We Said Never (City Series #3)

Chapter 32

"I should be asking you the same question, Chino." Humalukipkip ako. "Isipin mo naman si Alon."

Nakita ko kaagad ang tensiyon sa panga niya nang sabihin ko 'yon. He looked away.

"Ena, hindi lang ako ang may buhay dito," Chino stated. "Each one of these people have their whole lives at stake, too. Apollo, Kai.. even Zach. Lahat kami handang lumaban para sa inyo ni Ezra."

I looked over at the multiple people around us. And then it hit me.

Oo nga. Hindi lang pala si Chino ang may iniwan na buhay sa Manila. Hindi lang si Ezra. Hindi lang sina Kai. Maski si Jaxon na hindi ko naman nakakausap noon, nandito.

They're all here despite the fact that they left all of this behind.

Hindi na ako nakasagot kay Chino. The whole place went silent, and all of them started walking towards the center.

Nangilabot ako nang makita ko ulit si Noah. The last time I saw him, he was threatening us with a gun. And then Zach got shot.

"No guns!" Noah laughed. "Pinakinggan naman namin si Noestro."

Nag-tago ako sa likod ng isang sasakyan habang tinignan silang lahat na papalapit nang papalapit sa isa't isa. As Ezra and Noah got closer to each other's positions, mas kinakabahan ako.

"Just give up already!" sigaw ni Noah. "Save yourself the trouble!"

I could see Ezra's shoulders rising up and down. My view was barely enough to see everything going on. Ni hindi ko marinig ang sinasabi nila sa isa't isa. And with the guys blocking my view, I decided to lean against the car and look the other way.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin sa taas.

How will this end? Imposible namang.. imposibleng makalabas sila dito nang buhay. Kung gano'n man ang mangyari, they might go to jail.

This isn't worth it.

Ramdam ko ang luha ko habang nakatingin lang ako sa taas. I wiped off my tear and shook my head once it got noisy. May mga sumisigaw, rinig ko yung ibang alarm ng mga sasakyan dahil nasusubsob ang iba doon.

"Lord, Ikaw na bahala, please." Kinagat ko ang labi ko. "Please. I'm desperate."

Humikbi ako. Ramdam ko bigla ang ambon sa noo ko. It was as if the sky was crying with me, too.

Iba pala talaga pag napunta ka na sa sulok. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Walang ibang options. Walang ibang hihingian ng tulong kungdi ang Panginoon. Wala ka nang ibang pwedeng gawin kungdi isuko sa Panginoon.

Lumingon ako sa kanila. My eyes desperately searched for Ezra through everyone who was throwing punches at each other.

It was war.

Nang makita ko si Ezra ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Noah was on the ground, and Ezra was punching his face.

Ang sakit makita.. kasi hindi naman na siya ganito. Iniwan niya na ang ganitong buhay. He was going to Church again. He was praying again.

And now his past is haunting him back.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumayo. I went straight for Ezra who was wearing a black shirt. Hindi na rin ako napansin ng ibang mga tao dahil masyado silang focused sa pag-aaway.

Duguan na ang mukha ni Noah. Another punch, and Noah just might end up in a morgue instead of a hospital. Ezra grabbed the collar of Noah's shirt and raised his hand to aim for another punch.

Tumakbo kaagad ako papalapit sa kaniya at hinawakan ang kamay niya.

"Ez.." Hindi ko napigilan ang iyak ko.