Bare Bones

14 - Storm

That was Benjamin.

Alam ni Luisa na si Benjamin ang nakita niya. Nakatayo ito sa pampang ng dagat. The bottom part of his pants was already damp by the water. She can see him waving at her and her heart pounded with joy and relief. Ang dami niyang gustong sabihin dito. Ang dami niyang gustong itanong. Pero higit sa lahat gusto niya itong yakapin. She wanted to throw her arms at him and never let him go again. She can't afford to lose him again. She tried running towards his place, tumakbo siya ng tumakbo pero parang hindi nababawasan ang pagitan nilang dalawa. Sumisigaw sya. She's calling his name on top of her lungs but he made no move to shorten their gap. She felt frustrated. Napapagod na siya at pakiramdam niya ay mauubos na ang hininga niya.

Until he began to fade. He turned into a fog that went towards the horizon.

He's gone. Went to the place she knew she can't follow him.

He's gone, and darkness closes in. Madilim. Kulog. Kidlat. Hangin.

Suddenly she's back from that dark box she was once in. Ipiniid niya ng husto ang mga mata at niyakap ang sarili. Nilalamig siya at para bang nanunuot iyon hanggang buto niya.

They found her. Finally found her.

Hindi naman imposibleng hindi siya mahanap ng mga ito. Kahit siguro sa maliit na sulok ng mundo pa siya magtago, makikita sya ng mga ito. They would kill her. And killing her means killing her baby too.

Isinubsob niya ang mukha sa mga tuhod. Natatakot siya. Pakiramdam niya ay umiikot ang sikmura niya. She wanted so much to throw up. Her teeth gnashing with so much fear.

Not again, she told herself.

Ayaw niyang maranasan ng anak niya ang narasan niya dati. She can't lose her baby. Nawala na sa kanya si Benjamin, hindi niya kakayanin kung pati ang anak nila ang mawawala sa kanya.

"Please-" she begged in tears. She was begging in the darkness to be atleast kind with her and her little heart inside her womb. Napaigtad siya ng kumulog at kumidlat. Naririnig niya rin ang hampas ng hangin sa mga puno.

She sobbed harder. Her body's trembling.

Wala na yatang katapusan ang paghihirap niya. If Benjamin was still alive. If only he's here to comfort them.

* * *

Leaving the Lakehouse was indeed a bad choice.

Umaambon ambon na kanina ng umalis si Garret sa bahay to pick some of the needed groceries. Wala na kasi talagang halos laman ang refrigerator niya plus it was announced on the news last night na may paparating na bagyo sa mga susunod na araw. Hindi naman niya akalain na mapapaaga ang pag-ulan. It's raining cats and dogs and the wind's blowing like crazy. Wala tuloy siyang choice kung hindi magpatila muna ng ulan at maghintay muna sa isang diner kalapit ng grocery store. Kapag pinilit niyang magmaneho pabalik sa Lakehouse, it will be worse for his car.

"Black coffee," he told the waitress who approached him. Tumango naman ito at iniwan na uli siya. Iniisip niya si Luisa. Natutulog ito ng iwan niya. Hindi naman kasi talaga dapat siya magtatagal. Medyo madilim na rin kasi ang langit kanina at nararamdaman niya na rin na paparating na ang ulan. Hindi niya lang in-expect na ganito magiging kalakas ang ulan. Good thing he left Chuck at the Lakehouse, pero naalala niya ang takot nito sa kulog at kidlat. Malamang ay nagising na nito si Luisa sa walang humpay nitong pagtahol.

Sa sabado na ang flight niya papuntang New Zealand and still he's undecided of how to tell Luisa. Alam naman niya na hindi niya ito responsibilidad. He had his own life to think, hindi naman niya pwedeng isakripisyo ang trabaho at matagal na niyang ginagawa para sa isang taong hindi niya pa ganoong kakilala. Allison made him chose before, and he chose his career. Pero ngayon hindi niya alam kung anong dapat gawin. Luisa her baggage and its issues. But despite those things, he developed a somewhat soft spot for her. Hindi niya rin alam kung bakit. He trusted her that easily na kung tutuusin ay pwedeng niloloko lang siya nito. How come he believed her so easily? How come for the first time in his life, he's undecided between staying and leaving?