Chapter Eight (Part 2)
1276 Words
Chapter Eight (Part 2)
What the hell? "What are you doing here and why are you mindlessly walking around here like that! I almodt killed you!" And to think that I am 18 and more than qualified to spend my days in prison if ever!
Her expression clearly stated that she was also shocked about what happened. Specially that it is me, the head of the organization she belongs to, who almost hit her.
I thought accidents like this only happens in Metro Manila. I never experienced this kind of thing for my eight years here in Pampanga.
"U-uhh. I-I was jut waiting for s-someone--"
"In this kind of place and alone?" I interrupted her judgingly while staring at her with discerning eyes.
She bit her lower lips as she tried to hide hee trembling hands. It is apparent that she is uncomfortable with this unexpected confrontation.
"I-Im sorry that y-you almost got in trouble because of m-me. I'm really sorry but I-I have to go." She said before hastily walking away from me.
"Nimsan..." I camly called her while she waa just two meters away from me.
She slightly turned her head to me with a somehow anxious expression.
"Where are you going?" I gently inquired while smoothly riding on my baby black again.
She bit her lips again before uttering an answer. "T-To school." She said in a low voice, almost inaudible.
I nod while removing the dust on my jacket. I blew it away before slowly returning my gaze at Nimsan.
"Really? But that is not the route to school. It is on the other way." I pointed my head to the right direction.
I don't know but despite of our distance, I think I felt her suddenly trembled because of an unknown fear? Or shock?
I kicked the gas before withdrawing my eyes from her.
"I'm not sure if you're just lost or in dazed. But I hope next time..." the engine of my baby black roared to life. "...you'll walk on the right path." Then I left her there without further talks, driving to the right way to school.
On the side mirror I noticed her tightly clenching her fist. And at that moment, I think... I felt suddenly something odd... something familiar.
Damn, Nimsan.
I SUCCESSFULLY reached the school without getting late. The day went normal as usual, almost predictable. While our teacher discusses our last subject for the day which is Basic Calculus, my mind is meandering somewhere else. The memories of what happened yesterday just won't stop bugging me.
They are here. I do not know their intentions yet but I am guessing that it's not because they want to have a vacation in this tiny town with me.
I slightly scratched my eyebrows as my mind continues to wonder somewhere.
I really need to go to that place.
"Okay, so that's all our lesson for today. Review all the formulas, we'll be having a quiz tomorrow." I did not notice that the bell already rang and my teachers was already walking out of the room.
I quietly picked up my backpack before proceeding to the SSG office. I will check if all the preparations for the upcoming reach out program next week is all settled. And I also want to check other things.
When I opened the office's door, I immediately noticed the other officers preoccupied with organizing the packs that we will use in the outreach program for the burnt shelter of the home for the aged.
I also saw muss Quen, out SSG adviser, quietly sitting on a chair while reading something on a folder she was holding.
"Oh, Arylle. Your here." Miss acknowledge my presence.
I smirked at her. "Yeah. I'm sorry I was a bit late for this, miss."
She smiled at me. Oh, it's alright. You're just in time actually. Some of the officers just happened to be early since they have vacant subjects." She gestured her hand dismissively.
I nodded at her before crossing my arms to examine the packs being organized. I don't want to join, there are too many of them already. It will only cause more inconvenience.
"So what's the plan for the program, miss?" asked our adviser while my eyes is fixed at Nimsan who is currently jotting down the inventories.
"Well... first of, here are the list of the elders that we will be helping." She hand me the transparent folder she was holding earlier.
"I didn't know that we're allowed to know their files." I commented before accepting.
"It's not actually their individual files. It's just the list of names and other priority goods that they need so we can help them more efficiently." Miss Quen explained briefly.
"I see..." I silently scan the folder.
Good Heart Home for the Aged is the name of the shelter. I peruse the name of the elders.
"There are approximately forty plus elders who are currently living in that shelter. But actually, their numbers decreased a bit now since the fire incident. Some of the elders were immediately pulled out by their relatives or family members due to the alarming disaster that happened inside the supposedly haven." Miss Quen briefed me with some information while I remained reading the folder.
"What is the condition of the remaining elders in the shelter, miss Quen?" Ivan, our SSG Public Information Officer, suddenly joined the conversation. "And why are they staying there, anyway? The shelter is already damaged."
"Well they do not have a choice you know. Some of the elders inside the shelter do not have families anymore and even if they want to leave that traumatic place, they do not have any place to go. That is why we are here, so we can light them up a little bit and provide some help to them." Miss Quen preached.
The other officers sympathetically reacted with what miss have said. Meanwhile, my eyes still lingered on the list as I scan it one by one. Miss Quen was right, there are over forty plus elders inside the shelter that we need to help. As I reached the 45th name on the list, I gaped in deep surprise with the name that I saw.
My breath hitched the familiar name etched in the thin piece of bond paper I am holding. My hands seem to tremble as my eyes caresses each letter of that name...
"Arylle, are you okay?" I was taken aback when I heard a voice calling me.
I turned my head to our organization's adviser who is currently staring at me with confused expression, her eyes stares went down to the folder I am holding.
That is when I realized that I was holding it too firmly that I have already crumpled it.
I silently cleared my throat. "Yes, miss Quen." I answered in a cold voice.
She just arched her brows a bit before ignoring my weird actions.
"Anyway, about the plans... the exact date for the outreach program, as you all know, will be Tuesday next week. You will be riding the school bus at exactly 6:30 am. Anyone who dares to be late will be left behind--so don't even try." She strictly announced.
She even walked around the room while crossing her arms.
"One more thing, be sure to bring--"
Miss Quen waa stopped her supposedly strict preaching when the office's door violently opened.
In the doorway, a boy student with ragged uniform is breathing haggardly. His eyes are filled with extreme emotions--fear and anxiety as he sputter the words hastily.
"M-Miss Quen! T-There is a l-lifeless body found inside the g-greenhouse!"
-C. N. Haven-
- Writer
