Her Eyes #Wattys2018 Winner

Chapter 8

[Ryoichi]

"It started," Reed nearly faint after her break down. Hindi na niya kaya pang gumalaw but I caught a glimpse of a patient. She was wearing an eye-patch. Lumapit siya sa akin but Reed suddenly faint.

"When death is too weak, hope and light will surpass but with hope and light you will be fooled and sent to death."

Tinignan niya ako. "You're dangerous," her soft- almost whisper voice sent shivers to my spine. Tinignan niya si Reed. "You shouldn't be with her, you will surely bring danger to her," bulong niya. "The fuck did you care?" Binuhat ko si Reed at pumasok ako sa kwarto ni Rin.

Umiiyak ang mga magulang niya pero nang makita nila akong buhat si Reed ay lalo bumakas ang taranta sa kanila. "Uhmm.. Tito, Tita ako na muna bahala kay Reed," tumango ang tatay niya kaya lumabas na ako.

Andoon pa rin ang babaeng may eye patch at nakamashid sa akin. "Sinasabi ko sa iyo, nakikita ko ang buhay niyo, pero may mali pa rin."

"Stay away from us, this isn't your fucking business."

"It is."

Tinignan ko siya nang naguguluhan. Tinanggal niya ang eye patch niya at nakita ko ang isa pa niyang mata na mukhang bulag na. "They did this to me."

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at naglakad buhat si Reed. Kuya Dino saw me when I was about to board the elevator. "Ano nangyari kay Reed?"

"She fainted, due to stress and exhaustion, probably."

Narinig kong pumalatak si Kuya Dino kaya nagmamadali na lamang akong makababa. "Kukunin ko lang ang sasakyan sa parking," he said. Agad akong naghintay sa lobby, some people look at me pero wala akong pakielam. This girl with me needs rest.

"Damn it, bakit nung narinig kitang umiyak hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na bumalik dito?"

I remember that instance when she called me. Ayoko talagang sagutin but the call makes me feel something doesn't right happened.

"Hello?" I said as I picked up my phone. There is nothing but silence then a muffled sob.

My eyes grew wider when I heard her sobs. What happened? My heart pounding fast and my hands started to sweat. Boy this is bad!

Hindi muna siya nagsalita. She keeps on sobbing. Gusto kong magsalita pero para bang natutuyuan ako ng lalamunan. Walang kahit na isang salita ang lumabas sa akin. She is sobbing, I suddenly regret my acts towards her earlier.

Why do you keep on pushing her away?

I don't know why. I'm so stupid on pushing her away.

Umiling ako, alam kong hindi ito ang oras para makipagtalo ako sa sarili ko.

"Hey, ano nangyari?" I asked her when her sob just gone louder than before. Tumahimik sa kabilang linya but I heard her heaved a deep breath. "Ryoichi.. Si Rin.. Si Rin," her quivering and sobbing voice makes me jump into conclusion that something bad happened.

"Shit! Why now?!" I said under my breath, nakita kong tumingin sa akin si Kuya Dino from the rearview mirror.

"Kuya Dino, balik tayo sa ospital."

I looked at her angelic face, why do this angel need to be cursed, to hold a curse that will leave her traumatized forever.

Kuya Dino steer on the curve and goes with the traffic.

Bakas pa rin ang luha sa mga mata ni Reed. She must be really tired. I instinctively put aside her hair that have been covering her face.

"You need a rest in this fucked up world, Angel. You have to," I whisper to her. She shifted a bit but snuggled just beside me. "Reed."