It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 34: Aftermath

Chapter 34: Aftermath

I opened my eyes and the first thing that greeted me was a white ceiling.

My whole body hurts. The last thing I remember was crashing on top of the Kalayaan Bridge after Brian Tiu fired on the helicopter.

Aya.

I looked around the room and saw my brother dozing off on the hospital bed beside mine. Sinubukan kong tumayo and was met with pain shooting up my arm. Ah, shit.

"Duke," I called out to my brother. "Hoy!"

Bigla siyang inalimpungatan at napabalikwas tapos tinignan ako ng masama. Kung hindi lang masakit ang katawan ko ay pagtatawanan ko siya.

"Grabe kuya, akala ko kung ano na," he rubbed a hand on his face. "Teka i-text ko lang sila mama." He brought out his phone and started composing a message.

"S'an nga pala yung gamit ko? Yung phone ko?"

"Hmm... nabasag yung LCD kaya ewan ko kung gumagana pa." He took it from a side table and handed it to me. Shit, mukhang hindi kinaya yung paggulong namin ni Lex sa concrete or I must have crushed it when we crashed down sa bridge. Fuck, I need to call Aya.

"Si Aya, nagpunta ba dito?" I asked him. Biglang natigilan si Duke at hindi ako matignan sa mata. "Hoy, kinakausap kita. Si Aya..."

"Kuya, pinagbawalan ni Mama si Ate Aya na pumunta dito." What the fuck?

"Ha? Bakit daw?" I started to get up from the bed and winced.

"Nagkasagutan kasi si mama saka yung mommy ni Ate Aya kanina," he looked uncomfortable discussing the matter.

"Ano? Bakit daw? Anong nangyari nung tulog ako?" Naguguluhan ako. Bakit mag-aaway si Mama at Mommy ni Aya?

"Alam mo naman si Mama, ayun nung nalaman na nadamay ka sa rambulan sa bar kasama yung mga kapatid ni ate Aya nagwala na," he scratched his head.

"Rambulan sa bar?" ANO? Ahh... the fuck. Siguro gumawa sila ng kwento para hindi ma-compromise yung secrecy ng mission ni Kuya Ali pero what the hell...

I took out the simcard from the phone. Time to buy a replacement. "Duke pahiram naman ng phone, please?"

"Pasok mo na lang yung sim mo, dual sim naman 'tong akin," he handed his phone to me and I quickly put my sim card in. "Baka kasi magalit si mama pag di niya ako makontak. Ang tapang din pala ng mommy ni Ate Aya."

Hindi ko masyadong inalintana yung sinasabi niya. I quickly dialled Aya's number. Gusto kong marinig ang boses niya at makita siya. The fear I had a few hours ago is slowly creeping up to me once more. Gusto kong ma-reassure na okay ang baby ko at safe siya. Makailang ring at nagmumura na ako bago may sumagot.

"Prince ko," rinig ko ang impit na pag-iyak niya sa kabilang linya at tila hinihiwa ang puso ko.

"Baby okay ka lang? Asan ka? Pupuntahan kita," I realized my hand is shaking. Gusto kong lumipad kung nasaan siya nang marinig ko yung hikbi niya. "Aya baby, asan ka? Gusto kitang makita." Mga hikbi lang ang naririnig ko at para akong mababaliw. "Aya, please?"

"Huwag daw muna Prince. Magulo pa. M-magpahinga ka na lang muna," Pero naririnig ko yung pagtutol sa boses niya. Alam kong hindi yun ang gusto niyang sabihin sa'kin.

"Aya naman, please. I can't sit here knowing na umiiyak ka diyan. Please baby, asan ka ba? Okay ka lang? Anong nagyayari?" Sunod-sunod yung tanong ko at natahimik siya sa kabilang linya. "Aya!" Untag ko at narinig kong parang may kaluskos bago sumagot si Kuya Alfredo.