Chasing Adley

Prologue

"Ano bang kamalasan meron ako ngayon?" I asked myself as I looked outside my office.

Sino bang umiiyak sa langit at sobrang lakas ng ulan?

I closed my eyes in annoyance nang maalala pang nakalimutan kong magdala ng payong. Sumunod yata sa 'kin ang kamalasan ng mga kaibigan ko.

Naka-uwi na ang mga estudyante ko kanina pa and I went straight here in my office kasi tinapos ko pa 'yung computation ng grades nila for first quarter.

"Pagod na nga ako tapos mamalasin pa." I talked to myself before looking at my wrist watch. It's already five o'clock, mabuti na lang at hindi pa nagchecheck ang Security Guard in every corner of the campus. It means hindi pa nagsasara ang campus.

Dahil nabuburyo na 'ko, I called my sister para dalahan niya 'ko ng payong. Three rings and she already answered, it means she's not busy.

"Hello, dear sister of mine. Bakit hindi ka pa umuuwi?" she asked.

"I left my umbrella, bring it to me." sagot ko habang inaayos ang mga papel.

Tumawa siya. "Alam kong mainit ulo mo, nag-eenglish ka na eh."

"Tumigil ka muna ngayon Stella, masakit ang ulo ko at kanina pa 'ko dito sa work." naiinis kong sagot.

Totoong masakit ulo ko, hanggang ngayon ba naman ay sakit sa ulo pa rin kapag numbers ang usapan.

"Okay, okay..." suko niya.

"I'll be there for a few minutes, bye sis." and she ended the call.

Feeling a bit sleepy after the call, I leaned on the table and sleep. Nagising lang ako nang may marahang tumapik sa pisngi ko.

As I opened my eyes, I expected to see my sister's annoying face but I was wrong. The last person I wanted to see is in front of me, standing like a Greek God and seriously looking at me. At first, I thought I was just hallucinating but as I stare at him for too long, I realized he's really here.

"What are you doing here?" halos pabulong iyon nang sabihin ko.

"I'm going to fetch you." he said shortly.

I blinked my eyes twice. I know this. I'm sure my sister told her to fetch me. He won't ever do that unless someone told him so.

"Nasaan ang kapatid ko?" I asked before getting up.

"I told her that I'll pick you up." sagot niya bago inilapag ang paper bag sa ibabaw ng table ko.

"Sit and eat that before we go, I also bought medicine for your headache. You won't drink that unless you eat." he said coldly.

I gulped. Why is he like this? He doesn't treat me like this before. He even left a few months ago without telling me. Without saying if where he will go and when will he come back.

"I won't drink that, wala naman akong sakit." I said.

He glared me. "Uhuh, really? Then are you lying to your sister that your head is aching?" he raised his brow.

I just sighed and took the tupperware from the paper bag. I almost stamp my feet. A porridge!

"Where did you buy this?!" naiinis kong tanong. He knew that I don't like lugaw when I'm feeling sick!

"I cooked that, don't be stubborn. Eat that or we won't go." he said seriously as he sat on the chair in front of me.

Napipilitan man, I ate the porridge without trying to vomit. Luckily, I finished eating and drink the painkiller he bought me.

He brought a spare black umbrella for me at kinuha niya naman sa labas ang payong na ginamit niya. He gave me a jacket to wear too.

We were silent until we entered his car. I was just looking outside, watching the rain fall and listening to the sound of it. 

I don't want to talk. I don't want to ask. I don't know what's with me right now. I feel empty. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba 'to sa kaniya o dahil masakit lang ang ulo ko.

"You're quiet, what's on your mind?" he asked me while he was driving.

I bit my lower lip. He was asking kasi alam kong hindi siya sanay. Alam kong kilala niya 'ko. I know even if he doesn't have feeling for me, he's scared. Kahit kasi nasasaktan ako sa kaniya, kahit may sakit ako, hindi ako ganito. He's not used to it. It's his second time to encounter my  silence.

"I don't know, Leigh. Don't talk." I only told him as I continued watching the rain.

The twenty minutes drive from school to our house is like a thousand hours to me. Hindi pa rin kami nakararating sa bahay.

I closed my eyes. I graduated, my families and friends are so happy for me but why do I feel empty? Why am I sad?

As I opened my eyes, my tears fell for unknown reason. Hindi ko kasi alam kung bakit. I have no idea.

I thought, hindi kami makakarating sa bahay. I thanked God because I don't want him to see me crying. Pagod na 'ko eh.

"I'm going." paalam ko and I was about to open the door when he stopped me from holding my shoulder.

I just stopped, I don't want him to see my face. I don't want him to see that I'm still weak when it comes to him.

"Why are you crying, Alora?" he whispered and I don't know if I'm hearing it right but his voice are sweet.

"I'm going, Leigh." I whispered too, parang nanghihina na.

He made me face him and cupped my cheeks. We were so close and I felt my heart tugged louder. My heart's like crazy.

"Tell me why are you crying..." he told me as he wiped my tears slowly.

"You don't care, right?" I mimicked what he told me before.

He didn't answered me. He let go of me. I know this. This isn't new to me anymore but why am I still hurt?

"Before you go, I just want to say I'm leaving this place. I'll go abroad and please... don't follow me." he said.

My heart ached. My world stopped.

"I fetch you because I wanna say goodbye before I leave. I don't want your last memory of me spitting painful words to you." he added.

My tears can't stop from falling. My body felt weak. I felt like my soul went out of my body.

"Forget everything about me, about your love to me. I hope you find better man for you, Alora Jane."

Akala ko wala na, may isasakit pa pala.