The Art of Metaphorical Collisions

Prologue

Prologue

"Where are you?"

I bit my lip when I heard her voice on my phone. It really felt like I was going to burst into pieces a while ago.

"They just left. Papunta na ako diyan."

Darn it, I already feel like crying. Parang gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko ng paulit ulit para umayos ang lagay ko.

My vision is starting to get blurry and some tears have managed to escape from their lids already. Sumabay ako sa mga tao sa kalsada habang marahas na pinapahid ang luhang tumutulo sa mata ko. I hate this.

"What exactly happened? Cord, you should calm the heck down. You're in the middle of the street right now. Umayos ka."

"I know, okay?" I lifted my face a bit to prevent these tears from spilling out. "I don't even give a damn anymore."

"Hindi ko alam ang nangyayari sayo, but please pull yourself together. Hurry up and get back here.." Cydee reminded frantically.

I didn't have enough brain cells to digest everything that she kept telling afterward. She continued reminding and talking to me on the phone while I continued to pace myself in the street, trying to get back in the Coffee Shop.

I don't know what to do next. The tears kept on flowing down my face and I don't understand why. I don't feel any regret, nor any hint of sadness. Siguro dahil sa galit? Probably.

Is this how I should feel?

Is it right to feel okay when your family literally just disowned you?

Natawa ako sa nangyayari sa akin ngayon. This situation is so stupid. My face is literally streaming down tears and I still managed to escape a laugh.

God, I feel so pathetic.

I longed to be free from everything that's been keeping me captive but why does it hurt so bad?

I slowed down when I saw the coffee shop from a distance. Cydee, Channie, and Josh are probably there, waiting for me. Kanina pa ako naglalakad para makarating rito pero hindi ko alam bakit huminto ako.

They are probably going to bombard me with questions about what happened and I don't feel like explaining myself.

That's why I stopped walking.

Pinahid ko ang natitirang luha sa mata ko at inayos ang sarili ko. I kept my handkerchief in my pocket and walked in the opposite direction.

I'm sorry Cydee.

Mabilis akong naglakad pabalik bago nila ako makita.

My tears finally stopped flowing but the heavy feeling in my chest kept on getting heavier. Para na akong mababaliw sa kakaisip kung ano ang sunod kong gagawin.

What now? I finally get the chance to be free but what's next?

"Freedom always comes with a price, Remi."

I forcefully shut my eyes when I remembered a certain conversation from before..

I have always been so confident that I could handle all of these but look how pathetic I am today.

Para akong tanga.

I almost jumped in surprise when my phone suddenly rang. Maybe it's just Cydee or the other two. I'm just not in the mood to talk today.

I was supposed to cancel the call, but I was surprised when it was another person.

It was Kaylus.

I walked my path across the street while clicking the 'answer' button.

"Hello-"

"Cord, nasaan ka ngayon?" Nanginginig na tanong ni Kaylus.

I was startled by how frightened his voice sounded. Kaylus never sounded like this..

But it felt weird when my heart suddenly started beating so fast and in an alarming state.

"Nasa labas. Bakit?"

Patuloy akong naglakad sa kalsada nang biglang dumami ang mga tao. People started walking in a specific direction and it suddenly became very noisy.

Namataan ko kung saan kumukumpol ang mga tao kaya ay mabilis akong naglakad patungo roon.

People started murmuring and shouting as I saw a trail of smoke in the middle of the road.

"C-Cord.."

Mas naalarma ako sa tunog ng boses niya. Ano'ng nangyayari?

"Kaylus what is going on?! Nasaan ka ba?"

Inikot ko ang paningin ko at nabigla ako ng makita ko siya sa kabilang bahagi ng daan. He is still wearing his uniform while dangling his blue packbag.

Kakaiba ang expression ng mukha niya habang nakatingin sa gitna ng kalsada.

Hindi niya na ako sinagot.

Nagtama ang mga mata namin pero mabilis siyang tumakbo patungo sa gitna.

What is going on?

Tumakbo ako papunta roon pero bigla akong napatigil sa nakita.

I saw a bloody figure of a man lying in a large pool of blood and a huge truck behind it.

Duguan ang kanyang ulo at halos 'di mo na mamataan ang kanyang mukha dahil sa basag nito. His eyes are still open and there is blood gushing down his mouth.

My heart sank when I recognized who that person is.

Naramdaman ko ang gaspang ng kalsada nang bigla akong natumba sa nakita.

Lahat ng ikinukubli kong luha ay dumausdos sa aking pisngi habang pilit akong tumayo para lumapit doon.

I was already torn in pieces but I felt like dying when I saw how his eyes wavered for strength when our eyes met.

My vision got so blurry and I felt like I was losing my mind.

"Atlas.." I whispered frantically.

Tears came rolling down his cheeks as he finally closed his eyes.

***