"But if you are her friend. Shouldn't you make time for her?"
Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Vee. I wasn't doing anything that day, inimbitahan ako nina Nien pero hindi lang talaga ako sumulpot. Maybe Vee's right. Siguro nga hindi kami magkaibigan sa lagay na ito.
[I just think you might want to hear this but I saw Hazel walking alone. Dito sa poblacion.]
"Where are you?" I frowned
[Umuwi ako, hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko.]
"Wait, magpapaalam lang ako, pupuntahan kita."
[No, Claude. Go to her, mag-isa siyang naglalakad at mukhang walang balak mag tricycle.]
"Ashya–"
[Sumasakit lang ulo ko, don't overreact please.] mahina siyang tumawa
Nagmamadali akong pumara ng tricycle para puntahan si Hazel. Kaya lang, hindi pa ako nakakarating sa Poblacion ay nakita ko na siya sa daan na wala sa sariling naglalakad kaya bumaba ako para sundan siya.
I want to be mad when she suddenly turned left to take the secluded path. Isn't she thinking of her own safety? Hindi pa din ba niya alam na delikado kapag magisa siya? Hindi pa din ba niya alam kung ano yung apelyidong dinadala niya?
"Samahan na kita." I insisted when I got caught
"Kaya kong maglakad mag-isa."
Stubborn. I knew she would say that.
"Hazel." I called with authority. Can't she stop being stubborn for once?
"This isn't the first time I've taken this path. Kaya—"
I couldn't take it any longer. Ang pagtitimpi ko kanina ay hindi ko na nakayanan pigilan ngayon.
"So you've been doing this?! Don't you know what danger you're bringing to yourself?"
"Kaya ko ang sarili ko, Claude. You can leave now." aniya bago tuluyang naglakad.
I can't believe she's doing this to herself. This isn't how his brother wanted her to be...
"Paano kung ibang tao pala ang nakasunod sayo?"
"Bakit, ibang tao ba? Hindi naman ah. Hindi nga dapat ako dadaan dito kung hindi mo ako sinusundan eh!" she raised her voice too.
"You know someone's following you?" mas lalong tumaas ang boses ko, "at mas pinili mong dumaan dito kaysa sa kalsada na may mga taong dumadaan?!"
"Pakialam mo ba?" she looked at me as if I'm annoying her.
Alam niya. Alam niyang may nakasunod sakanya but she still tried to take this path! Seriously, what is she thinking? Ayaw kong isipin na ganon pero hindi ko maiwasang isipin... She isn't doing it. She can't be doing it.
Claude (3 of 3)
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