Keep Me Closer

25th: Subtle Gestures

HALF-ASLEEP, I twisted from my bed to find a comfortable sleeping position when I heard a loud siren outside. Napabangon ako agad at halos tumigil ang paghinga ko. The noise from the siren was near, I immediately realized the police car might be parking in front of the apartment.

I put on a robe as worry started crawling through my system. Naalala ko agad iyong pagpunta ng mga police para arestuhin si Eustace, so early in the morning and I was left surprised upon finding out the commotions outside the hallway.

Ngunit ngayon ay gabi na, andito na naman ba ang mga police officers para kay Eustace?

Nagmadali akong lumabas ng kwarto at agad pinihit ang siradura ng pintuan palabas. Laking gulat ko nang mamataan si Eustace sa harapan ko na nasa labas din ng unit niya.

"Lienna, gising ka pa pala?"

"What's happening?"

Bumaling ang tingin ni Eustace sa katabi kong unit na nakabukas ang pinto, halos limang kapitbahay naman ang nakasilip din doon at mahinang nag-uusap.

There were people waiting by the door in their uniform, pero hindi mga police. They look like rescuers, the same as the people who rescue people in an emergency or accidents, nakasuot sila ng gloves at may dalang stretcher.

Pumasok sila sa loob sa nakabukas na pinto ng unit na kasunod lang ng sa akin.

A few minutes later, they were carrying someone's body covered in black cloth from head to toe.

Kinilabutan ako sa napagmasdan at mabilis na humakbang palapit kay Eustace. I grabbed at the helm of his shirt.

He leaned in closer to me and whispered in my ear. "They're rescuing our neighbor," sagot ni Eustace sa itinanong ko.

"Is she dead?"

"Unfortunately, yes," mahina ang boses niyang sagot, bakas ang lungkot sa boses.

"It's believed that she hanged herself. Her body was discovered when her friend visited her after not showing up for days at their university. She was going through a break-up then ended up this way."

"Oh, God."

I gazed at Eustace, and saw him looking at me already and then towards the opened door of the girl's unit who had lost her life. "May her soul find peace and rest."

"May she rest in peace," I mumbled.

Tuluyan nang nagsialis ang mga taong nakasilip sa nangyayari. We saw the owner of the apartment trying to console the crying friend of the girl who died.

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Ang sakit magmahal. A misery. Ang hirap mawalan ng kaibigan na nagpakamatay dahil sa pag-ibig na hindi naibigay ng buo."

"It's not that love's a misery. It's the people we chose to love that makes it hard enough we lose ourselves in the process. Some people do things to end the pain once and for all. But in truth, suicide just transfers the pain to other people, nothing's resolved." Eustace remained so close to my spot and I didn't bother backing away.

Mas lalo akong lumapit. He was kind enough not to make me feel isolated after fear and horror crept into my system upon realizing what the commotion earlier was about.

"You think so?"

"Yup," he said, certain enough.

"I believe so, too." Huminga ako nang malalim. "I will get back inside."

I started walking in small steps.

"Sure, Lienna." Eustace turned his back on me also.

Bago ako tuluyang nakapasok ay nakita kong nagsi-alisan na nang tuluyan ang mga tao at inilock na ulit ng may-ari ng apartment ang unit na katabi ng sa akin.