Wormholes
1723 Words
CHAPTER 2
Wormholes
"Have you seen the viral video?" Agad na bungad ni Logan pagkapasok ko sa classroom.
"I am not interested," I replied immediately.
I put my bag on my chair and scanned the entire room. Asher is not here yet. Sabagay, alas syete pa lang naman. Umupo na ako saka hiniga ulo ko sa desk. Mugtong-mugto mata ko ngayon, sana hindi mapansin ni Logan dahil sigurado ako na papagalitan niya na naman ako.
"Asher invited Charleigh to be her prom partner and it went viral. Everyone is shipping them both, kaya huwag ka nang umasa. Okay? You'll just hurt yourself," he said calmly.
Sabi hindi ako interesado sa video 'e, kinwento pa. Napaka-harsh pa.
Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil wala talaga akong gana. I knew it because I've already watched it earlier. I saw how Asher walked towards her and asked to be his partner, everyone was cheering them out. Edi sila na mag-partner. Bagay naman sila 'e. They are perfectly fit with each other. While me, I am just nothing in Asher's eye. Bakit ba kasi required ang partner sa prom na 'yan tapos limang araw na lang magaganap na. I can handle myself alone 'no, even without a partner. I believe in myself that I am a strong independent woman who doesn’t need a man. Amp! Kung hindi lang 'to required umattend, hindi rin ako a-attend 'e. Magastos pa.
Dumating na ang prof saka ko napansin na halos lahat na pala ng classmates ko nandito na. Class had started and everything went okay, not until we felt a small continuous shaking of the ground.
"Lumilindol!" Jason shouted and everyone panicked.
"Cover everyone, don't panic!" Our professor exclaimed then did what he said also.
Nagsimula nang magsigawan at dumapa ang lahat habang hawak-hawak ang ulo. Hindi rin nawala ang kaba saking dibdib dahil nasa 6th floor kami at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin humihinto ang pagyanig.
"Bakit ang tagal?" sigaw ng lahat na halos naiiyak na.
I clutched my chest because of excessive pain. I even barely breathe because of it. Nanglalanghap na ako ng hangin para lang makahinga. Damn, naiiyak na ako. Seriously, I really can’t breathe, I’m crying.
I was about to stand up and ran but then, someone pulled my hand and embraced me in his chest.
"Don't be scared," he whispered.
I looked up to see who it is and found out that it was Logan.
Logan knows that I am afraid of heights. Kaya siguro ganito kasakit sa dibdib ko ngayon because I’m having a panic attack. What if the earthquake won't stop and the building will collapse? Natatakot ako na baka mahulog kami lalo na nandito kami sa pinakamataas na building ng school.
Hindi ko kakayanin 'to. I started crying because it really won't stop.
Nang huminto ang pagyanig ay kaagad na lumabas prof namin saka dali-dali rin bumalik nang lumabas lahat ng studyante sa kabilang section.
"Form a line!" he commanded and everyone followed.
I glanced at Asher to see what he was doing, but I regretted what I did.
He is talking over the phone while his face looks very worried.
I guess he's talking to Charleigh. Sino pa ba, alangan naman ako.
Lumabas na kami at pina-stay muna sa field. After minutes of waiting, the head of school announced a class suspension for a week, even our prom is suspended. This is because of what happened earlier. Nagtagal kasi ang lindol and hindi nila alam ang kalagayan ng building kaya minabuti na lang nilang isuspende ang klase nang mapagtuonan pansin at maayos ang school.
"Rest when you reach home," Logan requested while we were walking to the parking lot.
Luminga pa ako para hanapin si Asher pero hindi ko na mahagilap pa.
"Can you stop minding him and focus on your health?" Iritado niyang sabi saka binuksan ang front seat ng sasakyan niya.
Ihahatid niya kasi ako sa bahay dahil biglang sumakit ulo ko kanina sa field. Siguro dahil sa epekto ng lindol kanina. Pumasok na ako at pinagsaran niya ako ng pinto. He went to the other side and stepped inside. He then started the engine without saying a word.
"Sorry," tanging sabi ko na lang at hindi na siya pinansin.
Hindi na rin siya kumibo pa hanggang sa nakaabot na kami ng bahay. I jumped in bed as soon as I get inside my room. Wala na naman tao sa bahay, as usual. Kaming dalawang kapatid na nga lang babae, hindi pa close while my parents were separated. Nandito ako ngayon sa papa ko habang ang isa kong kapatid nasa side ni mama. My family is a mess. Kaya anong gagawin ko dito buong linggo 'e walang ganap buhay ko.
"AAAAAHHH!" I screamed and covered my ears because of the loud thunderstorm.
I opened my eyes and got confused about the weather.
I hopped out of bed and opened my window. Kumidlat pero hindi umuulan? Usually after this, it will rain so hard. Pero bakit sobrang init pa rin ng araw?
Lumabas na ako ng bahay saka tumungo sa bakuran namin sa likod ng bahay. Kinuha ko mga sampay dahil baka biglang bumuhos ang ulan. Dad has no time for this. Imagine two days na nandito, hindi man lang nakuha.
Sigh.
Sa huling sampay na kukunin ko sana ay bigla akong may naramdaman sa kamay. I pulled it back and touched it again. Mas lalong kumunot ulo ko nang sinubukan ko ulit kunin ang damit pero parang lumulusot kamay ko. I touched the clothes and got shocked when I felt it was wet. Hinablot ko ito at gulat na gulat ako nang makitang sobrang basa ito.
Hindi umuulan at hindi pa umulan, bakit sobrang basa nito?!
I glanced at the rope again. Because of the confusion, I reached it for the second time. Namilog mata ko nang makita lumusot uli ang kamay ko, pero nakikita ko pa rin naman ito. It's just that there is something that hindrances between it.
Hindi ko maintindihan! Bakit may paganitong effect?!
Kokak. kokak.
"Ay palakaaa!" napatalon ako sa gulat saka biglang dumilim ang paligid at bumuhos ang malakas na ulan.
I immediately ran inside the house. Nang nakapasok ay laking gulat ko na makita si mama at bunso kong kapatid.
"Heather, bakit ka sumulong sa ulan?" She asked and ran to the kitchen.
"Ate! Don't come at me with your wet hair, okay?" halos patawang sigaw ng kapatid ko saka tumakbo sa taas as if I would ran after her.
What.. the.. hell is happening? Why are they here?!
My mom went back with a towel. She wrapped it around my body and guided me to the kitchen.
"Ano ba 'yan Heather, you are making yourself sick!"
I'm confused.
How?
Bakit parang sobrang close namin? We are not close even my sister, pero bakit parang ang close ng turing niya sa akin?
"Wala ka na bang klase? This is too early for you to go home." She walked to the sink and washed her hands, then looked at me.
"Heather, I am talking to you, bakit hindi ka sumasagot? May lagnat ka ba?" She walked nearer to me and tried to touch my neck but I immediately refused it.
Nagulat ito sa ginawa ko kaya ngumiti ako ng peke.
"Kw-- kwarto lang ako, m-mom," I stuttered and ran upstairs.
Nang makapasok ay nilocked ko kaagad ang pinto.
But, as soon as I faced my room, I got scared when I saw that it was different from my room!
Hindi ganito ayos ng kwarto ko! My room looks messier before because I'm a lazy a*s woman, but how come that this one looks so clean?!
Then, I saw my pictures on the wall and a family picture. Nilapitan ko ito at napaiyak dahil sa nakita ko. It was mom, dad, my sister and me hugging with each other. We are so happy in this frame. But no way, none of these are my memories. I don't remember we took this picture. And for the record, we are already a broken family since I'm six!
"Heather, baby, change your clothes okay? Nang hindi ka magkasakit." I heard mom’s voice behind the door.
I heard footsteps walking away from my place.
Napaupo ako habang minamasdan ang kabuuang kwarto.
Where am I?
I know myself that this is not my room.
Instead of crying and thinking where in the universe I am-- oh shocks wait!
I stood up and ran to the window, opened it and saw some clothes still hanging in the backyard. As far as I know, kinuha ko naman lahat 'yan at inilagay sa baskets ah?
I swear I put it all in the baskets! Right?!
I scanned the backyard again and I didn't even see a shadow of a basket.
Damn! What the hell is happening?!
Naalala ko lang ay may palaka kaya napatalon ako sa kabilang side--- OMG! NAPATALON AKO SA PARTE KUNG SAAN LUMULUSOT ANG KAMAY KO!
Dali-dali akong tumakbo palabas. Sinigurado ko muna kung nandyan si mama bago ako tuluyang sumulong sa ulan. When I saw no one's there, I immediately went to the backyard. Huminto lang ako sa dulo ng sampayan kung saan ako kanina nakatayo. I know I looked crazy but this is the only choice I have to answer my question!
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
If I jump and nothing happens, I am just hallucinating. But if I jump here and I go back to normal, something is really happening right now.
3... 2...
1... jump!
"Aww!" Sigaw ko nang natapilok ako sa pagtalon. I slightly massaged it to lessen the pain. Ang sakit!
"So you're here..." a voice stopped, so I opened my eyes.
Lumakas kabog ng dibdib ko nang makita ko si Logan. Mas lalo akong nagulohan nang makitang sobrang ganda ng araw.
"And, why are you wet?" He asked out of curiosity.
Sinubukan niyang lumapit pero pinigilan ko kaagad ito.
"Don't!" I stopped and tried to stand up pero bahagyang nakayuko lang dahil sa sakit ng paa ko.
I came nearer to him and looked back to where I came from.
A light flashed on it which made the spot clearer... and I saw something circling around.
No way.
Did.. did I just travel to the parallel universe?
- Writer
