She's In Danger

*Gabriel's POV*

"Lovey, pansinin mo naman ako."

"..."

"Lovey, nag-aalala na ko." I said. "Mainit ka daw sabi ni Courts."

"Hindi talaga siya mapagkatiwalaan kahit kailan."

Courts went to my office earlier and told me na may sakit si Charm.

She even said na masama yung loob sa'kin ni lovey and warned me na kapag hindi kami nagbati ngayon, she'll convince her to break up with me.

Dali dali naman akong pumunta sa kanya at nakita siyang natutulog. I decided to stay beside her hanggang sa magising siya.

And now that she's awake, hindi niya naman ako pinapansin.

"Nasaan na ba siya?"

We were already outside and she kept using her phone kahit kinakausap ko siya.

"Lovey, please.."

Nakatalikod siya sa'kin.

Hindi ko tuloy alam kung anong iniisip niya.

"Mag-usap naman tayo."

She finally faced me.

"Wow.."

"Lovey, ano bang nangyari?" I asked. "Are you mad at me?"

"You really have no idea kung anong nagawa mo?"

"I don't."

"Sige. Mag-usap tayo." Sabi niya. "Pero bago yun, I wanted to ask you something, Gab."

Gab?

"When was the last time you really talked to me?"

"Kahapo--"

"That's not counted."

While thinking, tsaka ko lang narealize kung anong tinutukoy niya.

"Hm?"

"..."

I've been distracted ever since I got home.

Madami akong inasikaso. But in those 5 days, hindi ko manlang siya nabigyan ng oras.

I finally understood what she meant.

Lovey had every right to be mad at me.

"After all this time, uuwi ka na." Sabi niya. "I thought that you'll have time for me. I was so excited kasi makakasama narin kita. Pero akala ko lang pala yun."

"Dumating ka nga pero kinabukasan, you left." She said. "Sabi pa ni Theia, babawi ka. But no. You were too busy to even call your girlfriend."

"Lovey, I'm sorry.."

"I felt too empty, Gab." Sabi niya. "At sa tagal natin, ngayon ko lang 'to naramdaman. You're physically with me pero bakit ganun? Parang wala ka rin. Kahit nandyan ka, namimiss parin kita.."

Hindi ko alam na ganun yung nararamdaman niya.

"You've changed, lovey. Simula nung umuwi ka, parang ibang tao ka na."

"I've missed you too, lovey.."

"Talaga?" She faked a laugh. "You haven't even told me 'I love you' since you came home.."

"I love you.." I whispered.

But it wasn't loud enough para marinig niya.

Umiiyak na siya. "Sinubukan kitang intindihin, Gab. But it's too much.."

Gusto ko siyang yakapin.

Pero nung lumapit ako, she took a step back.

"Please stay where you are."

"Lovey.."

"Alam mo naman na ganito yung mararamdaman ko diba? You know that I hate secrets." Sabi niya. "Then why did you keep that from me?"

"What are you talking about, lovey?"

"Si Teddy."

"..."

"Si Ivy yun diba?" Tanong niya. "Your secret best friend that I never met."

"..."

"See?" She said. "Hindi mo maitaggi kasi tama ako."

Yes. No one knew we were childhood friends.

"I finally understood, Gab." Sabi niya. "It all made sense nung nalaman ko yun."

"Lovey--"

"Is she the reason? Kaya mo ba 'to ginagawa??"

"Lovey, hindi yun ganun."

"Tinago mo sa'kin kasi gusto mo siya tulungan!" Sabi niya. "You did those things para paghiwalayin silang dalawa!"

"No." Sagot ko. "That's not true."

"Do you want her to die? Is that your f*cking plan?!"

"..."

Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang galit na galit sa'kin.

"I trusted you, lovey!" She shouted. "Akala ko ayaw mo rin mawala si Theia pero anong ginawa mo?!"

"Lovey, makinig ka naman sa'kin.."

"No." Sagot niya. "Hinding hindi na ulit."

She turned her back on me.

"Kahit anong mangyari, wag na wag mo kong susundan."

"Lovey--"

"It's too late, Gab." She said. "We're done."

******

*Alec's POV*

"Sir?"

"Yes, Aby?"

I was getting ready to leave when the door opened.

"May tumawag po kanina." Sagot niya. "But you were in a meeting so I asked her to leave a message instead."

Today's schedule was hectic. Kahit ako, napagod ng sobra. Sunod sunod yung meeting with our clients. Akala ko nga hindi matatapos.

"That's fine." I said. "Paki-forward nalang sa'kin."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you for today, Aby."

"You're welcome, sir Alec." Sabi niya. "Ingat po kayo."

"Ikaw rin."

Nakapatay lahat ng ilaw sa bahay nung dumating ako.

Umuwi nga pala si Manang sa kanila. Buti nalang nandito na sila Theia bukas.

It's Sunday. I can finally rest.

Kumakain na ko when Aby's name popped up. She forwarded the message she mentioned earlier.

Hi, Alec. This is Dra. Guevarra---

Dra. Guevarra?

That's Nathan's doctor.

Bakit niya naman ako tatawagan?

I stopped eating before playing it again.

I know that I'm not in the position to interfere but it's about my niece. Your sister is in danger.

Danger?

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit mapapahamak si Theia but I started dialing her number.

*the number you have dialed..*

It's about my niece.

Si Ivy.

"Sh*t!"

*Calling Charm*

Please, sumagot ka.

"H-hello?"

"Charm?"

"K-kuya.."

She's stammering.

She doesn't usually sound like this.

Kinabahan tuloy ako lalo.

"What's wrong?" I asked. "Is it Theia??"

Hindi naman diba?

"Nothing, Kuya." Sagot niya. "We're okay."

Thank god!

"Wait for me." I said. "I'm on my way to take both of you home."

I put her on loud speaker and grabbed my car keys.

"Ha? Pero bakit?"

"I received a call from Dra. Guevarra and she warned me about Ivy."

"Warned you??"

"Theia's in danger, Charm."

"WHAT??"

"Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ni Ivy." Sagot ko. "But we have to keep her safe."

"..."

"Whatever happens, stay with her." I instructed. "Papunta na ko."

"P-pero, Kuya--"

"Bakit?"

"H-hindi ko kasama si Theia.."

"Nasaan siya??"

"Hindi pa kami nagkikita simula kanina." She said. "Hindi kasi ako nakasama sa bonfire."

Bonfire.

She's going to be safe lalo na't marami siyang kasama.

Pero kanina ko pa siya tinatawagan.

"You have to get her, Charm." Sabi ko. "We can't let Ivy----"

Pasakay na ko sa kotse nung may narinig ako sa kabilang linya.

"Is that--"

"Theia.."

The rain started pouring.

Basang basa na ko pero I couldn't move.

"THEIA!!"

"Nathan, anong nangyayari??" Sabi ni Charm. "Anong--"

"Why did you stop???"

"NATHAN, SHE'S NOT BREATHING!!" She said. "DO SOMETHING!!"

"THEIA?? THEIA!!!"

"WAKE UP! PLEASE!"

"Bessy, nandito na ko!"

"PLEASE GUMISING KA!!"

"ALETHEIAA!!!"

"PLEASE!!"

*toot toot toot*

******