Along the Riverside (Catastrophique Series #1)

Prologue

Prologue

"Aalis ka?"Suzzane asked.

She's lying sideways on my bed while prowling at me.Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pag-iimpake.Alonzo's voice keeps on pestering my mind.It's irritating.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto hila-hila ang kalahating nakabukas na itim na maleta.I ran towards the bathroom to get my essentials.

"Where are you going?"she asked again,now standing at my rooms door.

Pumasok ako sa walk-in closet at nagsimulang maghalughog ng mga kakailanganin.

"Vacation,"tipid kong sagot habang tinatanggal sa hanger ang mga damit na napili.

Umupo ako sa sahig at nagsimulang magtiklop ng mga damit.

"Vacation? You're always in vacation.Saan naman ngayon?"pang-uusisa niya pa.

I stopped and stayed silent for a while.She's right,I'm always in vacation at kakauwi ko palang kahapon galing France.What can I do? My brothers won't let me handle the company.Kung gusto ko daw mamahala,I should be an intern first.I graduated BSBA and got my diploma then they want me to be an intern to learn more? Well,I learned enough.Ano bang gusto nila? Hide my identity then let the other workers treat me like a trash and order me to get them coffee? Para saan pa ang pinag-aralan ko kung magtitimpla lang pala ako ng kape.

"Sahara Dessert? Amazon? Jurassic world? Saan?"

Tumingil ako sa pagtutupi at tamad na tumingin sa kanya.

"Nueva Ecija,"I said in a small voice.

Her eyes widened.She immediately went towards me with hands covering her mouth,acting so shocked.She crouched to reach my face.

"Are you allowed to?"she asked,still shocked."Maintindihan ko pa siguro kung sa Jurassic world ka pupunta para mag-alaga ng malalaking buwaya,pero sa Nueva Ecija..."

Napailing at napangiwi siya.

"Tatty,hindi pwede..."pag-papaalala niya.

Kunot noo ko siyang tiningnan,medyo naiinis na.

"Why not? It's not like kayo ang may trauma,okay?"

Tumayo ako at iniwan siyang nakaluhod.Lumabas ako at pumunta sa kusina.

"Hindi mo pa kaya,"aniya.

I opened the fridge to get some fresh milk.Humarap ako sa kaniya at nakitang nakahilig na siya sa countertop.

"How'd you know? Ikaw ako?"I sarcastically asked.

Bumuntong hininga siya at kinuha ang gatas sa kamay ko para maglagay sa isang baso.

"I'm just worried,"she softly said.

My expression softened.She had been my friend ever since I transferred here in Manila.I think it's in my high school year.I was very young back then.15 years old when I first got my trauma.It's really hard to forget.Some memories are still fresh and all I have ever done was to runaway.

It's not easy.Ilang taon din akong naghirap.I can't just forget the image of my mom.I kept on having bad nightmares and later on,found myself crying.Having those treatments really helped me though and I think I'm okay...I need to be okay.I can't just let my brother's sell the house where my mom and I made the happy memories that are keeping me strong right now.

I held Suzzane's cheeks then pinched it after.I smiled sweetly before squeezing her cheeks more.

"You don't need to be,"I assured her.