Chap 3

Zaffira Winter Rosewood's POV

Minulat ko ang aking mata at napahawak sa aking ulo dahil may konting kirot akong naramdaman. Nang maramdaman na ayos na ay iginala ko ang paningin, napagtantong nakatulog pala ako rito sa shower. Nanginig ako sa lamig dahil nababad ang katawan ko sa tubig. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakasalampak ko sa floor, muntik pa akong madulas dahil medyo nangangatong pa ang tuhod ko.

Naalala kong may kasama pala ako dito sa bahay at may gagawin kami kaya mabilis akong tumayo at lumabas ng banyo para magbihis. Shems! Ilang oras kaya ako nakatulog sa banyo!

I put on the clothes I had taken earlier before making my way to the door to step outside.

It looks like I slept for a few hours.

Mika is already arranging things. Sen is also ready to leave. Hinihintay lang si mika sa ginagawa niya.

I observed Mika, patiently waiting for her to finish arranging her things. There was a sense of calm determination about her as she focused on what she is doing. I admired her dedication and appreciated the effort she put into making her own journey as smooth as possible despite of her financial struggles. I smiled.

"Bumaba ka pa." Nagtatampong reklamo ni Sen nung makita niya ako.

Aba! Inirapan ako!

Tapos na yata yung gagawin na report at wala man lang akong naitulong.

Mika stopped fixing the things and turned to me dahil nasa likod niya lang ako and Sen was facing me.

Mika just smiled at me broadly. Parang ayos na ayos lang sa kanya na wala man lang akong naitulong.

"Ayos lang sakin yun Zaffira! Kahit naman wala kang naitulong basta hindi mo babawiin yung sinabi mo kanina." Saad ni Mika na ang lawak ng ngiti. Sabi ko nga.

I just smiled awkwardly dahil nawala man lang akong naitulong. Kahit konting ideas man lang.

"Let's go" Sen said to Mika.

"Alis na kami. Gabi na eh. Mag-eempake pa ako para bukas!" Mika said.

And so, they left. Now the large house is quiet again.

But I am used to it already.

Naglakad ako papuntang kusina para kumuha ng maiinom. 8pm na kasi ng gabi, buti nakatagal pa sina Sen at Mika dito.

I was close to the kitchen door when I looked at the exit door where Mika and Sen had come out earlier.

I raised an eyebrow when I saw it slighly open.

Didn't they lock it?

Eh ano yung narinig ko kanina na nagclick? Pero sigurado ako eh. Ni-lock nila ang pinto kasi pinanood ko pa sila sa paglabas nila.

I shook my head. Maybe I'm just imagining it.

Kaya imbes na pupunta akong kusina ay lumapit ako sa pinto na nakaawang ng tatlong pulgada lang. Naramdaman ko pa ang malamig na pag-ihip ng hangin bago ko yun isinara at ni-lock.

The maids are gone because they are already asleep at 8 o'clock. There are only three maids left here. Kung dati ay may bente na katulong dito, ngayon tatlo na lang ang natira.

I went straight to the kitchen for a drink after I lock the main door.

Pagkatapos kong lagyan ng tubig ang baso ay iinomin ko na sana ngunit nabitawan ko yun kaya nabasag, napansin ko kasi ang isang singsing sa palasingsingan ko na kulay ginto. But it wasn't just any ordinary ring; it was adorned with an intricately designed crown.

H-how there was a ring on my finger! Confusion and disbelief washed over me.

It's still quite heavy and obviously pure gold! I don't wear any jewelry! Especially a ring!

Nanginginig man ang kamay ay pilit ko itong tinatanggal.

Shit!

Kahit anong pilit kong tanggalin yun ay ayaw talaga! Nilublob ko sa tubig ang kamay ko para doon tanggalin baka sakaling dumulas at matanggal, pero bakit ganito!?

I'm confused because I'm not really used to wearing a ring.

I ran to my room and left the broken glass in the kitchen. Mabilis na pumasok ako sa kwarto ko para maghanap ng baby oil sa mga drawer.

I was relieved to see something here. I took it and sat on the bed. I opened the baby oil saka nilagyan ang daliri ko kung saan nakalagay ang singsing.

Nang makontento na ako ay hinawakan ko yun at pina-ikot ikot. Naging madulas nga at umikot yun sa daliri ko kaya naginhawaan ako. Kaya nang tatanggalin ko na ay gusto ko nang umiyak! Desperada talaga akong matanggal yun! Pero bakit ayaw parin!

Bwisit na singsing to!

I lost hope that I could get rid of it so I decided to wipe my hand clean and lay to bed, hoping that perhaps by some miracle, it would be gone when I woke up the next day.

Pero paano nangyari iyon?

Nahiga ako sa kama at dahil siguro sa kabang naramdaman ko kanina ay nakatulog ako nang walang kahirap-hirap.

Pero dumating nga ang bukas at meron parin yung singsing, hinayaan ko na lang at ipinagsawalang bahala.

Natuloy nga na dito na manirahan si Mika. Araw-araw lagi siyang nagkukuwento tungkol sa pamilya niya at sa probinsiya nila. Hinikayat pa nga niya akong sumama sa kanya bukas pauwi doon.

I did not refuse. I also want to see how people live in the province. Kung paano sila kumayod para sa pang araw-araw nila.

Friday kasi ngayon at balak ni Mika umuwi, kaya ayan gusto niya daw ako isama. Naging maingay naman dito sa bahay nung dumating si Mika. Hindi katulad ng dati. Pero bago yun bumisita muna ako sa lawyer nila mommy dati.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ginagawa ko ito. Umabsent ako sa klase para rito. Natatawa na nga ako sa sarili ko e. I am already making my will and testament for the treasures that I will leave behind just in case.

I swear I don't really know why I'm doing this. Just this morning I woke up and I remembered it.

Oh, at least I can be prepared because we don't know when death will fetch us. Maybe I'm just too early for this. I'm only going to be 18 tomorrow! Hindi yun alam ni Mika pero wala na akong balak sabihin pa. Para ano pa?

Even the lawyer I was talking to laughed at what I am doing. I'm too young for this. Tinanong pa niya ako kung may taning na ba ang buhay ko para ipamigay na ang mga kayaman ko na iniwan sakin ng mga umampon sa akin.

Firstly, I designated Mika to receive half of my estate. To Sen, I allocated one-eighth, while the remaining portion is intended for the devoted maids who have faithfully served in this household. It is my desire that they share this portion amongst themselves, as a token of appreciation for their loyalty and dedication. I explained to the lawyer everything I want to do when I faced my doomsday.

Sa bawat oras na dumadaan ay hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. Hindi ako mapakali, at kinakabahan? Hindi ko alam.

Ngayon ay gabi na naman. Mika and I are already packing because we will wake up early tomorrow para maabutan ang bus na pupuntang probinsiya nila sa madaling araw.

I just ignored that feeling.

Perhaps, it's just makes me feel excited, so that's it.

"Zaf, tapos ka na?" Mika entered the room.

She has her own room here. She was even overjoyed to see her large room.

"Yes" was my short answer to her.

"Aahhh! Excited na ako! Ipapasyal kita doon! Maraming falls at mga malilinis na ilog! Sigurado din ako na maraming mahuhumaling sayo doon, Zaf!" She lay down on my bed while saying those things.

I just smiled. I know that I won't regret my decision to give her the half of my treasures.

Natulog na kami para maagang magising ng madaling araw.

"Wake up!" Mika shouted.

Magkatabi kami ngayon dito sa kwarto para daw magising niya ako kapag hindi ko kayang gisingin ang sarili ko sa oras na alas tress.

"Hmm....Mika. We'll just use my car."

Kasi naman! My bed is still pulling me up! I'm not used to waking up this early.

"Hindi nga kasi pwede! It's better to commute! Baka mapagtripan ka doon kapag nalaman nilang mayaman ka!"

"Aish!" I forced myself to get up and went to the bathroom.

Siya naman ay lumabas na at ang banyo sa kwarto niya ang gagamitin niya.

I immersed myself in the bathtub and blinked for a moment.

It's been 5 days since my birthday, yet no one ever know about it. I even forgot to greet myself that day.

Belated Happy birthday Zaffira. Happy birthday myself. As the words escape my lips, I am taken aback by the unexpected rush of emotions. Tears silently stream down my face, carrying with them a mix of bittersweet sentiments. In this moment, I am reminded of the longing for connection and the yearning to be seen and acknowledged.

Naramdaman ko na ang mangulila sa mga magulang na umampon sa akin. I miss them. And this time I couldn't stop crying. I can't help but remember the smile and joy of my parents who adopted me on my every birthday.

I am now looking for the warm and tight hug na ilang taon ko nang tinitiis na hindi hahanap-hanapin, because no matter what I do, I will never be able to return the past.

Madilim palang dahil hindi pa sumisikat ang araw ay marami nang pasahero ang bus na sinasakyan namin. Natatanaw ko sa labas ng bintana ang mga ilaw, pero hindi lang pala kami ang sobrang aga bumyahe. Hindi lang kaming mga nandito sa bus, dahil marami na ding mga private na sasakyan na alam kong may kanya-kanya ding pupuntahan.

"Malayo-layo pa ang pupuntahan natin. Pero okay lang dahil hindi na natin kailangan pang mag palipat-lipat ng sasakyan. Diretso na ito doon sa amin." Sambit ni Mika sa tabi ko. Ako ang nandito sa tabi ng bintana.

Nag-aalala daw kasi siya na baka hindi ako sanay sa ganito at masuka ako, kaya ako ang itinabi niya sa bintana. Para kapag daw nakaramdam ako ng pagkahilo ay buksan ko daw ang bintana para mahanginan ako at kahit papano ay mawala ang pagkahilo ko. Pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa naman ako nakakaramdam ng ganon.

The drive took a few hours, and she said several times that we were close. Pero saan ang malapit doon?

It is now four o'clock in the afternoon.

Ngayon ay alas kwatro na. At kahit inililibang ko ang sarili ko sa labas ng bintana dahil masarap ang hangin at mga bundok na rin ang nakikita ko ay hindi parin nawawala ang kaba na nararamdaman ko kanina pa.

I don't know what it's for.

Siguro dahil makipot na ang daan na dinadaanan ng bus na ito. Iilan na lang kami dito sa loob, dahil yung iba ay nagbabaan na sa kanya-kanyang destinasyon.

I looked at the cloud and it's looked like it will rain today.

"Aww. Hindi na tayo makakapasyal niyan. Mukang uulan. Ang pangit mamasyal kapag maputik." Saad ni Mika dahil nakisilip din siya sa bintana.

"We'll just take a walk when the weather calm down. Maybe tomorrow is okay." Nginitian ko siya dahil mukha siyang nalugi sa itsura niya.

Muka maging ang panahon ngayon ay may pinagdaraanan din.

Makulimlim at tingin ko ano mang oras ay uulan na.

Maganda dito sa probinsiya nila Mika. She even bragged to me about the clean sea near their house. Fishing is their main livelihood, and it is not surprising because they are close to the sea.

When we entered their house, she immediately took me to a room. Isang maliit at medyo may kasikipan ang bahay nila. Kahit hindi sanay ay okay lang naman yun sakin.

The important thing is that they can be considered as a home with a whole family. The room where I am now is Mika's room, samantalang sabi ni Mika ay doon siya sa isang kwarto na pinag i-stock-an nila ng mga gamit na hindi gaano nilang ginagamit.

Pinalinis niya iyon kanina habang nasa bus pa lang kami.

"Tomorrow morning Zaf we'll take a seashore walk first!" Mika said.

"Ano ka ba naman Mika. Hayaan mo munang magpahinga si Zaf ng isang araw, mukang napagod siya at hindi sanay sa pagkahaba-habang biyahe. Nakakahiya naman sa kaniya." Mika's mom said.

"Ah hahaha tita okay lang po sakin. Actually, pwede naman akong makapagpahinga na ngayong gabi" ngumiti lang ang tatay ni Mika at ganun din si tita.

"Oh sige. Kumain na tayo para makapagpahinga kana."

Ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman ang may mga kasalong kumain. Masaya na sila kahit ganito sila nabubuhay araw-araw. Sandali akong nakaramdam ng inggit.

But I immediately restrained myself from feeling that.

After we ate ay nanood muna sila ng weather forecast. May TV naman sila pero dalawang channel lang ang nakukuha.

I informed them that I'll go first in my room to rest. I just finished taking a shower. As I entered the room, hindi ko maiwasang tumingin sa bintana at pagmasdan ang pa unti-unting buhos ng ulan.

The news says a storm is coming. I don't know if it's a super typhoon. Pero kung ganon nga ay dapat nagsilikas na ang mga tao dito na malapit sa baybayin. Tingin ko naman hindi ganon kalakas ang bagyo dahil parang wala lang sa mga tao rito.

Humiga ako sa kama at hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako.

11:55 pm. Midnight.

The weight of the world settles upon my chest, constricting my breath and engulfing me in a suffocating embrace. It is as if an invisible force surrounds me, pressing against my very being, leaving me gasping for air and struggling to find release.

I-I can't breathe!

Ang sarap ng tulog ko ng maalimpungatan akong hindi makahinga. Nang tuluyang magising ang diwa ko ay wala akong ibang makita kundi tubig.

Mga iba't-ibang gamit ang naitatangay ng tubig. H-hindi ako marunong lumangoy! In this state of suffocation, I seek refuge in moments of stillness and trying to save myself from drowning.

"Hmmp!"

Nagising ako tas hindi na makahinga because the whole house is flooded.

S-si Mika. The first person I thought.

Where are they!

The flood was strong because other houses were swept away, and this included Mika's house where I lived. As the water surged around me, I struggled to keep my footing, desperately attempting to move my foot and wave my hand for help. But no matter what I did, the torrential current overpowered my efforts, dragging me down into its depths. The desperate need for air compelled me to open my mouth to call for help, a decision I would soon regret. In an instant, water rushed in, invading my body and stealing what little breath I had left. The suffocating sensation gripped me, leaving me powerless and disoriented.

I tried to move my foot and waved my hand but whatever I did, I always sank. I was losing my breath so I couldn't help but open my mouth which I deeply regretted.

"Help --- aahkk!" I managed to cry out, but my plea was swallowed by the churning waters. Darkness encroached upon my vision as I lost consciousness, unaware of the events that followed.

@chumalan_bch

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