The Lady in Shining Armor: Monte Carlo High

XLIX. The Sacrifice

Ahem, ahem! I accidentally pressed Save and Publish, imbis na Save lang...so ayan! hohoho! Wala na akong magagawa, wala na ang surprise. Anyways, sana magustuhan niyo ang chapter na 'to. Excited na ako para sa big ending!

Soundtrack for this chapter is It Ends Tonight by The All American Rejects. Enjoy reading :)

***Joyce's POV***

Makalipas ang ilang linggo, bumalik na sa normal ang lahat sa Monte Carlo. Pero hindi pa rin nakakalimot ang ilan. Sa tulong ni Kuya Red, unti-unti nang bumabalik sa pagkahinahon si Ate Dawn. They spent more time together, and according to Kuya Red, it was music that's helping her. Hindi pa rin siya nakikipag-usap sa ibang tao, she was totally removed from the Student Council due to her being not productive and all. Kahit ako, hindi niya masyadong kinakausap, maliban na lang kung kailangang kailangan.

She looked more alive, though. Mas kumakain na siya ngayon, nag-aayos na siya ng sarili at ang pinaka-importante sa lahat, nakakatulog na siya. Pero may mga araw pa rin na inaatake siya ng sakit niya at binabangungot siya sa gabi. I guess, it would really take a lot of time before she fully recover. Umuulit lang ang nangyari sa kanya doon sa Sisters of Mary, sabi ni Kuya Red. Mas lumala pa ang anxiety attacks niya at mas marami nang halimaw na nagpapakita sa kanya.

People kept distance from her, even the teachers and the Admin. Alam nila ang kapasidad ni Ate Dawn pagdating sa kundisyon niya. Pero may mga taong handang tumulong sa kanya-- ako, si Kuya Red, si Ate Khione, ang kaibigan niya sa Sisters of Mary na si Ate Wendy, at ang dati niyang roommate na si Ate Rachel. It only proved that distance was no hindrance for people who cared.

Marami pa akong nalaman tungkol kay Ate Dawn mula kina Ate Wendy at Ate Rachel. Si Ate Wendy pumupunta every weekends tapos si Ate Rachel tuwing Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon kasi hanggang twelve lang daw klase niya kapag ganung mga araw. I learned that back in Sisters of Mary, hindi ganito si Ate Dawn-- she 's friendly and cheerful. Pero simula nang makita niya ang sunud-sunod na krimen sa eskwelahan nila, nagbago na siya.

Si Ate Rachel naman on the other hand, met the new Ate Dawn when she transferred here in Monte Carlo. Masungit at basagulera daw siya noon at walang gustong makipag-kaibigan sa kanya. She really changed big from a sweet girl to a tough one. "Grand entrance talaga siya, grabe!" Naalala kong sabi ni Ate Rachel. Well, I guess, people changed for various reasons and for Ate Dawn, it's a way for her to cope and to get over the trauma that she had back in her previous school. Pero sinundan pa rin pala siya nito dito sa Monte Carlo.

"Please take care of her, Joyce. Alam ko, mas matanda siya sa 'yo and all, pero, sa sitwasyon niya mas kailangan niya ng mga taong kagaya mo."

"Tama si Wendy. She's in a state na pwede siyang sumabog anytime at hindi natin alam ang pwede niya pang gawin. She could hurt herself, she could hurt anyone close to her. Mag-iingat ka din palagi, Joyce. And tell that to Red, too."

"Ate Rachel, salamat sa inyo kasi in a way, alam ko'ng may iba pang kagaya namin ni Kuya Red na nag-aalala kay Ate Dawn. Sa ilang buwan ko pa lang dito, parang ang dami nang nangyari. I bet no one experiences things like these in high school!"

"Sinabi mo pa!" And the three of us just laughed the serious topic off.

"Ate Dawn?" Naalimpungatan ako habang natutulog isang gabi. I checked my cellphone under my pillow and saw that it was only two thirty in the morning. I saw her seating on her study table and reading a book and taking down notes. Kahit may quiz sila kinabukasan, she didn't need to study until this time of the night. She had been like this for the past couple of months-- nag-aaral ng sobra sobra kahit hindi naman kailangan. I mean, it's not bad to study hard, but what she's doing was not healthy. Hindi na naman ba siya makatulog?