CHAPTER 8: HIS WORRIED

"I'm sorry sir but Ms. Kaeda is missing."  

Troy was at rage when the nurse confirmed it. Gusto niyang suntukin ang lamesa subalit may ibang tao maliban sa kanila sa lugar na iyon. 

Galit niyang kinuha ang kanyang susi at walang sinabi, iniwan ang kanyang mga kaibigan.

"Hey, what happened?" Ephraem asked pero hindi man lamang ito lumingon. Tuloy tuloy lamang ito sa paglalakad. 

"Let's go, sundan na lang natin. I think he has a big problem."

They followed their mad friend.

"What the hell his f*cking crazy, driving carelessly!" Darwin cursed nang makita niya ang ang sasakyan ng kanyang kaibigan na halos lumipad na sa bilis ng pagpapatakbo nito. Lagi pa itong nag-oovertake sa ibang mga sasakyan kaya walang nagawa ang mga kaibigan niya na bilisan din ang pagpapatakbo nila.

"This isn't Troy. He prioritized safety especially when driving," James blurted out. Napaisip na lamang si James, 'Is it really that big of a deal for him?" 

MAECA'S POV 

"Tanga talo na naman!"

"Ang tanga mo kasi Keanu," I heard a laughed.

"Gago nandadaya ka. Lagi kang naglalapag ng switch o kaya naman plus 2,"

"Ano ba yang pinagtatalunan n'yo dyan?"

"Ito kasing gagong 'to. Uno na lang nangdadaya pa."

Nagising ako sa ingay na narinig ko. Unti-unti kong binuksan ang aking mga mata. Sa una'y malabo ang aking kapaligiran pero luminaw din naman agad iyon. Nakita ko ang tatlong lalaki.

"Nasaan ako?" Biglang bigkas ko.

"Gising ka na pala," Lumapit sa akin ang isang lalaki.

 Sinubukan kong gumalaw subalit nabigo ako. Ngayon ko lamang napagtanto na nakatali pala ako. Tumingin ako sa mga lalaki. They don't look like criminals sa halip ay mas mukha pa silang mga mayayaman.

"She really looked liked her," Nagsimula na din lumapit sa akin ang dalawa pang lalaki. 

"Yeah, but she looks more innocent than Luna." tinignan nila ako na para bang sinusuri ang pagkatao ko. 

It makes me uncomfortable. I was here tied up with this three gorgeous man staring at me. Katulad sila ng mga artista na nakikita ko sa telebisyon.

Namula ang pisngi ko nang bigla na lamang ngumiti ang isang lalaki. May hawig ito kay sunghoon na myembro ng groupong enhypen. Napakagwapo.

Hindi ba't dapat ay natatakot ako ngayon dahil sila ang nagkidnap sa akin? Bakit wala akong maramdamang takot? Bakit sa palagay ko'y hindi naman sila masasamang tao.

"Kung siya na lang kaya ligawan mo Keanu? Masyado na tayong madaming nanliligaw kay Luna," nagtatawang saad ng kahawig ni sunghoon. His smile grabe!

"Ikaw na lang kaya, Rehan. Ikaw naman naka-isip." pikong sagot naman ng lalaking si Keanu. 

I was just quite watching those two fight with each other. Habang ang isa pang lalaki ay pinapanood din sila.

"Mga isip bata," narinig kong bulong ng lalaki.  

Muling bumalik sa akin ang tingin niya, "You're name?" tipid nitong tanong sa akin. He reminds me of Troy.

"M-maeca," my voice sounds hoarse. I think dahil kagigising ko lamang at kanina pa ako hindi umiimik.

"Oh," tanging sagot uli niya at muli ng tumahimik. Grabe mas malala pa yata ito kay Troy.

I tried to move again dahil nangangalay na ang braso ko sa pagkakatali sa likod. Nararamdaman ko na din ang paghapdi ng balat ko.

Napansin naman ng lalaki ang ginawa kong pagpipilit na tangalin ang tali. Tinignan niya lamang ako at umiwas ng tingin.

"Don't move mas lalong sasakit 'yan," saad niya. 

Tama naman ang sinabi niya dahil sa tuwing gumagalaw ako ay lalong humihigpit ang pagkakatali sa akin na siyang nagdulot ng lalong paghapdi ng balat ko.

"She'll be here soon," dagdag pa nito.

Tumingin naman ako sa kanya. Hindi ito nakatingin sa akin. He was just looking on the door like he was waiting for someone.

"Can you give me water? Kanina pa ako nauuhaw, e." 

Walang tinging tumayo siya at kumuha ng isang bottled water sa maliit refrigerator.

"Here," inihaya niya sa akin ang bottled water.

"Ah—My hands were tied," nag-aalangan kong sabi sa kanya. Napabuntong hininga naman siya at binuksan ang bottled water. Itinapat niya iyon sa akin labi upang painumin.

"Salamat," saad ko ng matapos na akong uminom.

"You seemed to get along," I heard a voice of a lady. Not just a voice. It was my voice, no it sound like my voice.

"You're here, Luna." binaling namin pareho ang mga mata namin sa babaeng nagngangalang Luna. 

Shocks were written on my face. She's me! No, she looks like me but she's more likely a lady with elegance. 

She was just walking towards us but her aura was shouting with elegance.

"Luna baby!" 

"You're in my way, Keanu." She said with authority. She is like a high almighty.

"Buti nga," natatawa namang saad ng lalaking nagngangalang Rehan.

"Shut up!" inis na sabi ni Keanu.

Muli na namang nag-asaran ang dalawa.

"You did a great work, Dillon." she gave him a smile. It was like a was staring my self.

"I have to go," He ignored the lady. "I'm looking forward to not seeing you again, Luna."

"Of course, you're not the only one here in the world."

She answered him with boredness in her voice. She smiled at him but the pain was visible in her face. The weird thing is when I also felt pain. What is this? This feeling of a crumbling world.

He just left without saying goodbye to her. She just watched him walk away.

"You two get out," she commanded.

Umalis naman agad ang dalawa. 

She sighed and turn her attention to me.

"It's been a while, Ayada." 

Her expression immediately changed. She was now looking at me as if I'm her prey.

I was confused when she called me Ayada. Katulad ng pangalang binanggit ng babae sa kadiliman.

"Ayada?" I cluelessly asked. 

Bakit ba nila ako tinatawag na Ayada?

"Don't tell me you don't remember anything? It's funny to know that the great protector of Hanlon became this weak?" She laughed as if she was insulting me. " I can't believe they choose you over me. Look at you," He eyed me head to toe. "A trash," saad niya ng may pangungutya.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Hindi ako si Ayada–ack," She choked me and pull my hair. 

"This is interesting. The rejected protector is now beating the chosen protector– isn't it interesting? The protector can't protect her self." 

Linipat niya ang kamay niya sa aking dalawang pisngi at pinisil niya ito.

"It should be you! It should be you who suffered. I have been stronger than you since we're kids. You tricked them. You let them throw me here. This miserable life of mine, this is your fault." She shouted. Tears are falling in her eyes. She looks devastated.

Binitiwan niya ako at napaupo sa sahig.

She's blaming me for her life. I don't know but I felt like crying. I don't know why I am being hurt. It feels like she is connected to me.

"I–I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"It's unfair that you don't remember anything," she cried. The mighty lady a while a go became a crying lady now.

I bet she's been holding the pain all this time. She's having a hard time.

"Why am I being unlucky? I don't want to be a jinx anymore." Parang may kung anong tumutusok sa puso ko sa bawat binibigkas niyang mga salita. Para bang gusto nitong sabihin na hindi siya malas. 

"I'm sorry but I don't really know what you're talking about." 

I was surprised when I felt tears falling in my cheeks.

"Even him rejected me," para siyang pinag bagsakan ng langit at lupa. She's leaving a miserable life.

"I was rejected by both the worlds, our world and this world." 

"I want to make your life miserable too, but I can't, you're still my twin."

Nang banggitin niya ang salitang 'twin' ay may kung anong parang pumalo sa ulo ko. Sobrang sakit para itong binibiyak.

"Ahhh!" sigaw ko nang lalo pang sumakit ang ulo ko. Natigilan naman si Luna at parang natarantan pa.

"Ayada, anong nangyayari sayo?" 

I kept on shouting dahil sa sobrang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Parang tinutusok ng mga pako ang ulo ko. 

Ang aking paligid ay unti-unti narin na lumalabo. Hindi ko na rin marinig ang sinasabi ni Luna. I can see her shouting. I can see her worried face. Why is she acting like that.

"Ayada," I saw a little girl wearing a hat. She looks like me when I was a kid.

"Luna!" I saw another little girl who carry a small basket of flowers. That's me again? They were look alike.

They both run into each other as if they were afraid to be apart from each other. The other one put his hat on the little girl and got the basket. It was now raining.

"We must hurry to go home, Ayada. Mother will get mad if she find out we went here." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng kapatid niya at nagsimula nang tumakbo.

"Teka, Luna. Baka lumipad and sumbrero ko."

 Hinawakan naman ng batang babae gamit ang isa niyang kamay ang sumbrero na nagtatangka ng lumipad.

"Lumalakas na ang ulan, Ayada. Kailangan nating magmadali." 

Inabutan na ng malakas na ulan ang dalawang bata kaya wala silang nagawa kundi sumilong muna sa nakita nilang kubo.

The girl with the hat started to tremble when she heard the sound of thunder and lightning.

"I'm scared, Luna." 

Yumakap at sumiksik ang bata sa kapatid. The one who's been calling Luna was also afraid as I see her face.

"It's okay, I'm here. Nothing will happen, don't you remember? Someday we will be the great protector of this land." She motivates her sister.

"But I'm still scared, Luna." 

Nagsimula nang-umiyak ang batang babae kaya nataranta naman ang kapatid niya. She hugged her sister tightly.

"Don't worry I'll be your protector," 

Kumalma naman agad ito. Wariko'y nakatulog na ito ng hindi na ito umiiyak at nakapikit na rin ang mata.

Ilang oras din bago sila natagpuan ng mga tao. Hindi ko na nasaksihan ang iba pang mga pangyayari dahil unti-unti na iyong nawala.

I felt pain in my chest when I realized that it was me and my twin sister. 

I have a twin.

It was her.

How come I can't remember here? And what is that place?

It pained me when I remember how devastated she was when we were talking. She was having a miserable life here but also I am.

I slowly opened my eyes. I was hoping to see Luna again subalit tanging ang puting kisame lamang ang nakita ko.

Where is she?

"Thank God, you're awake. We contacted your boyfriend that we already found you." He hysterically said.

Tumingin ako sa nagsalita. It was a doctor with a his long white gown. Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita ko ang putok na labi nito.

"What happened?" I was curious because they all looked as if they were in a rush and with great fear.

"I'm sorry we failed to guard you, Miss. Please tell your boyfriend to calm down when he comes over." the doctor pleaded with me.

Anong pinagsasabi nila wala naman akong boyfriend.

"Maling tao yata po natagpuan nyo. Wala naman kasi akong boyfriend." 

Hindi naman nila ako pinansin at nakatutok lamang sa pintuan.

"Doc, they were in the lobby. Paakyat na po sila dyan." 

Nataranta naman ang nurse na kasama ng doctor. Ganun na lamang ba talaga sila katakot? Sino ba kasi ang tinutukoy nila? 

Ang alam ko nasa lugar ako ni Luna. Paano nakapunta ako rito?

Ilang minuto lamang ang lumipas at bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto. Iniluwa nito ang apat na lalaki. It was him and his friend. 

Bakit sila nandito?

Nakita kong nagulat ang tatlo niyang kaibigan ng makita ako sa loob ng kwarto. May sinabi pa sila subalit hindi ko narinig.

Sinalubong naman agad sila ng doctor at ng kasama nitong nurse. 

"Sir, we are really sorry–" 

Subalit hindi sila pinansin ni kumag. Dire-diretso lamang ito sa paglakad papunta sa pwesto ko. Nangunot ang noo ko sa ginawa niya.

"What are you doing here?–" 

Nasemento ako ng bigla niya akong yakapin ng mahigit. 

"Yun oh," 

"Speed, man!" 

"Kung ganyan lang din naman kaganda ang mawawala talagang susuntukin ko din lahat ng makikita ko," 

"Ako din, papalipadin ko din sasakyan ko."

Sinubukan kong kumawala sa yakap niya subalit mas humigpitbpa iyon.

"I won't leave you again," his voice are filled with fear. 

What's with him?