All at Once (Absinthe Series 6)

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

All at Once

The aftershock was felt fifteen minutes later. Mahina na iyon pero ramdam ko pa rin. I stayed relax even though some of the guests near me are panicking. Binalewala ko na lang at sinubukan kong mas pakalmahin pa ang sarili. Wala naman kasing magandang maidudulot kung magpapanic din ako. The staffs barely managed those guests who aren't collected. Ayaw kong madagdagan pa ang trabaho nila.

After an hour of waiting, we still stayed on the ground. Kumalma na iyong ibang guest. Nakakaawa nga iyong may mga dalang bata kasi nga panay ang iyak. That made it more difficult for the parents to relax because they're also afraid for their children.

Niyakap ko ang sarili dahil sa lamig. We're in a highland and it was also ber months so the possibility of a cold night should be expected. Kinuha ko ang aking jacket sa bag at isinuot iyon. I still have snacks left on my bag, nang magutom ako kanina ay unti-unti kong kinain.

There was something gut-twisting about the earthquake. Nakaranas naman ako ng lindol noon pero hindi ganoon kalakas na parang mabibiyak ang lupa kanina. I feared that the building might collapse. Naalala ko tuloy ang nangyari noon sa ibang bansa nang tamaan sila ng malakas na lindol. Many properties were destroyed. Higit pa roon, maraming buhay din ang nasawi.

Thirty minutes after, we were instructed to fall in line. Na-check na ang property sa loob. May iilang nabasag na properties. Karamihan ay mga mamahaling vase. Other than that, may namataang hairline cracks sa dingding pero hindi naman daw malala kaya pwede na kaming makapasok. The already called the authority for help.

Kinausap kami ng staff kung may kailangan ba kami. I just needed water so they got me one. Hindi na ako nakabalik sa kwarto at nanatili na lang muna ako sa lobby. The others also stayed there, afraid that they cannot go out of their room if another phenomena happens.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Kung nagkataong umulan ay baka mas mahirap na. I was worried for those hikers up above. Hindi ko alam kung nakaalis ba sila o nanatili na lamang doon. Even though I am unsure of their situation, I prayed for their safety. None of my friends knew where I was, kahit si Ruthy na alam na umalis ako ay hindi naman alam kung nasaan ako. Kung nagkataong nabalitaan niya ang lindol, siguradong natawagan na niya ako.

I tried opening my phone but my battery died. Kanina pa iyon noong nagsimula ang paglindol kaya hindi ko rin alam kung tinawagan ba ako ni Ruth para mangamusta.

I charged my phone somewhere near the couch where I was. Sumandal ako at tumingala sa chandelier na nandoon. Even the ceiling didn't have any cracks so it's safe to assume that the earthquake did not damage much of the hotel.

I closed my eyes. The exhaustion again was coming at me. Kahit na nakatulog, hindi naman sapat iyon para mawala ang pagod ko. Iyong kaba ko kanina, pakiramdam ko ay dumagdag lang din iyon sa pagod na naramdaman ko. My heart have been tired beating, slowly then rapidly, that it tired out all my system.

Kumunot ang aking noo nang maramdaman kong may tumapat sa akin. Even with my closed eyes, I felt a shadow looming my sleeping figure. Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata. Dahan-dahan hanggang sa bumungad sa akin ang pamilyar na bulto.

My lips parted in startlement. Lumawak ang aking mga mata at dumagundong naman ang tibok ng aking puso. It vibrated all over my body sending an alert of shock to my system. I felt my stomach wrenching in a ticklish way.

Nanginig ang aking mga labi habang naghahanap ng salita. His eyes skimmed over my face. It was filled with worry. Parang tumigil ang mundo nang magkatitigan kaming dalawa. My eyes were still in shock with his presence. Mas lalong nakakagulat na alam niya kung nasaan ako!