "Kuya naman! Bakit mo naman gaganyanin si Pip!"

"Of course! Sya ang huli mong kasama! How come he didn't see you coming back there?!"

Hindi ko alam kung nasaan si Pip ng mga oras na 'yun. I didn't even look back when I decided to go back there. Lahat naman kami sa mga oras na 'yun ay natatakot at natataranta. At kung sakaling nandoon nga si Pip, I doubt he'd let me go back on the fire.

"It's not his fault, okay? Ako ang nagkusang pumasok doon. I couldn't stay there and watch it burning thinking that there's still someone inside."

Mukhang naiintindihan naman ni Kuya iyon kaya huminga sya ng malalim. He sat beside me, umusog ako para bigyan sya ng malaking espasyo.