FAUZIA kept running to nowhere. The place was pure black, no ray of light was seen.A strange disturbing noise lingered, she stopped running then tried to listen to where it was coming.She followed the noise even if the way she was walking was pitch black, Fauzia tried to investigate what type of creature she was hearing.When the noise became more vivid hundreds of bolts of lightning struck her whole.It wasn’t some kind of a creature.It’s more like a scream of a person.She steps back when the sound worsened. The deafening scream of torment rang in her ears.Sa sobrang lakas ng epekto nito sa kaniya hindi na niya namalayan na napaupo na siya. Tinakpan niya na lahat-lahat ang tenga niya hindi pa rin naibsan ang sakit ng sigaw nito sa pandinig niya.With her utmost strength she pushed herself to stand up, muling gumalaw ang kaniyang mga paa para tumakbong muli.Lumukob ang kaba sa kaniyang dibdib nang mapagtantong kahit pa tumakbo siya ay parang sinusundan pa rin siya ng ingay na iyo
With utmost intensity, her gaze locked in Austin’s eyes.“Now tell me, Austin…” With tears still flowing in her eyes, she asked.“Would you still accept this loathful woman? This lost and weak Fauzia?”
AUSTIN was chugging down his bottle of beer while silently watching his friends, they are chaotic and filling every corner of the room with laughter.It's been 13 years since he was left alone, Austin is still holding on to his beloved parents.Sa loob ng labing-tatlong taon hindi niya pa rin alam kung buhay pa ba sila at kung anong nangyari sa mga magulang niya, he doesn't want to jump into conclusions but he's still praying for his parents.Napapikit siya nang may pumasok na namang alaala sa kaniya nang mailapag niya ang ubos na bote ng beer. "AUSTIN, honey, you're almost 14. Are you ready? To face reality?" his mother asked, has worry written on her face.He smiled to assure his mother. "You raised me to be always ready, Mama, I am born ready." He glanced at his father that has a glimpse of hope on his face."Anak, sorry we dragged you into this but I'm confident that you'll be a great fighter even if times go worst you will surely can handle it." Ginulo nito ang buhok ng anak. "We
AUSTIN'S body was shaking when his attention swift into Larkspur who has a worried expression on his face. "You're spacing out, dingleberry," Larkspur spoke with a gruff.He knew that he's drunk but he can still think clearly.He didn't look up at Larkspur who's now sitting beside him, he is patting his back."You know dingleberry? It's okay to be sad and all but you have to accept it. Huwag kang makulong sa nakaraan," ani Larkspur, hinahagod nito ang likod ni Austin na ngayon ay nakatungo at sapo ang noo."I can't..." Larkspur just listened and stayed by his side. "I didn't even had a chance to say how much I love them, kung sana alam ko lang. Kung alam ko lang."Ramdam ni Larkspur ang bawat pait at sakit na nadarama ni Austin. Wala talaga siyang magagawa para dito kundi pagaanin ang loob nito at huwag itong iwan.He hates seeing his best friend like this, he wants him to keep looking forward but the thought of his parents impacted his life. Hinahanap-hanap pa rin nito ang nawawalang
HINUBAD niya ang kaniyang leather jacket at pinalibot dito para takpan ang katawan nito kahit pa may bahid na ng dugo ito.Malaki ang jacket niya para dito kaya hindi na alintana ang kahubaran nito. Maingat niya itong binuhat at mahigpit na niyakap para hindi ito lamigin, lumakad na siya papalabas nang may humarang sa kaniyang isa sa mga tauhan nila."Sir, ako na po." Bahagya pa itong nakayuko sa kaniya. Umiling siya sa lalaki. "Ako na." Dumiretsyo na siya sa tube-like passageway para ilayo na ang babaeng buhat niya sa lugar na iyon. Hindi maiwasan ni Austin mapatitig sa maamong mukha ng dalaga. Nakikita niyang may mga marka sa leeg nito na nagpadilim ng mukha niya.Siya ang babaeng ginagalaw ng mga lalaki doon kanina. Minabuti niyang tawagan si Larkspur gamit ang earpiece."May buhay pa bang kahit isa doon sa kwartong pinasukan ko?" nagtatagis ang bagang nitong tanong."Sorry, dingleberry," hingi nito ng patawad, mukhang alam nito ang binabalak niya. "Unfortunately, napatay mo lahat
FAUZIA was tired when she headed back home. She does not know why but school makes her tired all the time. Maybe because she doesn’t have a companion, though she doesn’t want one.Having a friend can tire her too.When she slid the door open her eyes widened at the sight she’s seeing. Her father was grabbing her mother’s hair, he slapped her.She ran hastily to at least protect her mother. “Stop!” Ginamit niya ang sarili para salagin ang kamay ng ama niya. “Stay away from this, Niryana! Go to your room,” Tinulak siya nito palayo ng isang kamay lamang, sa sobrang lakas ng puwersa na iyon ay bumagsak siya sa sahig.“Who the fuck are you to do this to me, huh?!” puno ng galit na tanong ng ama niya at mas hinigpitan pa ang paghawak sa buhok ng kaniyang ina.“Hindi ko ‘yon magagawa, Leander, alam mo ‘yan. How could you say that… H-Hindi kita niloko.” Halos mapaos na ang boses ng ina niya habang humahagulgol.“Then how would you explain this?! Huh? Ito ba ang ‘hindi niloko’ na sinasabi mo?!
“LET’S take advantage of the time now that she’s asleep. Dalhin natin siya sa SJ, hindi siya pwedeng nandito lang sa ospital, we don’t know what might happen if she stays here,” nabaling ang atensiyon nila kay Divine.“Huh? Why? Hindi ba mas maganda na nandito siya?” Nagugulumihanang tanong ni Mavis.Humarap dito si Divine. “Mave, she can’t. Kasi kung mananatili siya dito mahihirapan lang siya, hindi niya kayang makakita ng ibang tao lalo na kung lalaki dahil sa trauma. “ Ito ang naobserba niya sa kinilos ng dalaga kanina.“She thinks we’re a threat. For now, we’ll let her rest, Mavis, you know how to deal with her. Please take care of her.” She shortly glanced at him. “Austin, carry your woman.”She snapped her fingers to make them move.“Let’s make it fast, her nightmares won’t let her sleep that long.” Sinunod na nila ang utos ni Divine at tumungo na sa SJ.AUSTIN sipped his cup of coffee to keep him stay awake. He always does this for three months now.He doesn’t know why he’s acti
BUMILIS ang tibok ng puso ni Austin nang napagtanto kung gaano siya kalapit sa dalagang nakapikit ang mga mata.Binigyan niya ng maayos na distansiya ang pagitan nila. “It seems like you can’t move freely when I’m around so…” Napakamot sa likod ng ulo ito.“I’ll call Mavis and leave you be. Eat your breakfast,” paalam niya bago lumabas sa kwarto niya para makahinga na ng maayos ang dalaga.Nasa tapat pa rin siya ng pinto ng kwarto nito nang tinawagan si Mavis. “Hey Mave,” tawag niya dito kahit na nasa iisang bahay lamang sila. Tamad lang lumakad si Austin dahil malawak ang kanilang mansion.Hindi pa agad sumagot ang nasa kabilang linya kaya naglakad muna siya sa kaniyang office. Nang makaupo na sa kaniyang swivel chair nakita niya sa monitor na hindi pa rin ginagalaw ng dalaga ang dinala nitong pagkain hanggang sa napukaw ng atensiyon niya ang boses ng kaibigan.“Dang it, dingleberry, ang aga-aga tumatawag ka---”“Hindi ikaw ang tinawagan ko, gago, si Mavis ang tinatawagan ko,” putol n