I Could Fall

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Anong nangyari?" hagulgol ko. Agad na bumuhos ang mga luha mula sa aking mga mata. The hand that was holding my phone was shaking badly.

"He went to your villa and looked for you. A-Ate Cass said that you weren't there since last night and that I even told her that you were staying in our villa." Dashiel sounded so wrecked as she told the story. "Umalis siya mag-isa para mag-snorkeling. H-He drowned, Hyon."

"No..." I wailed.

Suminghap si Ali at inagaw sa akin ang phone. Masyado akong nanghihina kaya madali niyang nagawa 'yon.

Nagpatuloy ang malakas na pag-iyak ko. Tinakpan ko ang aking mukha.

No... No... Atticus is not dead. He didn't die. This is all a bad joke. There must be a misunderstanding. Hindi pwede. He's not dead. This is all just a bad joke.

"Dashiel, this is Ali. What happened to my brother?" his voice was low and grave.

We were just talking last night. He even said he's still in love with me. Hindi pupwede. Hindi pupwede. He even made plans for us this morning.

"Umalis siya mag-isa para mag-snorkeling."

My breath got caught. My eyes widened. He snorkeled alone. He went to our villa to look for me. We were supposed to go together but I wasn't there so he went alone.

Ako dapat ang kasama niya. I was supposed to be with him but I wasn't because I'm with Ali. I should have been there. I know how to swim. I could have saved him. Kung nandoon sana ako ay hindi siya malulunod. He drowned and I wasn't there so save him.

"What?" Ali's voice got harsher. With my blurred vision, I looked at him. Namumula ang buong mukha niya hanggang leeg. Pati ang mga mata niya ay namumula at naluluha.

"Fuck!" Humampas si Ali sa kama na nakapagpatalon sa akin. His reaction just confirmed everything that I heard. New batch of tears formed in my eyes and another sob came out of me. "Fucking shit!"

"Nasaan kayo?" basag na ang boses ni Ali nang sabihin 'yon. Bumagsak na ang isang luha mula sa mata niya pero agad niya 'yon pinunasan. His jaw clenched. He looked like he's in deep pain and anger. "Pupunta kami d'yan."

Pinatay ni Ali ang tawag at binaba ang phone. Hindi niya ako magawang tingnan. His jaw was continuously ticking. His fists were clenching. His eyes were red and brimming with tears but he's stopping it from falling.

"Ali," I cried out. "Si Atticus... Hindi pa siya patay 'di ba?"

Ali breathed in sharply. His head turned to my directed. I jumped a bit at the sharpness of his movement. Ali's eyes looked unfocused as it gazed on my face. He licked his lips. He cupped my face and brushed tear from my face.

"Baby, get dressed," he calmly said with his coarse voice. "We need to go somewhere."

"But Atticus-" I cried.

"Hyon, please," Ali abruptly cut me off. He looked like his patience was wearing thin. "Magbihis ka na muna, please?"

My tears were still profusely streaming down my face. I nodded. Ali inhaled sharply and pressed a kiss on my forehead.