Catch Me ✔

XXVIII - Angela

Andrew is hysterical right now. "Eleanor? Eleanor! Nasaan ka?! They fucking told me you were a ghost! You were dead! But.. But I can't believe it! Every fucking thing felt so real! Pag niyayakap kita, hinahalikan, hinahawakan ang kamay mo."

Pumasok ako sa loob ng bahay. "Drew? Andrew, let's get out of here."

Eleanor walked to me. "I knew you can see me! You were that kid I saw years ago!"

Andrew sat on the floor and curled up, sobbing miserably.

I slowly looked at her. "Yes, it was me. It wasn't just me who saw you, but also Andrew! Iyon nga lang, hindi maganda ang naidulot sa kanya noong nakita ka niya noong mga bata pa kami."

"W-What are you talking about?" Her forehead creased.

"Kuya Angelo.. he's been waiting for you to repent. He wanted you to go where you should, but you stayed here.. and you even have the nerve to be in a relationship with my twin?! Sabi ni kuya, you will turn into ashes."

"AAAAAA!!!" Tumayo si Andrew at sumigaw. Nagwawala, na para bang nawawala na sa sarili.

"See? It's you who made him into this, Eleanor."

Nasilaw kami sa liwanag na nanggaling sa pintuan.

It's this soft, calming aura our brother brings.. I didn't know he has an authority to guide souls. Whenever I see him, meron siyang kasama. It's either that person is bloody, aged, or simply missing a body part.

"Th-that kid.. he really is your brother?" Tanong ni Eleanor sa akin, na hindi ko naman pinansin.

"Let me.. let me hold her." Nanghihinang naglakad si Andrew papunta kay Eleanor.

"Don't." Eleanor stopped her. May kumawalang luha sa mata niya. "Don't go near me."

Slowly, Eleanor's decaying body is taking its form. The blood from the shot she made is now visible. Her clothes are looking more worn out.

"Elle! Y-you said you love me.. B-bakit ganyan na ang itsura mo?"

Tumungo si Eleanor na parang nahihiya. "I love you, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't tell who I was earlier.. I didn't know I was sentenced to.. a greater punishment."

"Andrew. Huwag. Huwag ka nang pumunta sa kanya. Kailangan ko na siyang sunduin."

"K-kuya? Kuya naman! Mahal ko si Eleanor!" Napasabunot na ng kanyang buhok si Andrew. Aligaga, hindi niya na alam ang gagawin. Susundin niya ba ang kapatid namin? O susunod siya kay Eleanor?

"Mali ang pagmamahalan niyo, mali rin ang pagkakataon. Sorry, Andrew, na kailangan mo pang makita ito."

Hinawakan ni Kuya Angelo ang parehong kamay ni Eleanor.
Unti-unti nang nawawala ang mga parte ng katawan niya at nagiging mga nagbabagang abo.

"Kuya! Please.. please ibalik mo siya sa akin!" Lumuhod at nagmakaawa si Andrew.

"Pagkatiwalaan mo ako, Andrew. Pagkatiwalaan mo rin ang Diyos."

"I love you, Andrew. I... I can't promise that we'll meet again."
And Eleanor vanished, together with Kuya Angelo.

The agonizing pain, suffering, and love of my brother was too much, it almost consumed him.

Now, he's left with nothing.

After that event, he barely ate and drink. Even forgot his personal hygiene which was unusual of him.
Longer hair, sideburns, mustache. His eyes look tired and darker.

It lasted.. for six months.

Pumupunta ako ng kwarto niya para kausapin siya, but he barely responded.

Inaayos ko ang mga gamit niya at mga damit, niyayaya ko siya para lumabas pero ayaw niya.
It's either he's lying on his side and curled up, or sitting on his chair and staring outside.

There's this time na tinawagan ko ang mga ka-team niya pero tinaboy niya. Sobrang bilis niyang nagalit na may nasuntok pa siya.
Even Keith can't go near Andrew or console him.

Mom and Dad were alarmed. Tinawagan pa nila ang psychiatrist ni Mommy to check on Drew.
He was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. Thankfully, he doesn't have any suicidal thoughts according to the screening.

I finally told them the truth..
Kahit sila, hindi rin makalapit kay Andrew dahil either magwawala siya at magsisisigaw, o hindi sila papansinin.
Sobrang nagaalala sila kay Drew.

Habang nag-aaral ako para sa pag-ready ko sa hands-on test, bumisita si Kuya.

"Hello kuya." I looked at him and went back on reading.

Umupo siya sa paanan ng kama ko. "Naniniwala akong magiging ayos rin si Drew."

"Mm-hm." Normal pulse oximeter readings should range from 95 to 100 percent...

"Si Eleanor.. matagal ko na siyang binabantayan. Muntik pa siyang maging masamang kaluluwa, dahil noong nangyari iyon, pangatlong subok ko nang sunduin siya. Kung sa pangatlo ay hindi pa rin siya sumama, magiging demon siya, na kahit ako ay ayoko namang mangyari."

Napatigil ako sa pagbabasa at binaba ang hawak kong highlighting pen. "Kuya, bakit natin pinaguusapan si Eleanor ngayon?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Kasi baka makita niyo siya ulit.. Hindi man sa lalong madaling panahon pero.. sa isang pagkakataon. Bilang isang bagong tao."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ha? Paano?"

Ngumiti si Kuya. "Basta. Wala akong ibang pinagdarasal kundi ang kaligtasan niyo palagi, na sana ay hindi kayo maging sakitin.."

"Kuya, kung makapagsalita ka parang aalis ka at hindi na kita makikita!"

Tumawa siya. "Huling misyon ko na kasi si Eleanor. Maaring hindi mo na ako makita ulit, kasi marami pa akong kailangang gawin naman doon oh." Tumuro siya sa itaas.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Kuya, bantayan mo kami palagi ha?"

"Oo naman."

At sa isang iglap, naglaho na siya.