Good Riddance (DS #2)

Chapter 29

Narinig na ni Jack ang sarili niya. Naghahabol ng hininga... nararamdaman niya na ulit ang buo niyang katawan. Sweat crawling down his face and whole body.

"Kuya!" agad siyang dinaluhan ni Raqi. Lumuhod ito, tila bumigay na rin ang mga binti. "Why did you run like that?! Parang may humahabol sa'yo! You're scaring me!!!"

"A-Are... you... a'right?" Halos hindi na din makabuo ng isang sentence si Kuya Izaak.

Tumango si Jack. Hindi siya gumagalaw. He remained in his position. His hands and knees on the ground...

Sumalampak ng upo si Kuya Izaak sa lupa. "You... don't... have... to... run... like that!" Suminghap-singhap ito ng hangin, napatingala sa langit. "Bro, you ran fast! Dati, halos hindi ka makahabol sa'min ni Raqi. Lagi kang nadadapa..."

"My legs!!! I can't feel my legs! Ah!!!" naiiyak na sabi ni Raqi. "Bakit hindi niyo sinabi na habulan pala 'to?! My mind was just prepared for a morning jog!!!"

"I-I'm... s-s-sorry..." Hinihingal. Nangiginig. Hindi na rin makilala ni Jack ang boses niya. "I'm s-sorry..." Napakurap si Jack nang may makitang mga tulo ng dugo sa lupa.

"Your nose is bleeding, JJ!" Hinila ni Kuya Izaak ang likod ng shirt niya.

Napaupo si Jack sa lupa dahil sa paghila nito. Si Raqi—na kahit naiinis sa sakit ng mga binti, ay agad siyang inalalayan. Hinawakan nito ang baba at noo niya, pinatingala siya ng bahagya.

"Tsk, tsk! Takbo pa, ha?" kastigo ni Kuya Izaak. Humugot ito ng panyo sa bulsa ng jogging pants. His brother gently wiped away the blood from his nose. "How are you feeling now?"

Walang masagot si Jack. Dahil hindi niya alam kung anong sagot. Hindi na siya makapag-isip nang tama magmula nang nakausap niya si Bridgette Salamanca.

Napagalitan na rin siya sa trabaho at puwersang pinag-leave ng boss niya sa New York. Wala siyang natatapos na articles at tasks, kung mayroon man ay pulos mali-mali. His boss was just patient enough not to fire him, but Jack was forced to take a break.

"May ginawa na naman ba sa'yo si Blair, Kuya?" Raqi irritatingly asked. Kinuha nito ang panyo at ito na ang nagpapahinto ng dugo. "You always go to her every morning, right? But for the past few days, you won't even come out of your room. Did she hurt you, again?!"

Hurt...

"Nambibintang ka na naman, Raqi. Last time Jack came home from Blair's house, he was fine."

Umirap si Raqi. "Well, what could be the other reason why Kuya JJ's running like crazy earlier?"

"I'm sorry..." mahinang-mahinang wika niya. Napapikit siya dahil sa sinag ng mataas na araw. "I'm sorry..." Wala siyang ibang masabi kundi iyon lang...

"Sorry for?" tanong ni Kuya Izaak. Inabutan siya nito ng water tumbler, pinainom doon. Pagkatapos, malamig na basang face towel na ang dinadampi-dampi nito sa noo at pisngi niya. Trying to calm his temperature down.

"S-Sorry..." For worrying his brother and sister. For being mindless, careless, and useless at this time...

"I forced her abortion."

"I'm sorry, hijo."

Sorry... His sorry, too.

For Blair.

For their supposed-to-be first child...

For not be able to do anything before. For being clueless... For not knowing. For being late in knowing... For, maybe, being one of the reasons why Blair got immensely hurt.