Sincerely, Elena

Chapter 4: Dante

Dark deep blue clouds started to settle the whole field area as our team gathered around, famished and exhausted from our moot play.  It took us two hours to get everything prepared for the competition. However, this time, we are getting pumped up for the championship, which is also the reason why the coach became ridiculously strict and meticulous. 

We got dismissed late. Tired and worn out from the rigorous training, I straightly went to the bathroom to get a bath. I pulled off my clothes and took a hot steaming shower,  stretching every part of my muscles strained from playouts. 

Lumabas ako ng banyo pagkatapos maligo. Dumeretso ako sa locker room namin at nagbihis. Habang kinukuha ko ang gamit ko sa loob, naramdaman kong may tumapik sa akin.

Lumingon ako at nakita ko si Kevin at Rafael. "Mauna na kami pare ah." Tumungo ako sa kanila ang nagpatuloy mag-aayos. Pagkatapos ko magbihis, lumabas ako ng locker room ang naglakad papuntang guard house.

I breathed in and glanced at the grey-bluish sky. Holding my bag on my right, I walked towards the bleak hallways. It was already starting to get dark, and light seemed to have to escape every crevice of the pathway, to which I decided to move my pace.

I stopped walking through the empty corridors and suddenly heard a shrilling voice. My blank mind clicked in an instant turn, looking for that voice. I glanced around the pathways of the hallways and found nothing but space. I tried to neglect it at first,  thinking that maybe it was just my presentiment, until it came back repeatedly, asking for help.

"Tulong! Tulog po!" a thin-pitched voice shrieked.

"Who's that? Is anyone there?" I asked. Now, eager to find the voice, I searched every room and corner just to find that voice.

"Tulong po!" 

Narinig kong suminghal ang boses at ang kanyang mabilis na yapak. Sundan ko ang yapak ng boses, at tumakabo pakaliwa ng corridor. Nakita ko isang babaeng estudyante, magulo ang damit, sugatan at takot na takot.

She grabbed my shirt, then my wrist, and pulled me as we ran towards to God-Knows-where we were going. I nudged her, pulled her to my side, and slightly grabbed her arms to stay still.

"Wait lang, anong nangyari sa iyo?" Pinatigil ko siya sa pagtakbo ang nagtanong. Patuloy pa rin ang kanyang pag-iyak. Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang aking panyo.

Pinunasan niya ito atsaka siya nagsalita, "Ssi--- Ate p-po kailangan niyo po siyang tulungan," hikbi niya sabay higpit sa hawak niya sa akin.

Napakunot ako. "Ate? Sino? Anung nangyayari? Hindi kita maintindihan. Anung panagalan mo?" Yumuko ako sa kanya, gulong gulo sa mga pangyayari.

"Samantha po," sagot niya.

Pinakalma ko siya ng sandali at nagtanong ulit, "Okay Samantha, ano ang nangyari?"

"Si Romer! Kuya...si ate... Baka hindi natin sila maabutan." Lumakas ang kanyang pag iyak at maslalong humigpit ang kanyang hawak sa akin kamay.

"Kailangan na natin silang puntahan, kuya, baka kung anung gawin ni Romer kay Ate," sinabi niya na may pagmamadali sa kanyang boses. Pagkatapos, hindi na ako umimik at sinundan ko na lamang siya. Alam ko na mukhang seryoso ang nangyayari at kailangan nila ng tulong ko.

Tumakbo kami kaagad. Hinayaan ko siyang hilain ako papunta kung saan man iyon. Napatingin ako sa paligid at nakita ko na papunta kami ng public locker room ng mga studyante. Madilim at walang makita, kun'di ang mga boses na nag-aaway sa dilim.