Getting Discharged

*Theia's POV*

"NOOOO!!!!"

Nagising akong umiiyak.

OH GOD!

I held my face in my hands.

What the hell is happening to me?

Narinig kong bumukas yung pinto and felt someone wrapped their arms around me.

"Kuya.."

"Shh, Theia." Sabi niya. "I'm here."

I realized na gumagalaw ako. Nanginginig. Natatakot.

If this wouldn't stop, mababaliw ako.

"Kuya.. Kuya.."

"Charm, water please.."

He just held me very tightly hanggang unti unti akong tumahan at tumigil sa panginginig.

Hindi ko na kaya.

He continued to pat my back kahit hindi na ko nakayakap sa kanya. Charm was already there with a glass of water na inabot niya sa'kin.

"Are you alright?" Tinanggal niya yung buhok na nakaharang sa mukha ko at tinalian ako.

I nodded and placed the glass on the table. Huminga ako ng malalim at napansing mas kalmado na ko.

"I'm sorry..."

This same thing happened nung araw na nandito si Nate. Nung naaalala niya pa 'ko.

Pero wala na siya ngayon.

Nakalimutan niya na ko.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

"It's him." I sighed.

Biglang tumahimik yung paligid at tanging paghinga ko lang yung naririnig sa kwarto.

"Maybe you should stay here."

It wasn't a question pero sinagot ko parin yung sinabi ni Kuya.

"Pero may practice kami ngayon."

"And you're not well."

"Presentation yun." Sabi ko. "Hindi ako pwedeng mawala."

"First day palang naman, Theia. I'm sure they'll understand kung wala ka." Charm said. "Tsaka papasok ka na naman sa Monday diba?"

"Pero.."

"I got you your Ranking exam. Yun nalang muna gawin mo habang wala ako." She continued. "But for now, I think you should rest. Mas mahalaga yung health mo."

"Tama si Charm." Kuya said. "Magpahinga ka muna ngayon. Kapag okay ka na bukas, papayagan na kitang pumasok."

I looked at them.

They both look worried. I decided not to argue with them anymore.

"Is that a promise?"

"Promise. Ako pa maghahatid sa inyo."

******

*Ryan's POV*

"Great job, guys!" Charm said. "Let's take a short break then we can all go home."

Malakas yung palakpakan at hiyawan dahil sa wakas, pagkatapos ng ilang oras na pagsayaw, makakauwi narin kami.

"Ayos ba, Charm?" Gavin asked pagkalapit naming lima sa isa't isa.

"Anong ayos ka dyan?" Ken pointed out. "Ang tigas kaya ng katawan mo."

"Mas matigas kaya yung sa'yo." Sabi ni Vin. "Hindi mo nga magawa yung tinuro ni Charm."

"Mahirap kaya."

"See?"

"Ikaw kaya yung gumawa."

Kembot sila ng kembot sa harapan. We couldn't stop laughing at them.

"Hindi kasi ganyan. Ganito kaya."

"Anong ganyan? Diba ganito yun, Charm?"

"Tumigil nga kayo." Sabi niya. "Ang sakit sa mata."

"Ito kasing si Vin."

"Aba, ikaw kaya nagsimula."

"Oh, tama na yan." Awat ko sa kanila. "Baka hindi na naman kayo magpansinan."

"Charm!!" Lumapit sa'min si Erica. "Thank you!!"

"Buti nalang pumayag silang tulungan tayo." Sabi ni Charm. "If not, mahihirapan akong ituro mag isa yung steps."

"Ano ba kasing nangyari?" I asked. "Kung hindi dahil kay Charm, baka walang nangyari sa practice ngayon."

"Yung choreographer kasi na kinausap namin ni Ms. Ces, hindi daw available ngayon." She said. "I don't know what could've happened kung wala ka dito, Charm!"

"Masaya ako dahil nakatulong kami atsaka para rin naman yun sa section natin. Hindi naman pwedeng palpak yung presentation diba?"

"Waaahh! Thank you talaga!!" Erica stood up. "Wait lang, may ia-announce lang ako tapos umuwi na tayo."

Naglakad siya papunta sa harapan na dali dali ring sinundan ni Vin para tumayo sa tabi niya. Tumabi naman sa'kin si Ivy.

"Mahal." Inabot niya yung tubigan ko.

"Uminom ka na ba?" Tumango naman siya.

"Guys, I'm here to make an announcement." Our eyes darted towards Erica. "No need to stand up or what, ituloy niyo lang yung pagpapahinga niyo."

"Sa Monday na yung simula ng finals. Two subjects a day tayo and the examination will last for 2 hours. From 9 to 11." Sabi niya. "Graduation is a few weeks away and we have to complete our pending requirements kaya extra curricular activities will resume after exams."

"Aside from that, may napakaimportanteng bagay pa akong dapat sabihin sa inyo." Sabi ni Erica. "For our upcoming graduation ball, may napili na silang section na mag-oorganize ng event."

Lahat itinigil yung ginagawa because we were all waiting for that news.

"Sino pa ba?" Ngiting ngiti si Erica. "Edi ang... 4-A!!"

The studio was filled with happiness and excitement.

"After exams, magsisimula na tayo sa pagpaplano. Theme, venue and the program." She continued. "We already have sample of venues na ipo-post ko sa bulletin board natin bukas. You can either talk to me or Ms. Ces if ever may suggestions kayo tapos we'll put it to a vote."

"We will divide our section into groups para hindi tayo magkagulo. Each group will be assigned to a different task and on the last week of this month, we're expected to finalize everything." Sabi naman ni Vin. He sounded like a real leader kapag ganyan siya magsalita.

He's our Vice President.

"Alam kong hindi magiging madali para sa'tin dahil marami tayong kailangang tapusin but I know that we will make this event very memorable for all of us." Erica sounded confident sa sinabi niya. "Any questions? Clarifications? Suggestions?"

Nagtaas ng kamay si Claire at nagsalita.

"Kelan yung ball?"

"A week before graduation." Sagot ni Keira. The secretary.

"What if Kings and Queens yung theme ng ball?" Suggest ni Raine.

"Oo nga!" Tiffany agreed. "Not shiny gowns and tux pero magandang ideya!"

"Ooohhh.."

Everyone gushed over the suggestion.

"We can even wear masks!" Sabi naman ni Trix.

"Masquerade Kings and Queens ball." Erica smiled. "Magandang idea nga. I'll make sure to let Ms. Ces know."

"Thank you sa time and effort niyong lahat lalong lalo na sa Groovers! Let's all give them a round of applause!!" She said. "And that's a wrap everyone! Let's all go home na!!"

Tumayo naman lahat ng members including Charm at napuno yung studio ng tunog ng mga palakpakan.

"Charm!" Lumapit sila Steph at Gwen sa'min.

"May problema ba kayo sa steps?"

"Wala naman." Sagot ni Gwen. "Gusto lang naming itanong kung kamusta na si Theia."

"She's okay." Sabi ni Charm. "Actually papasok na siya sa monday."

"That's great!" Steph said. "We're kind of worried kasi malapit na yung graduation baka hindi siya grumaduate kasabay natin."

"No worries!" Charm smiled. "Thank you sa concern niyo, I'll make sure sasabihin ko yan kay Theia."

"Mahal, do you need help with anything?"

"No. Okay lang, mahal."

"How about Nathan? Kamusta na siya?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya saglit. Baka nakikinig rin siya tulad ko pero patuloy lang siya sa ginagawa niya.

Maybe she doesn't hear what they're talking about.

"As far as I know, okay naman siya."

"Really?" Tanong ni Steph. "I heard he's planning to get discharged."

"Kanino niyo naman nabalitaan?"

"Marami na nag-uusap tungkol dun." Sagot ni Gwen. "I guess someone in our class visited him tapos sinabi sa kanyang makakalabas na siya sa ospital."

"Is that true?"

"We're not sure about that." I said. "Wala pa naman kaming nabalitaan pero sigurado akong kami yung unang makakaalam kung makakalabas na nga siya."

"Anyways, if that's true, another great news." Sabi ni Steph. "Masyado narin siyang matagal na nawala sa school."

"We'll go now." They both smiled at us. "Thank you for today, Charm. Mag-iingat kayo."

"Kayo rin."

Charm stared at me for a while.

Discharged? Is that even possible?

Pero paano na yung therapies ni Nathan?

Paano na si Theia..?

***

Everyone left except the guys para maglinis.

"Diretso uwi na ba kayo?" Tanong ni Vin habang palabas kami sa studio.

"Bakit? May balak ka na namang uminom?"

"Hindi no."

"You shouldn't." I said. "You heard what Erica said. May exam sa Monday. Imbis na uminom ka, mag-review ka nalang."

"Oo na." He sighed.

"Don't tell me nag-away na naman kayo?"

"Ugh."

"Ganun na nga, Ry." Sagot ni Ken. "Kaya nga ayaw niyang naririnig yung pangalan na yun."

"Pero bakit?" Inisip ko yung practice kanina. "Partners kayo right? Parang wala naman akong nakitang problema."

"Anong wala?"

"Kapartner mo nga pala si Ivy." Sabi ni Ken. "Of course you wouldn't know what's happening sa paligid mo kasi naka-focus ka lang sa kanya."

"I hate you, Ry." He glared at me.

When I saw Ivy, napangiti agad ako. She was my excuse to get out of this situation. Ayaw kong pagtripan na naman ako nung dalawa.

"Una na ko sa inyo."

I quickly ran away from them bago pa man nila ako mapigilan. I hid behind a wall and peeked. Ken tapped Vin's shoulder tapos umalis na sila.

"That was close..."

I really didn't notice na nag away sila ni Erica.

But why? If that's the case, edi sana hindi natuloy yung practice ngayon.

"Tita."

Lalabas na sana ako nung narinig ko siyang nagsalita. Sumilip ako at nakitang may kausap siya sa phone.

"Thank you again for the info, Tita." Nakita kong ngumiti siya. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Yes, pupunta po ako dyan mamaya para bumisita."

"I don't think I can do that."

"No. I don't want them to know."

"Yes. Bye."

"Mahal?"

Napalingon naman siya at halata sa mukha niya yung pagkagulat.

"Ma-mahal.. kanina ka pa ba dyan?"

"Kakadating ko lang." Sagot ko. "Sino yung kausap mo?"

"Si Tita. Nangangamusta lang."

"Is there a problem?"

"Nothing." She smiled at me and held my hand. "Tara uwi na tayo."

I nodded and walked with her palabas ng campus pero hindi ko parin mapigilang tumingin sa kanya.

She's keeping something from me.

May mali. May nangyari.

Hindi ko sigurado kung ano pero ramdam ko.

I don't understand this feeling pero parang hindi ko dapat marinig yung mga narinig ko kanina.

*****