Reckless

Chapter 44

"No. I'll be fine. Papasok ako sa opisina." Sabi ko naman. "You should rest. I'll take care of it. Just take at least a week off or whatever you like. Gagawan ko ng paraan." Sabi nito.

Tumango nalang ako dahil wala na ako sa mood makipagusap. I'm just not in the mood to talk anymore. I just want to go to my room and rest.

Pumasok na ako sa bahay at bumungad sa'kin si ate Reah.

"Katherine? Bakit ngayon ka lang? Saan ka galing? Nakailang tawag na ako sa'yo."

"I'll talk about it later, ate Reah." Sabi ko at umakyat ng hagdan.

Gusto ko man tignan si Brion, pero baka gising na siya at makita niya akong ganito. Hindi pa ako nakakabihis at sobrang dumi ng suot at itsura ko. I don't want to face him like this. I look like s**t. I won't be able to talk to him too. God... I'm exhausted. Pumasok ako sa cr at binuksan ang shower. Umupo ako sa bathtub at pinikit ang mata. Nagsimula na tumulo ang mga luha ko.

That guy.... he gave me so much trauma. I don't know how to start again. I feel so numb and I feel like I don't have any power to anything. I'm a weak person.

"It's going to be okay, Katherine. You're gonna be fine." Sabi ko at yumuko.

I don't think I can go to work tomorrow too. I'm sure rumors already spread since Mr. Garcia was already caught. The media won't stop until they know the whole story. I can't get out of my own house.

They'll surely interview me 'cause I was the last person he got issued with. Ahh! This life got so messed up. What happened to me? I feel like I messed up badly.

Nagising ako at umaga na. I don't know how to face anyone right now.

"Katherine? Nasa baba si sir Louis..."

I'm sure he heard about what happened. He's gonna ask me a lot of questions. I don't think I'm in the mood to tell stories now.

"I don't want to talk to anyone right now, Ate Reah." Sabi ko. I don't even have the appetite to eat. umalis naman agad si ate.

Laking pasasalamat ko dahil di niya ko pinipilit na magsabi about sa nangyari. Sigurado ako isa din siya sa nagalala. Ilang minuto palang nung umalis si ate pero may kumatok nanaman sa pinto.

"Ate Reah mamaya na ako kakain--"

"It's me."

Natatihimik ako. That familiar deep voice. It's Louis. I clearly told ate Reah that I'm not in the mood.

"I don't want to talk--"

"I know. I just want to see you." I sighed. Nakapaghilamos at sipilyo naman na ako.

Lumapit ako sa pinto at binuksan ito. Nagtama ang tingin naming dalawa at nagulat ako sa bigla niyang pagyakap sa'kin. Did something happen?

"M-My wound..." Sabi ko. Agad siyang humiwalay sa'kin.

Masakit yung pagyakap niya dahil naipit ang sugat ko sa braso. Hinawakan niya 'yon pati na din ang sugat ko sa kamay.

"I can't believe they let this happen to you..." Sabi niya habang tinitignan ang mga sugat ko.

"No one expected it." I said. Inupo niya ako sa kama at umupo siya sa tabi ko. Tinignan ko ang muka. Kita ang pagaalala sa mukha niya. I can't even be harsh to him.

"Why don't you have bodyguards? Or at least security when you leave or enter the building?"

"I don't know... no one dares to do something bad to me--"

"But someone already did."

Alam ko. Panigurado inaayos na lahat ni Gio sa opisina, so when I get back, I'd be comfortable to go to work. It's his job to make me comfortable as much as possible.

“I’m not really in the mood right now, Louis.” Sabi ko.

“I’m sorry. Did you check Brion? He keeps asking me about you when we face time, I thought you’re just busy at work.” Sabi nito.

Umiling ako. I don’t think I can put a smile on my face when I talk to him.

“You should at least show yourself to him...”

“I know, Louis. I just need a bit more time to fix my s**t up.”

Ayaw ko naman ma-feel ni Brion na parang hindi ako masayang makita siya. He’s still a kid and he wouldn’t recognize whether I’m going through things and such.

“I’ll send a doctor to make sure you’re fine mentally and physically.”

Hindi na ako umangal dahil wala din talaga akong gana makipag usap. I know he’s concerned and so is Gio. Even if I feel thankful, that won’t change anything.

I just nodded on everything he’s saying. When he realized and gave up on making me talk, he sighed and stood up.

“I’ll be downstairs. Kakausapin ko lang si Brion at aalis na din ako mamayang gabi.”

”Okay.” I said.

He looked at me again before leaving.

I feel kinda guilty for how I treated him despite of how concern he is to me. Humiga ako sa kama at tumitig sa kisame.

Buti nalang talaga at pinabantayan ako ni Gio. What if he didn’t? They might still be looking for me and something might’ve already happened to me considering how dirty those guys are including Mr. Garcia.

-

Nagising ako at madilim na sa labas. Nakauwi na rin siguro si Louis. Tumayo ako at tinignan ang sarili ko sa salamin. I should wear a sweatshirt. Baka makita pa ni Brion ang sugat ko.

Nagsuot ako ng sweatshirt at naglakad palabas ng kwarto. Wala na masyadong ilaw sa baba at puro dim lights nalang ang nakabukas.

“Ate Reah?” Tawag ko dahil minsan natambay siya sa baba.

Walang sumagot kaya naman dumeretso nalang ako sa kwarto ni Brion. He’s sleeping already.

Hinawi ko ang buhok niya na nakaharang sa muka niya. His hair is getting long now. Gumalaw siya ng kaunti at hinawakan ang kamay ko. He slowly opened his eyes.

“Mama…”

That voice... I thought I wouldn’t see or hear him again. I feel my tears falling down to my cheeks. Grabe, I can’t imagine if I lose Brion.