The Boy Next Door (QuaranFling Series #2)

TBND 55

K Y S L E R

June 20, 2020

"Akala ko pauwi na mga magulang mo?" Tanong ko sa kaniya habang pinupunasan ang sahig nila na nabasa ko kanina.

Bumalik na ang kuryente. Tumila na rin ang ulan. Stacy's calm now and currently seating on their sofa.

"I don't know," mahinang sabi niya pero narinig ko pa rin naman.

Nang matapos akong magpunas ay inayos ko ang ginamit kong basahan at umupo sa katapat niyang sofa.

"You didn't touch your water," puna ko nang mapansing puno pa rin ang baso na ibinigay ko sa kaniya kanina.

When she stretched her arm to reached the glass, something caught my attention. I was about to touch it but I stopped myself halfway. Napansin niya iyon kaya iniurong din niya ang kamay niya at hinila pa ang long sleeves ng damit niya upang itago iyon.

I looked at her with creased forehead. She just shook her head and hid her hand at her back.

"Those are fresh cuts, Stacy!"

"No! Last last week pa 'yon. 'Wag mo na lang pansinin," she said while trying to avoid my eyes.

"How can I just ignore that? Why are you even hurting yourself?" I tried my best not to raise my voice. I don't want her to feel worse.

She sighed and leaned her head on the backrest of the sofa. She closed her eyes and opened it again after a few seconds.

She looked at me, "Remember when I told you I feel empty? This is what I do to feel something..."

I gazed at her with disbelief.

She pursed her lips, "Don't worry. The cuts were only meant to make me feel something, not to die or anything. I told you, I can't die-"

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" I muttered under my breath, cutting her off.

She bit her lower lip.

"Alam ba 'to ng mga magulang mo?"

She slowly nodded.

"And you don't care about how they'll feel?"

She looked taken aback by my question. But it was more like she was hurt by it.

"Of course I care! But how can I do that if I can't even feel anything for myself?"

I shook my head. I couldn't understand it. Of course I can't. I'm not the one on her shoes.

I wanted to say how wrong she is, on how she want so bad to stay alive for the people that cares about her yet slowly she was killing them by hurting herself.

But who am I to judge? I don't even know a single thing about what's going inside her head. I don't know how hard it is.

Pareho kaming napalingon sa pinto nila nang pabalagbag itong bumukas. It was her mom. Humahangos itong lumapit sa kaniya at agad siyang ikinulong sa isang mahigpit na yakap.

"Anak ko..." It was all she can utter because of her sobs. She caressed Stacy's back as she continue to cry.

"Ma, okay lang ako. Okay na ako."

Humiwalay ang mama niya sa yakap at sinipat ang buong katawan niya.

"S-sigurado ka ba? Walang masakit sa 'yo? May nangyari ba? Sorry anak ko. Patawarin mo si Mama... Hindi kami agad nakauwi kasi nasiraan kami tapos nagbrownout sa daan kaya akala ko-"

"Ma, okay po ako."

She glanced at me. Sinundan tuloy ng mama niya ang tingin niya. Nagulat ito nang makita ako.

"Kysler? Pasensiya ka na hindi kita napansin."

"O-okay lang po. Ah, no'ng nawalan po kasi ng kuryente narinig ko po 'yong sigaw ni Stacy kaya inakyat ko po 'yong gate niyo, pasensiya na po-"

Natigil ako sa pagpapaliwanag kung bakit ako nandito nang bigla akong niyakap ng mama niya.

"Salamat," puno ng sinseridad na bulong niya sa akin bago humiwalay sa yakap.

Magsasalita palang sana ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng papa ni Stacy at ang pagmamadali nitong makapasok ng bahay.

"Stacy, anak! Okay ka lang ba? Diyos ko!" Agad itong yumakap sa kaniya. Lumapit rin sa kanila ang mama niya at sumali sa yakap.

I smiled at the sight of them. She's loved.

I just hope that one day this would be enough for her to feel something.