“We’re near,” Peter mumbled.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang maalala ko na malaki ang posibilidad na nando’n sina Cara at wala pa akong kapal ng mukha upang harapin sila at sabihin ang sitwasyon ni Chi, hindi ko pa kayang sabihin na ako ang dahilan kung bakit wala na si Chi.

Saglit akong nilingon ni Peter saka s’ya ngumisi sa akin, “Oh, huwag mong sabihin na hindi ka na ulit makalakad? Isang liko na lang tayo, Amira,” pang-aasar n’ya at kung pwede lang na lunurin s’ya sa kanal ay nagawa ko na.

“Ramdam kong nado’n sila,” bulong ko.

“E, anong pakielam ko?” Tangina talaga nito! Isang matalim na tingin lamang ang binigay ko sa kanya nang dahan-dahan siyang maglakad sa puwesto ko.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang hinubad n’ya ang hoodie na suot n’ya at binigay sa akin saka s’ya tumalikod at umupo upang makasakay ako sa likuran n’ya.

“Bilisan mo bago pa magbago ang isip ko.” Nang sumukay ako sa likuran niya ay dahan-dahan siyang tumayo ngunit napangiwi ako nang mahawakan niya ang binti ko, “Masakit?”

“Yeah...”

“Are you trying hard to walk even though it is not yet okay?”

I pouted at his back and hid my face as I covered my head with the hood and buried my face at his nape, “I don’t want to hear your rant all day about me being such a damsel or how heavy I am,”

“You’re stupid.”

Every step he takes were like a death parade. The thumping in my chest gets louder and louder as if a humongous drum was living inside. I nervously shut my eyes when I heard the creaking of the metal door, making me feel more frightened.

I hugged Peter tightly when a surge of wind envelops us, and as we inhale most of it, I heard a click of another metal door.

“Peter!” The voice was familiar, and if I am guessing it right, it must be Kelly.

I frustratingly bit my lower lip when Peter started to walk again. He was walking slowly and carefully as if he knew what is going behind him as if he was aware of how scared I am.

“Who’s with you?” Kelly asked, but before Peter could answer, he stops from walking, “Oh, your brother and his friends are here.” I don’t know why, but Kelly sounded a bit annoyed when she said the words friends.

“Peter,”

“Parker,”

Tangina, ‘wag kang tatawa, Amira. Utang na loob, please.

“Spencer, Tyler.” Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko nang marinig ko ang boses ni Spencer.

“Ah, make sense why Kelly is acting like this,” Peter mumbled, making me peek somehow, but before I could actually look at them, he thumps his foot on the ground, “Oh, Dad! Any luck?”

“The test is still on-going. Who’s with you?” A man with a deep voice asked.

“Ah, my girlfriend?”

“Is she asleep?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m just going to my room, and I also need to examine her.” Peter leisurely walked. I almost shout in surprise when my shoulder bumped into someone.

Nang bumukas ang panibagong pinto ay pumasok do’n si Peter at dahan-dahan akong hiniga sa kama. Mabilis ko naman na hinablot ang isang unan sa aking itaas saka ko tinakluban ang mukha ko, sandali pa’y narinig ko ang pagsarado ng pinto.

Awtomatikong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maupo s’ya sa ‘king tabu at sinuklay ang aking mga buhok, “Anong masakit sa’yo?” Lalong humigpit ang hawak ko sa unan nang hindi boses ni Peter ang narinig ko.

“Why... How...”

“First of all...” He forcefully removed the pillow above my face. His warm smile and welcoming eyes look at me intently, “First of all, this is my room.”

Tears began to gather at the corner of my eyes as I slowly reach for his face. He leaned carefully, making an inch gap between us. And when he wiped the tears, which began to stream down, he slowly leaned for a quick peck on my forehead.

“Second, mahal na mahal ako ng kapatid ko na kulang na lang gumawa siya ng rebulto para sa akin.” Mahina akong natawa sa sinabi n’ya. Nang dahan-dahan siyang humiga at tumabi sa akin ay agad niya akong niyakap.

“Pangatlo, kahit maging bozos ka pa, kahit nakatalikod ka pa o ano. Makikilala kita,”

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry, Parker.”

He looked at me with tenderness as he slowly touches my face, “No one is blaming you on what happened to Chi. She brave enough to accept her fate. She already knew what is going to happen and if you are still doubtful about it, then read her letter.”

“Letter?”

“Chi knew you a lot. Alam n’yang sisisihn mo ang sarili mo oras na may magawa kang hindi maganda sa kanya oras na magbago s’ya,” pagpapaliwanag n’ya, saglit ko siyang pinagmasdan at inaral ang buong mukha n’ya.

Tatlong araw lang kaming nagkasama ni Peter ngunit tila sobrang laki ng pinagbago ni Parker. Masyado rin lutang ang eyebags n’ya kaya’t pansin na kulang siya sa tulog.

“Peter said that your leg is swollen,”

Nagtatakha ko s’yang tiningnan nang bumangon s’ya upang tingnan ang pagang binti ko. Saglit pa akong napangiwi nang mahawakan n’ya ito ng mahigpit. Hindi ko alam kung paano nasabi ni Peter ‘yon, gayo’n na rinig ko naman ang mga pinag-uusapan nila kanina.

“If you’re wondering how I know. The stupid Peter has typewriting on his chest with an anatomy of a human, the leg part was encircled and was caption with ‘Ang arte ni Amira, send help,’”

I facepalmed, that stupid homo is really something else. I no longer have to ask if the others knew about me, and now, I realized that they are making fun of me earlier.

“So, where is the letter?” I asked.

“Kuhanin mo kay Cara.” Agad akong napangiwi dahil sa naging sagot n’ya. Bakit nasa taong pinakagusto kong iwasan ngayon ang sulat ni Chi?

“Maiba ako... Anong meron sa lugar na ‘to?” Tanong ko. Dahan-dahan na naging seryoso ang mukha ni Parker saka niya ako tiningnan sa mga mata.

“Peter must have already told you about your father. I was also baffled at first because I don’t know if I could really trust my parents right now.” He heaved a sigh and looked at the ceiling, “But after hearing and encountering the Apostles... I can’t help but curse your father,”

“Parker...”

“He was searching for you, Amira. Because you have something in common with your mother.” I bitterly smiled upon hearing his words, because to be honest, I still have a little faith in my father. I am still hoping that all the accusations aren’t true.

“It was my blood, huh?”

“But don’t worry. I am helping Dr. Ramirez and my parents on searching for the right formula of the Lycoris Albiflora.”

The same flower which killed Chi will be the same flower that will be use to find the cure. But the thing is, something is really wrong with their formula. I am not an expert in their field, but I can tell.

“So, paano kayo nakapunta rito?” Tanong ko kay Parker, umupo ako upang tumabi sa kanya habang kapansin-pansin ang pagngiwi niya.

“Obviously, because of Kelly.” He avoided my eyes while still hiding his awkward smile, “She was chasing Spencer because she somehow smelled the chocolates in his bag. Kelly chased Cara and Spencer until they got to the RV, and at the same time, Chi rampages but at that, she was already done writing letters for you and Cara.”

“Hmm?”

“So, when Kelly and Tyler saw each other... They caused a scene. They began to throw insult to each other as if they didn’t get to date each other,”

I gasped and leisurely laughed, “They are exes?”

“Yeah. Pagkatapos ng meeting na ‘yon ay sinugod din agad kami ng Apostles. At first, hindi kami pumayag na umalis dahil wala ka pa but Kelly assured me that my brother is with you. So, all we did was to trust him.”

As I slammed my body to his bed, I watched the white ceiling until I felt sleepy and closed my eyes.

“Amira...”

I felt him getting close in my direction, “Hmm?”

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I felt the gap between is getting closer and closer until soft, minty lips touch my lips.

How can a simple kiss pour down so much emotions?

#