Ahem, ahem! I accidentally pressed Save and Publish, imbis na Save lang...so ayan! hohoho! Wala na akong magagawa, wala na ang surprise. Anyways, sana magustuhan niyo ang chapter na 'to. Excited na ako para sa big ending!
Soundtrack for this chapter is It Ends Tonight by The All American Rejects. Enjoy reading :)
***Joyce's POV***
Makalipas ang ilang linggo, bumalik na sa normal ang lahat sa Monte Carlo. Pero hindi pa rin nakakalimot ang ilan. Sa tulong ni Kuya Red, unti-unti nang bumabalik sa pagkahinahon si Ate Dawn. They spent more time together, and according to Kuya Red, it was music that's helping her. Hindi pa rin siya nakikipag-usap sa ibang tao, she was totally removed from the Student Council due to her being not productive and all. Kahit ako, hindi niya masyadong kinakausap, maliban na lang kung kailangang kailangan.
She looked more alive, though. Mas kumakain na siya ngayon, nag-aayos na siya ng sarili at ang pinaka-importante sa lahat, nakakatulog na siya. Pero may mga araw pa rin na inaatake siya ng sakit niya at binabangungot siya sa gabi. I guess, it would really take a lot of time before she fully recover. Umuulit lang ang nangyari sa kanya doon sa Sisters of Mary, sabi ni Kuya Red. Mas lumala pa ang anxiety attacks niya at mas marami nang halimaw na nagpapakita sa kanya.
People kept distance from her, even the teachers and the Admin. Alam nila ang kapasidad ni Ate Dawn pagdating sa kundisyon niya. Pero may mga taong handang tumulong sa kanya-- ako, si Kuya Red, si Ate Khione, ang kaibigan niya sa Sisters of Mary na si Ate Wendy, at ang dati niyang roommate na si Ate Rachel. It only proved that distance was no hindrance for people who cared.
Marami pa akong nalaman tungkol kay Ate Dawn mula kina Ate Wendy at Ate Rachel. Si Ate Wendy pumupunta every weekends tapos si Ate Rachel tuwing Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon kasi hanggang twelve lang daw klase niya kapag ganung mga araw. I learned that back in Sisters of Mary, hindi ganito si Ate Dawn-- she 's friendly and cheerful. Pero simula nang makita niya ang sunud-sunod na krimen sa eskwelahan nila, nagbago na siya.
Si Ate Rachel naman on the other hand, met the new Ate Dawn when she transferred here in Monte Carlo. Masungit at basagulera daw siya noon at walang gustong makipag-kaibigan sa kanya. She really changed big from a sweet girl to a tough one. "Grand entrance talaga siya, grabe!" Naalala kong sabi ni Ate Rachel. Well, I guess, people changed for various reasons and for Ate Dawn, it's a way for her to cope and to get over the trauma that she had back in her previous school. Pero sinundan pa rin pala siya nito dito sa Monte Carlo.
"Please take care of her, Joyce. Alam ko, mas matanda siya sa 'yo and all, pero, sa sitwasyon niya mas kailangan niya ng mga taong kagaya mo."
"Tama si Wendy. She's in a state na pwede siyang sumabog anytime at hindi natin alam ang pwede niya pang gawin. She could hurt herself, she could hurt anyone close to her. Mag-iingat ka din palagi, Joyce. And tell that to Red, too."
"Ate Rachel, salamat sa inyo kasi in a way, alam ko'ng may iba pang kagaya namin ni Kuya Red na nag-aalala kay Ate Dawn. Sa ilang buwan ko pa lang dito, parang ang dami nang nangyari. I bet no one experiences things like these in high school!"
"Sinabi mo pa!" And the three of us just laughed the serious topic off.
"Ate Dawn?" Naalimpungatan ako habang natutulog isang gabi. I checked my cellphone under my pillow and saw that it was only two thirty in the morning. I saw her seating on her study table and reading a book and taking down notes. Kahit may quiz sila kinabukasan, she didn't need to study until this time of the night. She had been like this for the past couple of months-- nag-aaral ng sobra sobra kahit hindi naman kailangan. I mean, it's not bad to study hard, but what she's doing was not healthy. Hindi na naman ba siya makatulog?
"Hmm?" She looked up from her book and faced me. Kahit lampshade lang ang ilaw sa kwarto, nakita ko ang naging epekto ng ginagawa niyang ito sa sarili niya. She got thinner, her eyes got deeper and she got paler. Konti na lang, zombie na siya.
"May quiz kayo bukas?" I sat up and wrapped my blanket around me. It's January at malamig pa rin ang panahon at inaasahan namin na ganito pa rin hanggang matapos ang school year.
"Wala naman. Nag-a-advance reading lang ako." Advance reading. 'Yan ang lagi niyang sinasagot tuwing nakikita ko siyang nag-aaral pa ng ganitong oras. Ang weird sa ginagawa niya-- sa gabi siya ganito, pero sa araw hindi. She would always hang out with Kuya Red and they would stay somewhere hanggang tumunog 'yung curfew alarm. Madalas ko silang makita sa Campus Grounds, nag-uusap lang, minsan dala ni Kuya Red 'yung gitara niya at kumakanta sila. Minsan naman, hinihiram ni Ate Dawn ang laptop ko at nanonood sila ng movies online.
I knew Kuya Red. Siya 'yung tipo ng estudyanteng hindi bale nang hindi makakain, basta makapag-aral. Pero simula nang mapadalas ang pagsasama nila ni Ate Dawn, hindi na siya ganun. They even gave me a different student tutor dahil nag-quit na daw sa pagiging student tutor si Kuya Red. I talked with him before and he said that Ate Dawn's situation's important. 'Yun lang, period. Ganyan lang din ang natanggap ko nang tanungin ko minsan si Ate Dawn kung bakit hindi siya sa araw mag-aral imbis na sa gabi.
"I have to do this for Red."
"Para kay Kuya Red?"
"Matalino ka, Joyce. Malalaman mo din 'yun in time."
Hanggang ngayon iniisip ko pa rin kung ano 'yun. Hindi ko maisip, masyado yatang komplikado ang utak ni Ate Dawn sa kalagayan niya ngayon. Naaawa ako sa kanya, kahit gaano pala talaga kalakas ang isang tao, may isang bagay pa rin na makakapag-pahina sa kanya. And in her case, it was the death of Kuya Vince. Matatapos na ang school year, hindi pa rin siya bumabalik sa dating sarili niya. She's getting worse everyday and we couldn't afford that, because finals and college entrance exams would happen next month.
"Magpahinga ka na, Ate Dawn."
"Okay lang ako, Joyce. Sige, matulog ka na ulit."
Kinabukasan, may kumpulan sa labas ng Cafeteria. Ano na naman kayang meron? Kinabahan ako bigla nang maisip kong pwedeng si Ate Dawn na naman iyon. Maaga siya umalis kahit na halos wala siyang tulog. Agad akong tumungo sa kumpulan at sumingit sa mga estudyanteng nakiki-usyoso. Nang makalusot ako papunta sa harapan ng kumpulan, napanganga ako sa nakita ko. May binubugbog na naman. Normal? Oo, kung 'yung taong iniisip mo ang gumagawa nun. Agad akong lumapit sa dalawang estudyanteng nagkaka-gulo at pumagitna sa kanila.
"Kuya Red, tama na!" I pushed him away from the poor student and glared at the girl behind him. She was just standing there watching these boys fight to the death. Nababaliw na yata siya talaga! I turned to the boy who's trying to get up with a lot of bruises and dirt on him. Tinulungan ko siyang tumayo at sinabihan siyang umalis na at pumunta sa Clinic. Nagpasalamat siya sa akin at saka ako ulit humarap sa dalawang Senior.
"Hindi ka na dapat nangialam, Joyce." Pabulong niyang sabi sa akin. Seryoso?
"Teka. Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo, Kuya Red?! Is this some kind of a sick joke, kasi sasabihin ko na, hindi siya nakakatuwa!"
"Look around and see if someone's laughing." Napataas ang kilay ko dito. Gusto ko na siyang suntukin para magising siya sa kahibangan niya.
"This is ridiculous!" I threw my hands in the air in great disbelief. Lumapit sa amin si Ate Dawn na parang multo sa balete at ngumisi.
"You can always join us." Someone please stop me before I hit them both in their faces.
"Ano ba'ng nangyayari dito? Kuya Red, you're supposed to help her!"
"I am! I never felt so good in my life, Joyce! Bakit hindi mo itinuro sa akin ito nung inayusan mo ako?" He then gave me a smirk. Masusuka yata ako. Kuya Red never smirked as far as I knew. He didn't even know how to smile, for God's sake!
"Turuan ng ano? Mambugbog? What, are you the two great bullies now?" I sighed heavily and looked at them in their eyes. "Kuya Red, go back to your senses, hindi ikaw ito! You should be influencing her, not the other way around!" He held my shoulder and rubbed it gently.
"Joyce, alam mo naman kung gaano katigas ang ulo niya, 'di ba? I tried a lot of things just to bring her back, pero walang nangyayari."
"So ganun na lang 'yun? Nagkausap lang tayo last week, tapos biglang ganito ka na? Ano'ng nangyari, Kuya?"
"Ang sabi nga nila, Joyce, 'if you can't beat them, join them.'" The two of them turned their back on me and entered the Cafeteria. This is bad. Really, really bad.
"She's losing it, is she?" Nagulat ako nang may malamig na boses na nagmula sa likuran ko. I looked and saw Ate Khione already standing beside me.
"Inisiip mo ba'ng nababaliw na siya? Ate Khione, she's your friend--"
"Yes, she is my friend. Pero may mga bagay na kailangan nang tigilan kung sobra na."
"What?"
"Like what he said, we already tried everything to bring her back, and we're unsuccesful. Her other friends gave up on her, too. Kailan huling dumalaw dito sila Wendy at Rachel? Two, three weeks ago? Tell me I'm wrong if they didn't ask you to look after her." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. It had been weeks, all right. "You see, dear, she already gave up on herself. My advice, do the same. You have your own life, mingle with your levelmates and keep away from the crazy people."
"Yeah, sure. I'll start with you."
Ilang linggo pa ang lumipas at lumala na ang sitwasyon. Ngayon pati si Kuya Red naging pala-away na. Talaga ngang mahina ang personality niya, kasi kung hindi, hindi siya mai-impluwensiyahan ni Ate Dawn towards the dark side. Now, people were afraid not only of Ate Dawn but with Kuya Red as well. Pero hindi ako. Kung kailangang kausapin ko ulit sila, gagawin ko.
"Montilla?"
"Uy, Joyce, tawag ka ni Sir." Kalabit sa akin ng katabi ko. Lutang na naman ako sa klase, as usual.
"S-sir?"
"Okay ka lang ba? Tulala ka na naman, makakapag-exam ka ba ng maayos ngayon?"
"O-opo. Opo naman, Sir. Pasensiya na po, puyat lang." The class settled and our teacher distributed the answer sheets and the test papers. Finals. Halos hindi ako nakapag-review para dito dahil sa kaka-isip ko sa dalawang 'yun! Bahala na si Batman, pasang-awa lang, okay na ako. Hindi naman ako aiming to be part of the Top of the Class list gaya ni... I sighed in disappointment. Oo nga pala, hindi na yata pag-aaral ang priority ni Kuya Red ngayon.
Princess Dawn Dominguez. Ilang minuto ko ring tinitigan ang papel na naka-paskil sa bulletin board sa pag-aakalang namamalik-mata lang ako. Pero hindi. Iyon talaga ang pangalang nakasulat sa unang pwesto sa listahan na iyon. I was on number nine and Kuya Red was on number four. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nasa number one si Ate Dawn ng Top of the Class list kahit na-- And then realization hit me.
Agad akong umalis sa tapat ng Admin Building at tumungo sa Cafeteria. I scanned the entire place and wasn't able to find the person I was looking for. I went out and ran towards the Campus Grounds. I then saw her sitting alone on a vacant bench. I approached her and she didn't move an inch when she saw me. Siguradong alam niya na ang gagawin ko. How could I be such a fool to not realize it right away!
"Bakit mo ginawa 'yun?" Habol ko pa rin ang hininga ko nang tumigil ako sa harapan niya.
"Wala nang ibang paraan, Joyce."
"Meron! Pwede tayong mag-isip ng ibang paraan, hindi ito!" I hated myself so much right now. I was supposed to look after her, pero mas mautak talaga siya kaysa sa akin.
"Joyce, it was very nice knowing someone as bright as you. You have a great future ahead."
"Stop talking crap! You're not dying on me, okay!"
"I wouldn't let that happen without a fight."
"A fight?! And you're still thinking you can fight them off like that?!" I pointed at her zombie-ic figure. "Kahit yata ako lang, matatalo kita, eh!"
"Don't worry much about me, I already consider myself dead. There's someone who needs you more than me." Si Kuya Red!
"Saan ko siya makikita?"
"Try the Restricted Garden." I turned and before I could take a step, she stopped me. "Joyce."
"Hmm?"
"Please tell him I'm sorry." I nodded and hurried towards the Restricted Garden. Kailangan kong makausap si Kuya Red. May pwede pa kaming gawin, there has to be a way!
The thought of her life ticking away every second pushed me to run faster. I reached the Garden's gate and opened it using my hairclip. Tumakbo ako papasok ng lugar na iyon at hinanap siya. Ilang minuto na rin ang nakalipas at nakita ko na rin ang hinahanap ko. Nakaupo siya sa sahig at nakayuko sa bench na katabi ng lumang greenhouse. Kung umiinom siya, iisipin kong lasing siya sa itsura niya. He's no longer the person that I knew. I walked slowly towards him at nagulat ako nang bigla niyang inangat ang ulo niya at tumingin sa direksiyon ko.
Zombie na rin siya kagaya ni Ate Dawn-- Red version 2.0 zombie edition to be exact. He had untidy unifrom on, unfixed hair and dark circles were around his eyes. Ilang sigundo din siyang tumitig sa akin nang bigla siyang tumayo at lumapit sa'kin. Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko kung sakaling aatakihin niya ako, pero bigla lang siyang yumakap sa akin. He's crying.
"Iligtas mo siya, Joyce... Please... Gawin mo lahat para mailigtas siya..." Ibig sabihin alam na rin niya ang plano ni Ate Dawn?
"Ku-Kuya, hindi a-ko... maka-hi-nga..." I lightly pushed him away at kumalas naman agad siya sa pagkaka-yakap sa akin. He slumped on the ground again na parang bumagsak na ang mundo niya.
"Huli na. Huli na nang malaman ko ang pinaplano niya. Ang tanga ko para hindi makita 'yun!" He punched the ground and held his closed fist there. I sat beside him and took his fist and enclosed it in my hands.
"Kuya, pwede pa natin siya iligtas--"
"Paano?! Nakita mo kung gaano sila kalakas! Alam mo rin sa sarili mo kung ano'ng kaya nilang gawin, dahil nakaharap mo na sila mismo! She planned this all along and we're so focused on helping her move on from Vince's death!" I never saw him so angry. Nakakatakot. We were silent for a few seconds and he broke the silence. "She did it for me."
I knelt in fron of him and held both of his hands. "We have to help her. We have to think of a way to save her. We can save her."
---END OF CHAPTER 11.30.14