Chapter 8

Past midnight na nang nakalabas kami ng campus. Kurt decided to go home with us and he was driving this time. We were talking about all kinds of stuff at nagkwento rin si Kurt ng mga experiences niya sa party. Buti na lang na-survive ko 'yung buong gabi despite the social challenges. It wasn't bad at all. And I could say I made the right decision.

We entered Zone Eight and drove straight home. Habang papalapit kami sa bahay when we all got surprised nang makita naming may sasakyan ng pulis at ambulansya sa kabilang kalsada. Naka-park sila sa labas ng katabing bahay nina Rita. Kurt immediately parked outside our house at nagmadali kaming lumabas ng kotse. It was a relief when we saw both Pops and Mamita standing on our porch.

There were two policemen on the street. Pati mga kapitbahay namin ay nagsilabasan din at nakatayo sa sidewalk witnessing the scene.

"Mamita, what happened? Ba't may mga pulis at ambulance?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Rita.

Bago pa makasagot si Mamita, nakita namin ang dalawang paramedic na lumabas mula dun sa bahay. Hila nila ang isang stretcher with a person on it under the white blanket. Sumunod namang lumabas ang mag-asawa na umiiyak habang kasama ang isa pang pulis. It was Chief Salvador, Jake's dad.

"Anak nina Mr & Mrs Tiu . . . she died in her sleep," sagot ni Mamita.

"What!? Another one!?" gulat na tanong ni Rita.

Wait, 'Another one?' So, how many people have already died?

Sa pagkakaalam ko, Mr and Mrs Tiu had only one child, a daughter. Paano siya namatay? As usual, I kept these questions to myself.

One of the policemen instructed everybody on the street to go back inside their houses and that included us. Sinakay na nila ang stretcher sa ambulance and drove away. Umuwi na rin sina Rita at Mamita and that was our cue na pumasok na rin sa loob.

What a night, I thought to myself. Kanina lang ang saya-saya namin sa party tapos ngayon may nangyaring ganito sa lugar namin. I couldn't imagine kung paano palilipasin nina Mr and Mrs Tiu ang gabing 'yun ngayong wala na ang anak nila. She was too young to die, younger than me. For sure, di sila makakatulog at kung anu-ano na lang ang papasok sa isip nila. I knew better. I lost the people that I loved, too.

I immediately took a hot shower when I got inside my room and changed. Di rin ako nakatulog agad kaya nag-browse muna ako sa Instagram. I got notifications and I saw the photos posted by Rita na naka-tag ako. I gave them all heart reactions at nag-post din ako sa story ko nang picture naming dalawa na kuha sa party. I didn't put any captions on it and just added some party stickers.

Sana andito pa sina Mom and Dad, I thought with my throat aching. Pero wala na sila pareho. They left me and now I'm . . . alone. How I wish na may makakausap ako, like Mom and Dad . . .

I shut my eyes while lying in my bed then tears fell on my pillow. I was exhausted with emotion at tanging unan lang ang kayakap ko. I hugged it tighter, feeling its soft and warm cushion until my breathing slowed and I fell asleep.

"GOOD MORNING, KATHERINE," Pops was already sitting in the dining table and sipping his cup of coffee when I went to the kitchen the next morning.

Gising na rin si Kurt at andun na siya sa kusina bago pa'ko pumasok. He was already having his breakfast habang nagpi-prepare naman ng juice si Auntie Edna. Naka-on din ang tv sa kusina while airing some commercials and nobody seemed watching it.

"Morning, Pops," my voice was a bit hoarse.

Umupo ako sa mesa while I scanned the food: there was fried rice, bacon and sunny-side up. Nilagyan ni Auntie Edna ng juice ang baso ko pero bigla 'tong inagaw ni Kurt at ininom. I gave him an angry glare pero wala siyang pakialam. Kinuha na lang ni Auntie 'yung isa pang empty tall glass at nilagyan niya ng juice para sa'kin. I prepared to eat at naglagay ako ng pagkain sa plato ko when a news report went broadcasting on the television.

"Another tragedy struck last night in the Tiu residence in Zone Eight, Puerto Estrella," informed the female news reporter in her mid-thirty's. "The only daughter of Mr and Mrs Tiu, 13-year-old Hannah Tiu, was found dead in her room at past twelve midnight. The doctors have confirmed that sudden cardiac arrest during sleep was the cause of death.

"This is the fourth case of teenagers dying in their sleep since January of this year," the reporter continued, "and the experts have confirmed that all four victims showed no warning signs and risk factors. Meanwhile, the bereaved parents are asking for privacy and prayers from the entire community of Puerto Estrella. This has been Veronica Chavez, CCA Channel 6 Newsbreak."

Fourth case. Kaya pala ganun ang reaksyon ni Rita kagabi.

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