Chapter 9
1443 Words
Shh... Shh... Sleep for now
Run if you can...
Run if you can...
Mary Anne...
Freeze!
H-Heeeelp!
Naramdaman kong may yumuyugyog sa'kin. "Anne?!"
"Princess, wake up!" Nagising ako nang marinig ang boses ni Kuya Borge.
Nakita ko agad ang mukha niyang puno nang pag-aalala sabay yakap nito sa'kin. "You're having nightmare."
*hic* "K-Kuya... I'm s-scared."
Tatlong buwan na ang nakalipas matapos noong masquerade gala incident pero pakiramdam ko ay kahapon lang ito nangyari. Halos tatlong linggo ako nanatili sa hospital para obserbahan physical at mentally. Pagkatapos ng isang linggong pahinga sa bahay ay bumalik ako sa opisina pero naapektuhan din ang work performance ko.
I was diagnosed with PTSD. I've been having nightmares, anxiety attacks and my behavior towards other people has been affected too. I quit being an escort and Mom took over the agency.
My commitments to the clients as a model itself were withdrawn and I have to pay for the penalty fees. I decided to take off from my career as a model and prioritize my therapy.
My family wants me to have my therapy in the US so that I can have a new environment but I refuse to go. Benjamin and I are still not meeting each other. It's been three months but he can't visit me at home.
Inintindi ko na lang si Benj noong may sinabi siyang new project na aabutin ng two years kaya busy siya most of the time. Wala akong alam sa flow ng work niya bilang civil engineer kaya hinayaan ko na lang at hindi ko pa naman kaya siyang harapin ngayon dahil sa nangyari.
Siguro 'yung nangyari sa masquerade gala ang dahilan kung bakit tutol siya sa pag-eescort ko noon at baka dahil sa nangyari kung bakit parang iniiwasan niya ako.
*knock* *knock*
Bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto ko at pumasok ang Mom ko na nakangiti kaya nahawa rin ako sa ngiti niya. "Hey sweetie, you have visitors."
Kasunod na pumasok ni Mom ang friends ko na mas lalong kinangiti ko ng malapad. Halos maiyak ako ng makita ko sila.
"Girls!" Halos maiyak ako ng makita ko sila.
"Maan!"
"Maan!"
"Mary..."
Halos magkakasabay na banggit nila sa pangalan ko. Si Nalla lang ang tumatawag sa'kin madalas ng Mary. They really fly here from Cebu. I've been missing them since after we graduated from college.
My family decided to settle temporarily here in Manila for work and stuff purposes. Umuuwi pa rin naman kami ng Cebu kapag gusto namin magbakasyon.
"Ayaw mo bang umuwi muna ng Cebu?" suggestion ni Icelyn.
"Masasamahan ka namin anytime, anywhere you want," offer ni Lizel.
Napayuko ako dahil nahihiya ako sa sasabihin ko. "G-Girls... I-I was diagnosed with PTSD... I d-don't want to bother you all." I was waiting for their reaction but when I saw their faces they more likely wanted to cry with me.
I cried loudest when they hugged me. "Waaahhh... I'm sorry! I should have listened to Benjamin when he wanted me to quit from my side work."
"I know it's hard... but you can make it, Mary... We are here... We will help you," Nalla comforted me for the first time.
"You know what... We should go shopping. Let's go!" Icelyn suggested.
Mom allowed me to go back to the condo when my friends were staying with me. They even volunteer to monitor me and remind me about my medication. Mom is thankful and happy about my friends being here in times of darkness.
Kuya Borge dropped us off at the mall. We were having dinner outside when I felt my phone vibrate.
From: My Engineer
Can we meet?
To: My Engineer
Yes! Tell me when and where. I miss you!
×————×
"You should go to US." Ito agad ang unang sinabi ni Benjamin pagkaupo niya.
"What do you mean?" maang-maangan ko.
"Elise told me... Ayoko maging dahilan nang hindi mo pagpunta sa US para magpagamot," saad niya nang nakakunot ang noo nito.
"I can have my therapy naman here," pilit ko.
"Ah basta! Huwag ka na dumagdag sa iisipin ko," nabigla ako sa pagsigaw nito. This is the first time he yelled at me.
"B-Babe... May problema ba sa work mo?" tanong ko na may pag-aalala.
"None... None of your business... Just go, please."
Why do I feel like he is trying to push me away? "Okay... Okay... I'll go but will you try to visit me there?" tanong ko.
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na nakapataong sa table. "I will... I will let you know if possible."
We had a date the whole day as if it would be the last. We watched movies, played bowling and skating. This feels like the first time we had a date.
He dropped me off at my condo, and I let him meet my friends. This is the first meeting they have. My friends were happy when they finally met my boyfriend, they even thought that I was just having an imaginary boyfriend.
"Girls, I need your help," I am going to ask them a favor for my plans. I am sure that my parents were going to send me to Chicago.
"I am going to have my therapy in the US but I want to go to New York where Kuya Iulian settled..."
I took a deep breath. "Pwede bang tulungan niyo akong kumbinsihin ang family ko na sa New York na lang ako magpagamot?"
"Bakit saan ka ba nila dadalhin?" tanong ni Lizel.
"Sa Chicago, I guess?... You know naman what happened between my family and Kuya Iulian." Kinuwento ko ito sa kanila noong pagkaalis ng kuya ko sa bahay namin.
"Okay let's do that... Hindi naman siguro nila alam na nasa NYC ang kuya mo, right?" napaisip ako sa tanong ni Icelyn. Oo nga no? Maybe Mom and Kuya Borge knew but I know they wouldn't rat out Kuya Iulian.
"Yeah... We can accompany you going there until you settle," offer ni Nalla.
"I love you, girls!" Muntik na naman ako maiyak.
"What about your boyfriend? Does he know?" tanong ni Nalla.
"Actually... He insisted na pumunta ako... Ayaw niya maging dahilan kung bakit ayokong pumunta sa US." I didn't tell them about Benjamin getting annoyed at me.
"Okay... That's settled... Punta na lang tayo tomorrow sa house to inform my family... I bought ice cream!" Kinuha ko sa ref ang apat na ice cream na malaki ang gallon. I was supposed to use this to bribe them but all's well that ends well.
We planned out how to convince my parents and also they want to go back to Cebu before coming with me to NYC. I informed Elise about my plans and she's willing to help. After that, I chatted with Kuya Iulian just in case my family granted their permission.
Kuya I calling...
I answered his video call and was a little bit shocked when I saw him. He has long hair now and he's so pretty!
"Omg! Kuya Iulian is that you?!" I screamed in surprise.
"Hey... Don't mind me... What are you saying that you want to be here?" he asked.
"Wait as far as I know... You'll be having therapies, right?" I'm not surprised if he knew already, maybe mom told him about what happened to me.
"...but you offered me to explore NYC for a new environment, are you taking it back na ba?" I showed him a fake sad face.
"Stop doing that... you're being ugly," he teased.
"soooo??" I am waiting for his confirmation.
"Okay... Tell me when are you coming so I can fetch you at the airport."
"Hi, Kristoff!" I called. I saw him coming at the door from outside. Maybe he just got home.
"Oh! Hi, Anne... So what's up?" He came closer to Kuya Iulian and gave him a forehead kiss.
"Aww... So sweet!" Kuya Iulian rolled his eyes against me.
"She's coming here... Can she stay here for a while?" Kuya Iulian asked Kristoff for permission.
"Oh no! Kuya Iulian... No need... Just help me find an apartment to live in please!" I asked. I don't want to be a burden to them.
"You can stay here while searching for an apartment—"
"Stop! Actually, I'm coming with my friends... They are going to stay with me until I'm settled," I abruptly cut off Kristoff's offer.
"Sorry!!" I showed them peace signs when I cut off the conversation.
"Okay. Fine! If that's what you want," Kuya Iulian approved.
"Okay. I'll see you here," Kristoff said before getting out on the screen.
"Yes. See you guys! Kuya Iulian, I miss you!" We bid our goodbyes and ended the video call.
- Writer
