Protecting What's Hers

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲

Katherine Evans

"Katherine." I woke up with a faint voice calling my name a couple of times already.

Walang ilaw at tanging sinag lang ng buwan ang nagbibigay liwanag sa madilim na silid na siyang tinulugan namin ng dalaga.

I squinted to get a better vision while I scanned my eyes on my surroundings. "Katherine." Tawag nito ulit.

Inalis ko ang kumot na siyang nakabalot sa katawan ko and pushed my body away from the bed at prenteng umupo sa gilid nito.

My eyes landed on the figure sitting near the window and I let out a sigh. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa cellphone at alas dose palang ng gabi.

"Felicity, it's still late. Go back to sleep."

But the woman didn't bother giving me a response at nanatili lang ang tingin sa labas.

Tumayo ako at naglakad papunta sa kanya. "Maaga pa tayo bukas, come on." Sambit ko sabay hawak sa braso niya but I immediately withdraw my hand when she starts trembling.

Umalingawngaw ang iyak nito. Her cries echoed in the four walls of the motel room.

"Bakit mo nagawa to?" She said as her voice cracks in every word that she lets out.

"What do you mean?"

And I almost shrieked when her head suddenly tilted and tears flowing like a stream in her eyes.

No, hindi ito luha.

It was blood and the red substance started soaking the white shirt that she's wearing.

Humakbang ako palayo yet my feet felt like it was pinned on the ground hanggang sa dahan dahang nawalan ng lakas ang katawan ko.

But before my mind can process everything, she's now in front of me. White eyes, blood tainted cheeks.

"It's all your fault."

And the face of my brother.

"Miss Evans!"

An aching pain shot through my face and my hand immediately went to my cheek to grasp it.

Habol - habol ko ang hininga habang nakatingin sa babaeng nasa itaas ko. She's hovering over me, looking at me with those doe innocent eyes of hers.

Kitang kita ko ang pag - alala sa mga mata nito. "Are you okay? Binabangungot ka."

I extended my hand at marahan na itinulak ito palayo sa akin. "How cute of you to ask me that when you literally just slapped me in the face."

"Eh pasensya na. Kanina pa kaya kita ginigising but it won't even budge you a bit."

Tumayo ako at tinungo ang mesa and took the bottle of water. I rotate the cap of it and gulp the substance in a full swig.

Ramdam na ramdam ko parin ang pagkalabog ng puso ko. It's the first time that I saw my baby brother visited me in my dreams.

I shook my head and let out a loud sigh. Hindi lang panaginip, but a damn nightmare that I know will probably haunt me for a long time.