Time After Time

Untitled Part 88

NAGISING si Olivia na hinihingal at mabilis ang kabog ng dibdib. Nakadagdag pa sa gulat niya ay ang makitang wala siya sa kama. Nasa balkonae siya. Nakatulog siya sa recliner.

Napanaginipan na naman niya ang pinto. Sa panaginip niya, hindi niya alam kung ano ang nasa likod ng pinto o kung nasaan siyang lugar. All she knew was what she was going to see was dreadful. Ayaw niyang mabuksan ang pinto. She didn't want to see what was inside.

But of course, in reality, she knew that door and what was behind it.

Trini. Sprawled on the bed that was soaked with blood. A knife protruded from her chest. She seemed surprised, gaping fixedly on the ceiling. Her skin so...white.

Hinamig ni Olivia ang sarili. It seemed that she could still hear her cries, it took her a while to quiet her mind.

That was when she heard it.

Someone was banging on her door.

Bumangon siya sa recliner, nakitang T-shirt at panties lang ang suot niya. Nasa salas pa ang suitcase niya at ang hinubad na loose pants. Tatlong araw siya sa Boracay pero hindi naman siya narelax, napagod lang. She should have known better..she should have realized it by now. Taking an out of town break was actually exhausting. Next time she wanted to get away, she'd just stay home and lock herself in her room with nothing but pizza, beer and Netflix.

Tumigil na ang kumakalampag sa pinto niya pero parang may mga tao pa sa labas. Isinuot niya ang loose pants at sumilip sa peep hole. Mukha ng babae ang nakita niya. About Tiff's age, hair was up in a messy bun, naka-pajama at loose shirt.

Binuksan niya ang pinto, making sure first that the short chain on top was in place so the door would not really open all the way and a person wouldn't fit in the gap.

"Oh, hi." Sabi ng babae sa labas. "I'm so sorry, Ma'am."

"Do you need help?" Base sa suot ng babae, tagadoon rin ito sa condo building. O nakitulog sa isa sa mga unit sa palapag na iyon.

"No, Ma'am..i just want to apologize. I'm Nicky, I live across..two units down. I saw you arrived kanina kaya alam ko na nandito ka po. Sana po..i mean, nakikiusap sana ako na 'wag n'yo na 'ko ireport--"

"You were banging on my door." Pero hindi naman mukhang lasing ang babae. Mukha lang galing sa tulog. May muta pa. Hapis ang mukha but she was lovely.

Napayuko ito, "It wasn't me. It was my boyfriend...but he doesn't know it--"

"That he's your boyfriend?"

"No, Ma'am." The woman giggled. "I mean, he wasn't aware of what he was doing. He..ahhmm..he sleepwalks. I couldn't wake him up...I'm still not sure if he's already awake, he just walked off angry."

Angry. Yes. That banging sure sounded angry.

"S-Sinasaktan ka ba n'ya?" Tanong niya kay Nicky.

"Ah, no, Ma'am. He just sleepwalks..it happened twice already. First time, I was able to wake him up before he could get to your door."

Naguluhan na si Olivia, "Your boyfriend sleepwalks to my door?"

"Yes, Ma'am. It sounds crazy, I know. I don't understand it either. He doesn't remember anything when he wakes up. He's just mumbling about a clock."

Then Olivia saw it. A huge bruise on the woman's right upper arm. Pero bago siya nakaimik, may bumukas na pinto, two doors down the hall. May sumilip na lalaki at sumigaw. Galit.

"Nicky!"

"Just a sec!" Tugon ng babae. "Uh, Ma'am, I got to go--"

"No!" Nagmadali si Olivia na tanggalin ang chain lock at hinagip ang braso ni Nicky, "You're not going back there. You're staying with me."

"What?" Parang hindi makapaniwala ang babae.

"I know he's hurting you--"

"Uh, yeah..sometimes.."

"Get in here." Hinaltak niya papasok si Nicky, "I'm calling security and you are not going back to him. I'm a lawyer, let's put him in jail."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Nicky.