CHAPTER 13

THE next day, I didn't come to school. Hindi maayos ang pakiramdam ko kaya napagdesisyunan ko na lamang hindi pumasok. Mom and Dad were supposed to be on a trip but decided to stay for today since I'm not feeling well. They keep on checking up on me from time to time. And I appreciate their effort.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nagkasakit. Kung dahil ba sa kakaiyak ko kagabi o sa sakit na nararamdaman ko. Nasobrahan 'ata ako. 

"Anak?" I heard someone knocking on my room's door. It's Daddy. 

"Princess, are you awake?" The door opened and Daddy took a peek. 

"'Dy...come in." I said weakly and forced a small smile. 

Lumapit siya sa akin at umupo sa aking kama. "How are you, princess?" He softly caressed my hair. 

"I'm fine po. Just a little headache...but I can handle it." I grinned at him.

Even though I'm not feeling well, I still managed to have a long conversation with Daddy. Hindi namin napansin na magtatanghalian na pala kung hindi kami tinawag ni Mommy para kumain.

It sounds weird but I felt a little bit light after having a bed rest for hours. Pinapili ako ni Mommy kung hahatiran na lang ba nila ko ng pagkain o sasabay ako sa kanila sa dining. And I decided to join them. Besides, minsan lang ito kaya dapat sulitin.

"Princess, how are you feeling now?" Daddy asked while cleaning his lips using a table napkin. 

Saglit kong pinakiramdaman ang aking sarili. "I feel better than before…I guess?" I responded, unsure of my answer. 

"That's great," he answered shortly. "Makakapasok ka naman na siguro, 'no?" 

Natahimik ako ng saglit. I gulped. I felt like something got stuck in my throat. I was unable to answer him.

"Geez, Icce! Seriously? kakagaling lang ng anak narin tapos gusto mong pumasok agad?" Iritadong saad ni Mommy.

Daddy's forehead creased. "What? Anong gusto mo? Um-absent ulit siya? Kung patuloy siyang a-absent mapapabayaan niya ang pag-aaral niya!" Daddy retorted.

"Oh, anong gusto mong mangyari?! Kakagaling lang ni Selenn! For Pete's sake, Icce. Paano na lang kung mabinat ang bata?! For once, don't pressure her!" Tumaas ang boses ni Mommy.

"I'm not pressuring her! I'm just helping her to have a better life in the future!" Daddy shouted.

I felt like crying. This is not the first time that I witnessed how my parents fight but it makes me feel sad.

Dinampot ko ang table napkin at nagpunas ng bibig bibig bago umusog para lumuwag ang espasyo sa aking harapan. 

"I'm done…" I whispered as I stood up. Before they could say anything, I walked ut of the scene.

I don't want to witness another scene of them fighting. I'm tired of this.

Kahit medyo masakit pa rin ang aking ulo, naligo pa rin ako. 

I'll just go to school. 

Papasok na lang ako sa pang-tanghaling subjects ko kesa manatili dito sa bahay. Hindi rin naman ako makakapag-pahinga kung puro away at sigawan ang maririnig ko. 

After I fixed myself and was ready to go to school, I sneaked out. Mabuti na lang at walang nakakita sa akin.

I decided to commute dahil kung magpapahatid ako sa family driver namin, baka sabihin niya lang kila Mommy.

Mabuti na lang at alam kong mag-commute. Naranasan kong mag-commute dahil kila Arjelyn at Secret.

I'M half-way to school when I received a phone call from Arjelyn. I declined it. Sumunod namang tumawag ay si Tessia, and just like what I did to Arjelyn, I also declined her call. They tried calling me again and I kept on declining it. 

I blew a large amount of breath as I massaged my temple. I felt a severe headache for a moment, making me dizzy.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating din ako sa school. Nakaramdam ako ng pagkahilo nang maglakad ako tungo sa building namin.

Maybe I should take a nap for a moment when I got to the classroom.

WIth that thought, binilisan ko ang paglalakad kahit na medyo nahihilo ako.

Pagkarating ko sa classroom, wala akong tao na naabutan doon. Inilagay ko ang bag ko sa aking upuan at nagtungo sa pinakadulong bahagi ng kwarto at doon pumwesto.

Umupo ako sa isang upuan at isinubsob ang aking ulo sa lamesa. I closed my eyes and after a few minutes, I fell asleep.

Nagising ako dahils a ingay ng iba kong kaklase. As I opened my eyes, I felt my head spinning again.

"Selenn! Gaga ka, bakkt ngayon ka lang pumasok?!" Matinis na sigaw ni Tessia na mas lalong nagpasakit sa aking ulo.

"Ano ba, Tessia! Bunganga mo nga! Napaka-ingay." Arjelyn hissed.

"Oops…sorry." Tessia giggled and covered her mouth using her palm.

Inangat ko ang aking ulo. My vision is a bit blurry. Isinandal ko ang aking ulo sa pader at mariin na pumikit.

I felt someone touch my shoulder. "Hey, Selenn…are you okay? You look sick." It was Secret.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at walang gana siyang tinignan. "I'm fine, Secret." I murmured. "I'm just not in the mood. So, please, let me rest even just for a while."

I stood up and made my way to the comfort room. Pumasok ako sa loob ng isang cubicle. Ibinaba ko ang takip nito at umupo. Sinapo ko ang aking mukha at huminga ng ilang beses at pinakiramdaman ang aking sarili.

Medyo kumikirot ang aking ulo at ramdam ko din ang init ng aking katawan.

I stayed there for a few minutes. I felt my phone vibrate thrice. I fished it out of my skirt and checked it. It's a message from Arjelyn, Mommy, and…him, Xyrex.

Oh, naalala pa niya pala ako.

Isa-isa kong binuksana ng mensahe.

From: Arj <3

Babaita, wer na u? Hir na si Ma'am.

I replied to her text.

To: Arj <3

Somewhere. I'll just come back later.

Sunod ko namang binuksan ang mensahe ni Mommy.

From: Mommy

Anak, where are you? You're not at your room. Please, tell Mommy. I promise hindi kita ipapsundo sa driver natin. I just wanna know where you are.

I typed a message for her.

To: Mommy

I'm hanging out with my friends, 'My. I'll come home later.

And lastly, I opened Xyrex's message. I was thinking twice at first but still opened it. 

From: Xyrex

I'm sorry. Let's talk. Meet me at the Oval. I'll wait for you.

Pinag-isipan ko ang isasagot ko.

Maybe…I should talk to him.

I was about to type my reply when I heard something. I panicked. 

Tunog 'yon ng lock!

I stood up from the toilet. Lumabas ako sa cubicle at nagtungo sa pintuan. Hinawakan ko ang door knob at sinubukang pihitin ito. 

And just like what I expected, it was locked from the outside.

Panic is starting to build up in my system. Paulit-ulit kong pinihit ang pintuan. I tried slamming my hands at the door while shouting.

"Help! Anyone, please help me! I'm trapped!" I shouted.

Naalala ko ang aking cellphone kaya binuksan ko ito. I composed a message and sent it to my friends.

I tried calling them all but nobody answered. They're probably busy dahil oras na ng klase. I also tried calling Xyrex and Diancia but they didn't answer the call.

Napaiyak na lang ako sa takot. I hugged myself and sat on the cold cemented floor. I buried my head at my knees and cried my heart out.

As I sob, I feel a severe pain in my head. I feel cold. And alone.

I'm starting to lose my hope. 

Pakiramdam ko pagod na pagod na ako.

Please…someone…help me. Save me...I'm scared.

Pag-iyak lamang ang nagawa ko hanggang sa hindi ko namalayang nawalan ako ng malay. But before I could lose my consciousness, I heard a loud thud, a sound of a destroyed door and followed by a familiar voice of someone.

"Selenn! Wake up, I'm here. You're safe…"

Someone came…someone cares for me. Thank you. Thank you for saving me…Kit