His Broken Gem

HBG 17

Stella's POV

My alarm buzzed at 5 am and here I am, lying at my bed, wide awake.

Well actually, I woke up earlier than 5 am, I don't know how long I've been awake. I was just staring at my room's ceiling, thinking about what happened this past few days.

I can't believe what I've said yesterday. I...like him—No. That's impossible. We don't click kasi we always get into each others nerves. I mean, we're not compatible with each other.

And also I never liked anyone like this before.

I sigh as I got up on my bed. I still have work, might as well focus on that one. I did my morning routine, shower, get dressed, do my makeup. I collected my things and went outside to cook for breakfast. I just cooked bacon, sausage, and fried rice. I am preparing the table and served the dish when the door in the guestroom opened.

As if on cue, I place the food on top of the kitchen island and leaves it to enter my room. I can immediately feel my face heating up. What the hell?

"Morning," I heard him greet. I just give him a side glance and proceed to collect my stuff.

Nang makalabas ako sa kuwarto ay nakita ko siya sa kitchen island looking at the dish I cooked. I guess I won't be eating breakfast here even I cooked for myself. Napansin niya siguro ang presensiya ko dahil napalingon siya sa gawi ko. Agad naman akong napaiwas ng tingin at napatayo nang tuwid saka naglakad patungo sa pinto.

Did he catch me staring? No, right? Because I immediately avoided his eyes.

"Hindi ka ba kakain ng agahan?" he asked as he took a bite of my bacon. I look at it for a moment before shaking my head.

"No," I simply said. May sinabi pa siya pero hindi ko na narinig 'yon dahil lumabas na ako ng unit.

'Are you avoiding him, ate Stella?' Elly asked as I went to the elevator and press the basement.

"I don't have any reason to avoid him, Elly" I snorted as I stare at my reflection on the wall of the elevator.

'Reallyy?...' she ask using a mischievous tone. I rolls my eyes at her.

"Why would I avoid him? I didn't do something wrong," I tried to explain but she just laughs at me.

'You didn't do anything but I think the reason you're avoiding him is because you like kuya Ali,' she snickers.

I choked on my own saliva and coughed. I immediately deny that part.

"I don't like him."

'Oh come on, ate Stella. There is nothing wrong with liking Kuya Ali. I also like him kaya because he's so mabait and he have a younger sister as my friend,' she stated in a matter of fact tone.

"You do like him but I don't and no more questions," I let out at the right time the elevator opened.

My day went like that until tomorrow came. Parang kinain ko ang sinabi ko kay Elly kahapon when I said I'm not avoiding him. I just feel embarrass when he's around as if I did something weird.

"Stella—" Sebastian tried to talk but I immediately cut him off as I walked past him.

"I'm off to work," I said and left the unit.

That routine continues on several days. I always woke up earlier than them to leave the unit para hindi kami gaanong magkita. I even endure taking breakfast outside or in my office just to immediately leave the unit. Late na rin ako kung umuwi para masiguradong wala na siya sa unit kapag uuwi na ako.

He'd always left the unit at 7 or 8pm to work kaya naman mga 8 or 9 na rin ako umuuwi. Then I would leave the unit at 5am kasi 6am siya umuuwi.

I even hired a babysitter for Shy since her classes already started. The babysitter I am talking about is my secretary. I felt a little bad for not accompanying her to school but it's okay, his brother did that part.

Why am I stressing over these things? It's not like we're related to feel the attachment with her. I know it's must have something to do with Elly but whenever I am just being myself, I still can't stop worrying about her. That's why I send my secretary to look for her.

I sigh as I glance at the clock as it strikes 7 pm right on time. He already left by this time, right?

I organized my table and grab my stuff. Medyo tahimik na ang building dahil na rin sa nakauwi na ibang empleyado. Some of them took overtime. I glance at my secretary's table, she's not there because I asked her to buy a gift for Shy and deliver it to her. Tinungo ko agad ang parking lot sa basement ng building. Nang palabas na ako ng building ay bumuhos ang napakalakas na ulan.

I hate this season, I hesitated kung susulong ba ako ng ulan o maghihintay na lang na huminto ito. But by the look of it, it doesn't have the will to stop. I sigh as I decided to go home. I think I can handle pa naman. Habang bumabiyahe ay napapasigaw ako sa tuwing kumukulog. It's one of the reasons why I hate the rainy season, it's loud and scary.

"F-ck," I shouted as I park my car on the side road and covers my ears. Patuloy lang ang pagkulog nito at mas lalong lumakas ang ulan. I keep on flinching every time na kumukulog. It reminds me of the sounds of the gun and I really hate it.

No, this isn't called rain anymore. It's definitely a storm.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nasa ganoong posisyon nang marinig ko ang pagtunog ng cellphone. I look around and notice that it's still raining pero wala nang kulog at kidlat. I grab my phone at the dashboard of my car and answer the call.

"Hello," I greeted the person on the other line. I didn't even check the caller ID and just answered my phone.

"Happy birthday." Isang malalim na boses ang bumungad sa akin na siyang nagpukaw ng diwa ko. I eventually felt a eerie feeling that sends shivers into my spine. It's a familiar feeling that I've felt before.

I was stunned by it and it makes me unable to speak. My mouth gaped as I covered them with my hands and the tears flows down to my cheeks.

No.

"...Stella," I heard the person said in a blurry voice or maybe it was just me?

I instinctively roamed my eyes at the road, at my surrounding, as the heavy rain keeps on pouring outside.

"...okay... Ma'am," I heard the voice again but it is clear this time but wala roon ang atensyon ko.

Feeling ko ay may nakamasid sa akin. I tried to look at the back to check if there's someone there when I saw a silhouette outside. It was standing at the back of my car kaya naman agad kong pinaandar ang sasakyan pero hindi ito nakikisama sa akin.

I didn't even notice the ongoing call as I desperately starts my car but it is not cooperating with me. I just want to leave this place.

I covered my ears trying to block the noise that my phone's creating and the noise of the thunder that comes back right. Idagdag mo pa ang aninong nakita ko sa likod.

"Stop! Stay away from me!" maarin kong sigaw habang desperadong tinatakpan ang tainga ko. Patuloy pa rin sa pag-agos ang mga luha ko. It's dark and cold outside.

'You're such a coward, Stella,' Megan spats looking down at me.

"Stop, please," I begged as I grabbed a handful of my hair.

'After almost 7 years of trying to build you, you're still a failure,' she hissed.

I cried more thinking that all the things she said were true. I am such a coward. I'm a failure.

"I'm sorry," I cried.

I heard Megan scoffs, she becomes more irritated than before.

'That is because you let that weakling Stacy get ahead of you? You let that her consume you that easily!' she snapped.

I cried even more as she keeps on nagging at me.

"It's because of me... it's my fault...I killed him..." I muttered to myself as I hug myself and cries in agony.

I felt numb after crying for almost an hour. I don't know what gotten into me when I open the door at lumabas ng kotse. The cold breeze and wet surface meet my shivering state. I started running towards nowhere.

'That's all that you're good at, Stella! Running away!' Megan growled.

I tried to ignore her as I ignore the heavy droplets of rain and proceeds on walking.

"It's my fault," I muttered, eyes becoming blurry from all the tears and rain that flowed in my face.

An image flashes to mind. All those screams and cries make me insane. The face that he made before I left, keeps on hunting me at night. I felt my head spinning, making it painful to bear. I grab a handful of hair as I sat on the wet ground, trying to lessen the pain as my vision gets hazier.

I can't take it all! The voices, the pain, the image.

Please, stop.

I tried to keep on stand again but my knees give up as well as my eyes started to feel heavy. I slumped down to the wet ground, breathing becomes fast and short. Why does it all happened to me? Ano bang ginawa kong kasalanan para magdusa ako ng ganito? I did everything without hurting anyone. I didn't harm anyone but why do I have to suffer alone like this?

I grip my hair as my head keeps on pounding like crazy. It hurts as hell.

My body and mind can't take it all until my eyes finally give up. I fall in the middle of the road as the darkness started to consume me. But before it completely consumed me, I see a faint light coming. That's all I've ever remembered before I finally collapse.

I woke up due to the same nightmare, my sweat coated my hospital gown. I look around and found myself inside of a white room. I bring my knees to my chest and hugged them as I started to cry again.

'I'm such a pathetic.'

I heard the door opens and Mikaela with a worried face comes towards me. Without a word, she immediately enclosed me in her arms. I find myself slumped into her as my cries became louder. I just cried even know I felt we are not alone. I saw a figure at my door but I care less about my surroundings right now and let my emotion get ahead of me.

I am just tired and hurting right now. I just want to disappear. How I wish I was the one who died that day. Then may be hindi na ako mahiirapan ng ganito ngayon. I won't suffer from all of this alone.

"Shhh..." Mika hushed as she continues to cares my back back-and-forth and pat my head, whispering comforting words to my ears. Tinago ko ang sarili sa yakap niya habang umiiyak.

"I'm so scared, Mika. I didn't mean anything to happen but it is still because of me why it happens," I murmured just enough for her to hear since she's just near me.

"No, Stella. It's not your fault, okay? Stop blaming yourself," she comforted me as she keeps on patting my back. "You need to rest, Stella. I'mgonna stay here, I won't leave you," she assured me.

Instead of answering her, I just cried until I felt drowsy as my eyelids becomes heavy and immediately succumb to deep sleep.

A sleep where I wish to last forever and never woke up again in this cruel world.