"Mom! Please don't leave me here alone!" Continuous cries and muffled chaotic sounds outside can be heard.

"Aingeal…" She then hugged me tightly. Her hands were trembling and I can see tears in her eyes.

"Please do remember that me and your dad loves you so much, okay? If something happens, don't go out from here. Stay and wait for us to come back, are we clear?"

Without saying a word, I nodded as she tries to wipe my tears.

"I love you, Mom. Please come back here with Dad," she nodded before she pushed me going to the dark cabinet in my room.

Darkness-- I can't see anything bec6of the pure darkness.

It's suffocating me. I can't breathe. I tried to open the door of the cabinet but I can't open it. I pulled and push and all. I gave all my strength but I can't still open it.

"Mom! Dad!" I yelled but it seems like no one hears me.

"Get me out of here, Mom! Dad! Please!" I shouted, begging.

"Wake up, Aingeal!"

I turned around but I can't see no one. And once again, I heard someone calling me-- telling me to wake up.

"Aingeal anak, wait us here okay?"

I can hear voices but I can't see anything! Where are they? Who is that voice? Where's my mother? Where's my dad? Where's everyone?

I wake up panting heavily as tears streaming down to my face. That dream again. I hate it. I really hate it.

I lit up the light fully in my room after I took one glass of water. Umupo ako sa couch at isiniksik doon ang sarili ko. Muli akong naiyak at hindi ko napigilan ang humagulgol.

Kahit sobrang liwanag na ng kwarto ko ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilan na manginig. I hate pure darkness. I'm fine if there is little light but a pure darkness to me is suffocating. I don't know why. Maybe because that darn cabinet is so dark and I can't see anything, even in my dreams.

Ang panaginip na iyon, ibang iba iyon sa mga naaalala kong nangyari. Tuwing nagtatanong ako kay Kuya Kiel ay ayaw niyang magsalita. Iniintindi ko nalang dahil alam ko rin na masakit sa kanya ang nangyari sa pamilya ko, hindi lang ako.

Pero ngayon na napanaginipan ko ulit iyon, hindi ko talaga mapigilan na humagulgol.

The thoughts and what ifs came all at once again. I'm afraid. I can't breathe. I continuously scratched my neck. Ramdam ko ang mga tumutubo na doon na mga pantal-pantal.

I'm always like this whenever I exceed from my own emotions and thoughts.

Walang tigil na kinakamot ko ang leeg ko. Alam kong pulang-pula na ito ngayon pero wala akong pakialam. Hindi rin ako makahinga ng maayos.

I tried reaching for my phone to call Kuya Kiel but I failed. Bumagsak lang ako sa sahig.

Then there's something in my head that says I shouldn't bother him. I'm not his sister to prioritize. I'm not even his family member to take care of. I'm just a mere child of his former employer.

"Argh!" I cried in pain. No one will help me. No one will be here to save me. I deserve no one. I shouldn't keep anyone with me.

Madadamay lamang sila sa magulo kong buhay. Madadamay sila sa malungkot kong nakaraan. Madadamay lang sila sa nangyayari sa akin.

Ayoko, ayoko na mangyari rin sa ibang tao ang nagyari sa pamilya ko. Kaya hangga't maaari, kailangan kong panatilihin na hanggang bilang kapitbahay lamang ang turing ko sa lahat. Ayokong pati sila ay iisipin pa ako. I know, I will be their problem once I let them in to my life.

"Mom and Dad, I can't take this anymore. I'm tired. I'm getting tired already,"

I gasps for air as I helplessly scratch my neck. When it will stop? Now?

"Aingeal!" With all the last hopes I have, he came. I don't know how he knew about what's going on right now. I don't even know how he able to open the gate and the door of my house.

He's here. Hayden is here right in front of me.

"Hayden…" I called him while I'm still on the floor. Why is he here? What is he doing here? Did he saw me?

Without any words, he hugged me. I refuse at first but when he tightened the hug, I just can't help myself but to cry again. I cried in his arms.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na nasa leeg ko.

"It's alright. I'm here. Just cry, I won't leave you,"

I don't care how he found out about what's happening to me right now. Though it is still making me wonder but it's fine. I don't know but it's fine. It's hard to explain.

His hug is like talking to me. He's not even saying anything but his action, it tells me something I can't figure out.

I can feel comfort inside his arms. I don't want to say it but I can feel it, really.

"Can you stay?" Suddenly, I blurted out still sobbing.

"Hmm," I heard him hummed. So then I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself more.

"Will you not leave?" I asked him again but with close eyes.

Para akong idinuduyan sa yakap niya. It pushes me to sleep.

"I will not."

I tighten the hug. He's so warm and it helps me calm myself. In no time, I fall asleep inside his arms.

Nagising ako dahil sa sinag ng araw na nagmumula sa labas ng bintana ng kwarto ko. I also forgot to close the curtain of the balcony in my room. I yawned and brush my eyes to wake myself more but my eyes hurts. What happened to me?

Mabilis akong nagtungo sa banyo para tignan ang mata ko. Namumugto iyon kaya nagtaka ako. Pilit kong inaalala kung ano man ang nangyari kagabi.

I'm washing my face when someone called my name outside my room. Iniwan ko kasing nakabukas ang pinto ng banyo.

"Aingeal, are you awake?" A male voice? Huh? Madali akong lumabas sa banyo pagkatapos kong punasan ang mukha ko.

I opened the door just to see my neighbor wearing my apron while holding a ladle. My mouth left open because of shock. What is he doing here?

And because of the big question in my head, memory from yesterday's night came in my head all at once.

"Hayden…" the only thing I've said while looking at him, still in agape.

"Come on, nagluto ako ng breakfast." He smiled at me like nothing happened.

I sighed heavily when we left. How did he found out what's happening to me? And how did he-- oh no.

Nasampal ko nalang ang sarili ko dahil naalala kong siya pala ang naghatid sa akin kagabi dito sa bahay at nakatulog ako sa likod niya habang buhat ako pauwi.

Aingeak naman, kung ano ano ang ginagawa mo sa buhay! Pagalit na sumbat ko sa sarili ko habang pinupukpok ang ulo ko.

But it's too late to regret now.