The Protectors

Chapter 30: Resolution

Chapter 30: Resolution

"I will go wherever my feet take me.

Lucky if that place is where you'll be."

—

I'm dreaming about the grassy field again.

I was walking—taking my sweet time admiring the view. There are tall trees, its leaves swaying with the wind. Above is the dark sky, the blanket of stars, and the bright moon keeping the surface well lit.

I was wandering amidst the drowning thoughts in my head.

My thoughts are killing me, poisoning me, and trying to paralyze me but my feet are immune. Though almost dead, I continued walking through the green path.

I was hoping I could see Michael here. Just like the last time. I was hoping, maybe, at least even in my dream, somebody will permit me to see him.

Then an invisible force sucked me out. It brought me back to the real world.

Mabagal ang padilat ng mata ko. I don't know what the hell am I dreaming about. I'm lost even in my dreams.

Kahit sa panaginip ko ay hinahanap ko pa din siya.

How many days have gone now? Twenty days, I guess? Hindi pa rin ako lumalabas ng kwarto. Though I feel like I've improved now. I ate. Unfortunately for my body, I puked it all out.

I've made my room a personalized mausoleum and my bed a coffin. People still come, they still talk to me from time to time, but I don't really listen to them.

Pero may tumutulak sa akin ngayon. I think I've lied down enough. Hindi na ako tanga dahil sumasagi na sa isip kong kailangan ko nang gawin ang responsibilidad ko.

Because my responsibilities are heavy and will cause a great deal of chaos if not done.

Siguro nga kailangan ko nang bumangon.

Veronica sitting on the sofa. Pinapanuod niya ako lagi ako habang natutulog. Kahit kapag nagpapanggap na tulog. Walang reaksyon ang parehong mukha namin nang magsalubong ang mga mata namin.

Bumangon ako. Dumiretso ako sa closet. I need to take a bath.

I smell like dead, too.

"Three weeks." She's probably telling how long I've been laying. "This is the first time I saw you get off that bed."

I didn't reply.

"Are you ready to eat?"

"I just need to fix some stuff first."

Pinagpag niya ang laylayan ng damit niya at tumayo na sa inuupuan. Dire-diretso siyang lumabas ng kwarto. Which is good.

I took the large bag I brought to the Church the first time I came here and put all my important stuff in it.

"What are you doing?" Nakabalik na siya agad.

"I'm fulfilling my promise."

"What promise?"

"She promised to leave the Church if Michael dies," Victoria answered in perfect timing. She's wearing a plain white dress. Namumugto ang mga mata niya. Pareho kami. Dead but not really. She's still beautiful, though. I probably looked like some dried corpse.

"That," I second her answer. Kunot noo si Veronica nang magsalit-salit ang tingin niya sa amin ni Victoria. She doesn't really know about that promise. Nobody knows about the promise except the two of us.