Somebody To Heal

9th: Comfort in the Dark

Darkness is a strange thing — it is both infinite and confining; it holds you tight in its grasp, but it holds you suspended in a void. Silence operates in a similar way. Slowly the two combine to become a threat

—Reggie Oliver

[Natatawa nga ako sa isang kagrupo namin, yung isang transferee? Hindi ko siyang naging ka-group sa kahit anong subject natin. Si Casey? She told me at first she was so scared of me and then when she saw how Jerome and I interacted, you know? Yung panay asaran at lokohan, she was like I'm not that mean daw pala, she was just intimidated.] Kwento ni Elisha sa kabilang linya habang si Alona naman ay panay ang pagbabasa sa laptop ng isang article na nakakuha sa atensyon niya.

Gabi na kaya't nakapantulog na lang si Alona at dapat ay matutulog na kung hindi lang tumawag sa kaniya si Elisha para kwentuhan siya ng mga bagay na gusto nitong ibahagi sa kaniya.

Madalas talagang tumawag sa kaniya ang kaibigan tuwing gabi, panay lang ang kwento nito sa kaniya na hindi niya naman kinakikitaan ng problema, bagkus ay kinatutuwa niya pa.

Elisha might not know but she has helped Alona by just telling her stories. She somehow felt wanted and appreciated when Elisha blabbers about anything even if some of her topics has nothing to do with her.

Pakiramdam niya'y mahalaga siya para kay Elisha.

"What did you tell her after she said that to you? Knowing you, napakarami mo pa namang kwento." Natatawang tanong niya at rinig niyang natawa rin si Elisha sa kabilang linya.

[Ayun, I told her bakit siya matatakot sa'kin? Hindi naman ako nangangagat.] Alona laughed at her friend's silliness and continued to listen. [Then, I told her we can be friends, I mean lahat naman tinuturing 'kong kaibigan. Pero don't worry Alona, ikaw parin naman ang best friend ko kaya wag kang mag-selos.]

"Me? Jealous? You wish." Natatawang aniya sa kausap.

[Wala ka talagang sweet bones noh?] Tinawanan lang ni Alona ang sinabi ng kaibigan bilang sagot.

[Oh by the way, have you eaten? Kanina pa tayo mag-kausap pero hindi ka man lang nagpaalam para kumain.]

"Yup, ikaw ba?" She lied.

She will never admit to anybody that she's not eating properly. Besides, kaya lang naman hindi siya nakakain ay dahil masyado siyang naging abala sa pagtatapos ng assignments niya. She also has to review something from the proposal for the programs that will be held on their school.

[Alright, I'll eat muna, si mommy nagluto today eh. Bye muna! Love you.]

"Sige, eat well." Ibababa niya dapat ang tawag ngunit narinig niyang muli ang kaibigan.

[Hey, say you love me too!] Kunwaring nagtatampong saad nito at mahina niyang tinawanan.

Lagi namang ganito si Elisha at lagi niya ring nakakalimutan sagutin ang 'I love you' nito sa tawag.