7:32 AM
Mama
Mommy:
Saan ka na, Nak? Bilisan mo umalis ng isla, baka maabutan ka pa ng bagyo. Kinakabahn ako. Dapat talaga sinama na kita sa business trip ko.
Masha:
Pasakay na po ng ferry. Will text u po if nasa bahay na ako ng friends ko.
U have nothing to worry about po.
Super happy po ako, thank you sa pagpayag. You're the best!
Mommy:
Ok. Don't forget to pray for a safe travel.
Masha:
Finish na po. Love you!
Mommy:
Good girl. Love you.
"Good girl . . . " I could only sigh and stare at the little stars pasted all over my bedroom ceiling. The light from outside had completely invaded my room, making them lose their glow.
"Sorry, Ma." Pumikit na lamang ako at nagtalukbong ng kumot.
Good girl. I tried to be a good girl all my life, but for once, I want to follow my heart. After what happened to Pia, I realized how short life truly is. I mean,I grew up hearing 'life is short,' pero iba pala kapag naramdaman mo na ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng bawat salita.
Mama will be away on a business trip for a week. Siguro naman sapat na ang isang linggo para mapagbigyan ko ang puso ko. Pagkatapos nito, magiging mabuti ulit akong anak. Pagkatapos nito, ibabaon ko ulit ang dapat.
***
I opened my closet and was bombarded with an absurd amount of clothes. From the folded to the hanged, all of them were organized according to colors and styles. Pia once called me a psychopath for having my clothes in order, but hey, it's just the way I like it.
I packed all of the cutest clothes that I could find into my backpack. However, for the day, I chose to put on an outfit that no one would think I'd ever wear—a black turtleneck sweatshirt paired topped with a silk pink camisole, and a bright pink skinny jeans. I even made sure to tie my hair up and put on the worn out purple cap that thrifted. It's eons away from my taste, so I know no one will ever recognize me with it.
With all the essentials packed inside my hiking backpack, I made my way out the house inconspicuously as possible. Oo nga't marami sa mga kapitbahay namin ang nagsilikas na, pero mas mabuti nang maingat. One word from a marites and my mama will kill me.
My heart was pumping as I hailed a tricycle, and I was holding my breath the entire ride. Halos yakapin ko pa ang bag ko, sa takot na baka kilala ako ng driver. However, by the time I reached the supermarket, I felt like a total champ. I made it out of the danger zone unscathed!
I felt so happy that I instinctively reached for my phone, but as I unlocked it and saw my photo with Jordi on the screen, a wave of reality washed over me. This is one of the secrets I have to take to my grave.
I pressed my phone to lock again and took a deep breath. In the end, I was able to smile knowing things were going as planned.
***
I felt like I was in wonderland as I skipped along the grocery aisles while pushing a worn-out blue cart. I didn't like the disco song blaring out the ceiling speakers, but I was so elated that I enjoyed every second of it. Mas masaya sana kung kasama ko si Jordi.
Lahat ng mga paborito naming pagkain at inumin, diretso kaagad sa cart—at least, 'yong afford ko lang. Had I known I'd get to have this chance, dapat nag-ipon ako nang todo.
When the cart was almost filled, that was only when I realized that I haven't picked up bottled waters yet. Sa lahat ng puwedeng kalimutan, ang pinakaimportante pa talaga.
I pushed the cart to the aisle of bottled water and picked up whatever I could carry. All of a sudden, I felt thirsty. Naisip kong magbukas ng isang bottled water at uminom nang diretso upang makita ng lahat. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay mapagkakamalan akong shoplifter kung patago ko itong gagawin.
"Ayos ng suot natin ngayon, Mash? Saan ang christmas party?"
Muntik akong mabilaukan sa iniinom nang makita ang si Chad na putok na putok pa ang mga biceps dahil sa suot niyang white sando. Mula nang nahilig siya sa pagwo-work out, naging adik na siya sa pagsusuot ng sleeveless na damit. The guy knows how to show his guns.
"Naman, e! I'm supposed to be in disguise! What gave it away?" I whimpered and looked down at my clothes.
"Two words, Masha . . . " Humakbang siya palapit habang tulak-tulak ang kanyang cart. He gave me his signature flirty eyes and grin. "Sexual Attraction."
I gagged on the spot. Chad is handsome as hell, but no thanks.
"Nakalimutan ko, kay Lincoln ka nga pala." Bigla siyang humalakhak, wala na ang malanding awra.
I gagged again. Sa lahat ng puwede akong asarin, sa chismosong si Lincoln pa.
"Masha naman, huwag ka ngang masyadong choosy. Mamaya tumanda kang dalaga," sabi pa ni Chad sabay pabirong bangga ng cart niya sa cart ko.
I know he was just kidding, but the mindset is a bucket of backwards bullshit. The worst part is, many people have the same toxic thought. Ano bang gusto nila, patulan ko ang lahat ng humihingang bagay?
Has it ever occurred to them that each person has their own pace and preference? Will they be the ones suffering the consequences of being wrapped around a red flag?
"Pinapatay mo na naman ako sa isip mo?" Ikiniling niya ang ulo at pabirong nagtaas ng kilay.
"Nah, that's too easy. I'm torturing you in my mind as we speak," I crossed my arms and grinned.
"Oh come on, don't kill me just yet!" He chuckled, clutching his chest dramatically. The way his smile shone brightly as his broad shoulders moved up and down—so freaking gorgeous.
"Give me a reason," I challenged.
"Hmmm . . . " He bit his red lips like a sly little devil who knows exactly how hot he looks like. He tilted his head again and winked. "Party at my place tonight."
"Chad, there's literally a super typhoon hitting this island," paalala ko sa kanya.
"And we're throwing him a huge welcoming party!" he boasted with the brightest look on his face. "Awesome, aye?" He tilted his head again, eyebrows going up and down.
I rolled my eyes and closed the half-empty bottle of water in my hands, throwing it into my cart. As I started pushing away, Chad quickly followed while pushing his own cart that made funny clanky noises.
"You're still here. Are you gonna ride out the typhoon?" he continued his inquiry like a clingy masculine puppy.
"You better not tell anyone that I'm still here—especially the adults." I glared at him as I stopped right in front of the detergent aisle and picked up a few packs of detergent.
"Going down the bad girl route now, Mash?" Humalakhak siyang muli at tumingala pa sabay buntonghininga, bakas ang pagkamangha sa boses. "Fear nothing, babe. My folks don't know I'm staying too. They'd kill me alive if they find out I'm throwing a party behind their backs."
Chad belongs to the richest family in the island. His parents managed to monopolize the water purifying business in the area, and for that, they became richer than all the politicians in the island—they're even richer than Mayora Luigi. And because he's a filthy rich unico hijo, sometimes, Chad gets a little overboard with his antics.
"Dude, it's a super typhoon—the strongest to hit our country so far, this year. It's not a good time for a party. People's lives and livelihoods will be in danger, tapos ikaw party pa rin ang iniisip? Don't you think you're a little out of touch from reality?" giit ko, may pagdidiin sa bawat salita. I'm a fan of minding my own business, but he basically gave me a pen to write a review.
"So what? Hindi naman ako politiko na may responsibilidad sa bayan?" Huminto si Chad sa paglalakad kaya naman napahinto rin ako. He sighed and leaned against his cart. Nag-alala akong baka gumulong ang cart palayo at madapa siya kaya pasimple ko itong hinawakan.
"Come on, think of it as an evacuation center party. Nasa pinakaitaas na parte ng isla ang mansyon namin, napapalibutan ng mga puno na hihigop ng tubig. There are tons of rooms for privacy. Also, Dad had high-impact glass windows installed all over the house kaya sobrang magiging ligtas ang lahat. Kung takot kang malaglagan ng puno, may basement naman kung saan kasya ang maraming tao. At kung takot kang may masapian gaya ng tatay ni Pia, 'wag kang mag-alala kasi sobrang garantisado ng security system ng mansyon namin. Ilang akyat bahay ang sumubok—"
"Wait, you really think nasapian ang tatay ni Pia?" I couldn't help but cut him off.
"Malay ko." Pagkikibit-balikat niya. "After what happened to Pia, everyone I know are locking their bedroom doors at night. Kids are scared of their own parents, and parents are scared of their own kids. Honestly, I've been locking my doors too. Ikaw ba, hindi takot sa nanay mo?"
I'm scared of her alright, but for very different reasons.
Bumuntonghininga muli si Chad. "Look, if you're staying in the island, doon ka na sa mansyon. Chill-chill lang tayo doon. Imbitahin mo na si Jordi nang may private time kayo."
At that very second, I swear I noticed a smirk form up his lips. Bigla akong kinabahan nang todo, pero nagkunwari akong walang napansin, kunwari hindi apektado sa kanyang sinasabi.
There's no way he'd know. No freaking way. Besides, high school pa lang, inaasar na niya ako kay Lincoln. I'm just overthinking. Hindi niya ako inaasar kay Jordi. Wala siyang alam—pilit kong nilunod ang sarili kong inisip.
***
Chad was nice enough to drop me off right in front of Jordi's house. Mabuti na lang at wala na siyang ibang masyadong tanong o pamimilit pa.
I took a deep breath as I stared at their gate, silently wishing na nakaalis na ng isla ang mama at kuya ni Jordi. I didn't get my hopes up on her papa kasi siguradong hindi iyon aalis. Either way, I have my lies figured out.
I was about to call Jordi when their gate suddenly burst open. Everything happened so fast that all I could do was stand there and watch as Tita Jessa ran out sobbing and frantic. She wasn't alone. Kasama niya si Kuya Vito at dalawa pang pulis. Doon ko lang napansin ang isang patrol car na naka-park malapit lang sa kinatatayuan ko.
"K-Kuya Vito . . . " My lips trembled as fear coated every fiber of my being.
Did something happen? Is Jordan okay?
Napalingon sa akin si Kuya Vito at doon ko lang napansin na sa kanilang tatlong pulis, siya lang ang hindi naka-uniporme. His blue shirt was too crumpled—para bang minadali niya itong suotin.
Aligagang lumapit sa akin si Kuya Vito. Napansin ko kaagad ang pamumutla ng kanyang mukha, pati na ang pamumula ng kanyang mga mata. Wala sa sariling dumako ang tingin ko sa kanyang braso nang mapansin ang kakaibang mantsa rito—Dugo.
"K-Kuya, anong—"
"Mash, may nangyari kay Chief. Pasuyo ng lock ng bahay. Kung may naiwang umaandar, pakipatay. Kailangan naming lumuwas. Okay lang si Jordan," mabilis ngunit kalmadong paliwanag ni Kuya Vito bago pa man ako makapagtanong. "B-Basta ang bahay, Mash."
Para mang babaliktad ang sikmura ko, tumango-tango ako at huminga nang malalim. "Ako na ang bahala. Ingat kayo and pa-update please. S-Si Jordan, please look after her."
Tumango-tango si Kuya Vito at mabilis na umalis kasama si Tita.
My heart broke for Jordi. She left for the sake of her family three years ago. By the time she decided to return, Pia died . . . and now . . .
***
Pagpasok ng bahay nina Jordi, nadatnan kong umaandar pa ang TV at electric fan. May naaamoy ako mula sa kusina kaya naman dali-dali akong tumakbo patungo rito. May naiwan palang niluluto si Tita, pero nagawa pa niyang ma-i-off ang stove bago umalis.
My mind was in overdrive, so I decided to distract myself by cleaning after Tita Jessa. I couldn't imagine the emotional stress they're under, so at least man lang, maayos ang bahay na uuwian nila. Besides, it was the least I could do for all the emotional support they gave my Mom and I after Dad left.
Rain was pouring hard by the time I finished cleaning up and unplugging everything. It was only 11 AM but the sky already looked close to 5 PM. Napakalakas ng hangin sa labas na nagpapagalaw ng mga puno't halaman. I could see branches and pieces of trash getting dragged through the soaked up roads, and oh God, parang matutuklap na ang bubong ng bahay sa katapat na kalsada.
WIth how bad the weather is, alam kong malabo nang may puwedeng makaalis ng isla. Sigurado ring hindi agad makakabalik si Jordi kaya mas mabuti pang umuwi na lang ako sa bahay namin tutal mas komportable ako roon.
"Hala . . . " Napabulalas ako nang malakas nang bigla na lamang may kung anong umagos mula sa ilong ko. Wala sa sarili akong napahawak dito at nang tingnan ko ang kamay ko, nagulat ako nang makakita ng dugo.
I've never had a nosebleed before kaya sobra akong nalito at kinabahan. In a matter of seconds, I felt my chest getting tighter, while my heartbeat was getting faster. Nagsimula na rin akong makaramdam ng pagkahilo kaya naman naupo na lamang muna ako sa sofa.
The smell of my own blood made me shiver a little. I wanted to stop the bleeding so I just kept pinching my nose. Dapat talaga nakinig ako nang maayos sa first aid lessons noong high school at college.
My eyes suddenly began to feel heavy, so I took a deep breath and sat back, closing them slowly.
***
Unti-unti akong dumilat nang makaramdam ng kakaibang lamig sa pisngi ko. My entire body felt sore and I honestly wanted to sleep some more, pero nang mapagtanto kong nakadapa ako sa isang malamig na sahig, dali-dali akong napabangon.
"A-Anong . . . " Naguguluhan man, mas nangibabaw ang matinding takot sa puso ko nang mapansin ang matinding kadiliman sa paligid. Wala rin akong ibang naririnig bukod sa malakas na buhos ng ulan at ang bawat mabigat kong paghinga.
Out of instinct, I started crawling while patting my hands all over the place, trying to find my own way through the dark. All of a sudden, I remembered the smartwatch I'm wearing. I lifted my trembling wrist near my face and fumbled through the tiny screen.
I quickly raised my hand forward, making the screen grow brighter. But as soon as I was able to see my surroundings, fear gripped every fiber of my being.
"A-Anong . . . " I could feel my own heartbeat growing louder and faster.
I was still in Jordi's living room, except everything was a mess. Nagkalat ang mga bubog sa paligid dahil sa basag-basag na mga picture frame, salamin, at iba pang babasaging kagamitan. Kahit ang TV ay sirang-sira habang nakabitin sa kinalalagyan.
I know what a living room looks like when ravaged by a storm—and this wasn't it. The door was still closed shut and the windows were all boarded up. Only a person could cause this kind of damage. And looking at the destruction all around me, I could feel that it was done by someone filled with burning rage.
Sa takot kong baka nasa loob pa ng bahay ang taong gumawa nito, dali-dali akong kumaripas ng takbo palabas ng bahay, hindi alintana ang malakas na ulan at hanging sumalubong sa akin.
I tried to beg for help, but all that came out of my mouth was a blood-curdling scream. Still, I kept running through the cold, dark street, trying to find a house with people in it.
I was born and raised in Rosamond Island, but at that very moment, I felt like I was a stranger in my hometown. I felt so lost and scared as I ran under the pouring rain, trying to wade through every mud and puddle I came across.
I prayed and prayed as I ran though the pitch-black night, and after what felt like forever, I finally saw something bright.
'GEORGIA'S MART. OPEN 24 HOURS. CASH ONLY' — The neon purple signage felt like salvation. I was finally able to breath a sigh of relief and shut my mouth.
Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtakbo at sa pagkakataong ito'y damang-dama ko na ang panginginig ng mga kalamnan ko. I kept trying to control my own breathing, but my chest still felt like i was going to burst.
As soon as I reached the shop, I climbed through the porch steps and pushed the door open, making the chime over the ceiling ring. My eyes stung a bit as I entered the brightly lit shop, but I was more than happy to leave the darkness behind.
"May tao ba rito?!" Hindi ko napigilang bumulalas nang makitang walang tao sa counter. All of the lights were on, and I could even hear My Chemical Romance's 'Na Na Na' playing from the speakers.
"Sandali lang!" Narinig ko ang isang pamilyar na boses kaya agad ko itong sinundan ng tingin.
For the first time in my life, I was happy to see Lincoln Augusto.
Dressed in his purple polo uniform, Lincoln was at the corner of the shop where the tables were located. Pansin kong hawak-hawak pa niya ang isang black trashbag habang nakatayo sa tabi ng isang customer na parang nakatulog yata sa mesa. Lincoln looked so busy that he didn't even turn to look at my direction.
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath, trying to keep my head held high. I need his help alright, but I have my pride too.
"Boss, gising." Lincoln spoke softly and politely, probably because the customer seemed to be a middle-aged man that is almost twice his size. Pasalamat siya at hindi 'yan si Senggo na parang triple ang laki sa kanya. Sa aming lahat.
"Boss, gising, Magsasara na ako ng shop," Lincoln spoke out again, this time, a little bit louder. However, the customer didn't react at all. Nanatili lang itong natutulog habang nakaupo, ginagawang unan ang mesa. Hindi ako sigurado, pero tingin ko'y nakasuot ng kulay asul na raincoat ang lalake.
Lincoln's lips thinned as he let out an annoyed sigh. Ganitong-ganito ang hitsura niya sa tuwing naaasar na siya sa mga kaeskuwela namin noon. He was our student council president, so he had no choice but to bare with everyone's bullshit. But hey, fair lang naman kasi he's full of shit too.
"Boss?" Lincoln started tapping the sleeping customer's shoulder. "Boss, gi—"
Pareho kaming napaatras ni Lincoln nang bigla na lamang tumayo ang lalake mula sa kinauupuan. The man moved so swiftly that it almost seemed like his body moved in one single motion. And when I saw the empty look on his face, I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Lincoln flashed an awkward smile and hesitantly raised his hand as if he wanted to wave politely. Alam kong sa pagkakataong 'yon, pareho kaming kinakabahan.
"B-Boss, pasensya na pero—"
Bigla na lamang umigkas ang kamao ng lalake, diretso sa mukha ni Lincoln. Sa sobrang lakas, bumagsak si Lincoln sa shelf ng mga sitsirya. Sa lakas ng impact, nasira ang kaagad ang shelf at kasamang bumagsak ni Lincoln ang mga materyales nito.
Hindi ako nakagalaw sa sobrang gulat. Wala akong nagawa kundi tumitig sa mukha ng customer na may nakakakilabot na blankong espresiyon sa mukha.
Wala mang ekspresiyon ang mukha ng lalake, napakabilis at mapuwersa ng bawat galaw nito. For some reason, it felt like his entire body was fueled with rage. Rage that only manifested through his body and not his face.
"Teka, sandali! Boss, huwag!"
Umalingawngaw ang napakalakas na sigaw ni Lincoln, dahilan para bumalik sa kasalukuyan ang kamalayan ko. I was shocked when I realized that the customer was already holding up the table above his head—the whole freaking table where he was sleeping at earlier!
Hindi ko napigilang tumili nang makitang tumakbo ang lalake patungo sa direksiyon ni Lincoln. He was going to smash his face with the freaking table, so I quickly grabbed the nearest thing I saw—a can of sardines.
I threw as hard as I could, but to my utter disappointment, dumaplis lang ang lata sa dibdib ng lalake.
"Shuta!" Hindi ko napigilang tumili sa inis. Bakit ba napaka-unathletic ng katawang 'to?!
The man's face suddenly turned to my direction. Before I could even do anything, he started sprinting toward me like an unstoppable force of nature—while still holding up the table.
"Shutangina!" Lalo akong napatili, at sa pagkakataong ito ay dahil na sa takot. Kumaripas kaagad ako ng takbo papasok sa isang aisle, tumitili nang walang tigil.
Parang na-blanko ang isip ko at tumakbo lang ako nang tumakbo sa kahit anong aisle na makita ko. Nang mapansin kong ilang beses na akong paliko-liko sa parehong aisle, napalingon ako at mas lalo akong napatili nang makitang nasa likod ko pa rin ang lalakeng gusto akong hampasin ng isang buong mesa. Lalo pang tumindi ang takot ko nang umigkas ang kanyang mga braso, akmang itatapon na ang mesa sa akin.
I saw how the table discharged from his hands. It felt like everything was in slow motion. I was seeing the table flying toward my face in real time. I thought that was it—that I was going to die because some strong lunatic threw a table to my head. However, before the table could hit me, someone suddenly grabbed me out of the way.
Dumagundong ang napakalakas na pagtama ng mesa sa dingding at kasabay nito ang pagbagsak ko sa sahig—namin ni Lincoln sa sahig.
Before I could even react, Lincoln grabbed me by the hand and stood up. I felt his desperation from how tight he held me.
"Takbo!" Bago pa man ako makabangon, biglang tumakbo si Lincoln kaya nakaladkad niya ako na parang isang basahan. I was literally lying on the floor as he dragged me around!
"Lincoln, sandali!" I screamed as I felt my back burn from the friction. I wanted him to stop dahil parang matatanggal na rin ang braso ko sa lakas ng paghila niya sa akin.
"Lincoln, bilis!" Nagbago bigla ang isip ko nang makitang humabol ulit sa amin ang lalakeng nakasuot ng asul na raincoat.
To make matters worse, nagsimulang pumulot ng kung ano-anong bagay ang lecheng lalake at pinagbabato ito sa akin. Literal na isang kamay lang ang gamit ko bilang depensa kaya't maya't mayang may tumatamang kung anong produkto sa mukha ko—may shampoo bottle, sabon, at kahit kahon ng katol.
"Huwag ang Emperador!" Nagwala na ako nang makitang pumulot ang lalake ng isang bote ng Emperador at akmang ibabato ito sa akin.
Pumikit na lamang ako nang mariin at pilit na nagtakip ng mukha gamit ang isang kamay.
I was already expecting for the bottle to hit me, but to my surprise, Lincoln suddenly stopped dragging me around.
"Dapa!" Narinig ko ang isang pamilyar na boses.
Dumilat ako at mas lalo pa akong nagulat nang biglang dumapa si Lincoln sa ibabaw ko. Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit at pilit na ibinaon ang mukha ko sa kanyang dibdib.
"Lincoln, shuta ka!" Hinampas ko siya nang napakalakas dahilan para bahagyang makawala mula sa kanyang yakap.
Nang mga sandaling iyon, nakita ko ang paglitaw ng tila ba pinaghalong pulbo at usok sa paligid. Wala sa sarili akong napalingon sa likuran namin at nakita ko ang duguang si Smoeki na hawak-hawak ang isang fire extinguisher.
"Gapang!" Smoeki screamed, the veins all over his neck almost popping out.
I didn't waste any second. Ayokong makaladkad ni Lincoln kaya dali-dali kong tinulak ang sarili palayo sa kanya at gumapang hanggang sa nagawa ko nang makatayo.
As the dry powder filled the store, I was the first to run out of the exit and down the porch steps. Nang makarating sa sidewalk, lumingon ako at nakita ang saktong paglabas ni Lincoln mula sa shop.
"Si Smoeki?!" I cried out, and to my relief, Smoeki quickly followed, the fire extinguisher still on his hands.
"Takbo!" sigaw ni Smoeki kaya pare-pareho kaming kumaripas ng takbo sa ilalim ng malakas na buhos ng ulan.
Sa gitna ng takbuhan namin, naririnig kong sumisigaw si Smoeki. "Nakita n'yo ba ang kapatid ko?!"
//