Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 34: A Nightmare

"I have to see them, James... nagsagutan kami kanina." Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagbuhos ng luha ko. Nagmamakaawa na ako sa kanya. "Hindi... hindi pa ako—Hindi ko pa nasabi—"

Humagulgol ako.

Hindi ko pa nasabi na mahal ko sila. That everything I did. I did with them in mind.

Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit at naramdaman ang matatag niyang boses sa tenga ko. "They'll make it. If it's safe we'll go there first thing in the morning. I promise."

Sumasakit ang ulo ko.

He was making calls while driving, almost breaking the speed limit. Everything that happened tonight smushed together in my head, and I suffered a headache the whole drive.

It's all happening so fast.

The next thing I know, we're in front of Ces Vallis. The company's symbol, a shield with an eye inside it, glimmers through the night. Dumiretso kami sa isang tunnel at lumabas sa isang malawak na lupain na parang golf course at huminto sa isang bungalow house.

Tahimik si TJ habang tinutulungan ako palabas, in return, tahimik din ako habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid.

Sa likod ng malapad, intimidating, itim, at wood brick building ng Ces Vallis, mayroong malawak na damuhan at nakapalibot sa buong lugar ang iba't-ibang bahay at training course. Dalawang babae na naka-trainwear ang dumaan, ramdam ko ang matitigas na titig sa kanilang mga mata habang nakatitig ako sa logo ng Ces Vallis sa kanilang dibdib.

Sumalubong sa amin si Kuya Jupiter at Hera sa harap ng bahay, at wala na ako sa katinuan para batiin sila. Magkatabi silang nakatayo sa harap, their faces giving nothing away from what they currently feel.

"Report?" Salubong ng kuya niya.

"Fuck you." Sagot ni TJ at dumiretso sa loob ng bahay habang kinakarga ako sa kanyang mga kamay.

The brothers looked like they were fighting, but I didn't have the energy to ask and get rejected again.

Ibinaba ako ni TJ sa isang upuan at tumabi si Hera sa kanya, dala ang isang tasa ng kape para sa aming dalawa at tinititigan ang kalagayan ko. Ang bango ng kape pero hindi ko makalimutan ang baho ng dugo at ang amoy ng usok.

"I'll take care of her. We'll talk later." Mabilis na nagsalita si TJ kahit wala pa namang sinasabi si Hera. "Where's the doctor?"

"Still on his way."

She slides the coffee closer to me, and I don't have the energy to even think of holding it.

"You have to wash off too." She says to TJ, However, her poker face makes me feel like she doesn't care about anything. "You look like you met death."

"I can't leave her—"

"Kaya ko alagaan sarili ko." Namamalat na ang boses ko sa kakasigaw ngayong gabi. It hurts to even try to talk.

"Go. You'll just transfer all that blood and dirt to her if you don't." That sealed the deal for him.

"Fine. Take care of her for me." Minata niya si Hera at binalik ang tingin sa akin. "I'll come for you, okay?"

Hahalikan niya sana ako pero iniwas ko ang aking mukha ng huling segundo at tumama ang labi niya sa pisngi ko. He looked at me for a second too long because of what I did before leaving.

I hate him right now.

"How are you?" With hands crossed, Hera asks.

Dahan dahan kong kinuha ang kape. I was amazed at how composed I appeared. Because internally? I sucked my thumb, curled into a ball, and screamed.