Chapter 16: True Friend
Dwayne's POV
Ever since I was a child, I was locked up on our house and was never allowed to go outside. Unless of course kung may mga gagawin kaming photo shoots or may filming akong dadaluhan.
I never mentioned this to the whole class but I was once a super famous child star back then. Si Sasha lang ang napagsabihan ko tungkol diyan.
At first, pinag-home school ako ni mama since masyado nga akong abala sa mga projects na ibinibigay sa'kin. Being alone all the time in my room, tas malungkot na nakadungaw sa bintana habang pinagmamasdan ang ibang bata na nakikipaglaro sa kanilang mga kaibigan...
That's when I met a girl named Chelsea.
Hindi ko ba alam kung anak ba siya ng isa sa family friends ng mga magulang ko, pero parati ko siyang nakikita sa aking kwarto o kung saan ako magpunta. Siguro nga nakikita ng mga magulang ko kung gaano ako kalungkot dati kaya siguro naisipan nila na bigyan din nila ako ng isang kaibigang makakalaro ko.
Whenever I'm done with my film projects or with home schooling, Chelsea is always there patiently waiting on my room bitbit ang kanyang set of toys. Kaya naman parati akong excited na umuwi para makipaglaro sa kanya.
"Mom, how long does this gonna take me? I have a friend waiting for me in my room."
I remembered saying this to my mother one time during one of my home school sessions with my mother, since she's also a registered elementary school teacher.
"Sino namang kaibigan 'yan nak?" kunyaring naku-curious na tanong ni mom.
"You know her. Her name's Chelsea, remember?" I said casually.
I will never forget the confused and shocked look on my mother's face as she looks at me, her eyes full of bewilderment. My seven year old self that time looked at her, puzzled by her sudden reaction.
"Mom? What's wrong?" natanong ko pa sa isang napaka-inosenteng boses.
"Anak... wala kang kaibigang bumibisita rito sa bahay." sabi niya, as a matter of fact.
Of course, my seven year old self was confused sa pinagsasabi ni mama. Totoo si Chelsea, sabi ng utak ko. Nahahawakan ko pa nga siya eh kada maglalaro kami.
After that certain conversation with my mom, nagulat na lang ako ng bigla silang nagdecide ni dad na pag-aralin na ako sa isang exclusive school pagkatungtong ko ng grade 3. Which is okay lang naman sa'kin since matagal -tagal na rin akong nakakulong sa bahay at tanging si Chelsea lang ang nakakausap ko.
"Hello. I'm Sasha."
Do'n ko lang nakilala ang babaeng nagpatibok ng puso ko, si Sasha Vasquez, ang bukod tangi kong kaklase na nagpakilala at nakipagkaibigan sa'kin. Due to my stature sa buhay, other kids are either too overwhelmed na makipaglaro sa'kin, or too nasty naman sa'kin.
But Sasha was different. Even with her attitude na nakakapagturn off agad sa iba, but still she manages to stick by my side no matter what it takes. And that's what I adore about her.
"I'm Dwayne." sabi ko ng mga time na iyon at nakipagkamay agad ako sa kanya.
While shaking hands with Sasha at that time, my eyes slightly widened at the sight of my friend Chelsea who's standing at a certain distance... glaring at my newly-found friend.
Ever since I started hanging out with Sasha, napapadalas na yata ang pagdalaw ni Chelsea sa aming eskwelahan. Wala rin naman siyang ginagawang masama. She was just there, silently staring at us from a distance.
Pero 'yun lang pala ang akala ko.
There was this certain incident sa school wherein at first ay masaya lang kaming nagkukwentuhan ni Sasha tungkol sa mga movies na napanuod namin no'ng week na iyon. I was just happily listening to Sasha when I suddenly saw Chelsea, appeared out of nowhere, with a sharp knife pointed at Sasha and is ready to stab her any minute from now.
Siyempre sa sobrang pagpanic ko, I pulled Sasha away from her at iginiyak siya papunta sa aking likuran with just a swing of my arm. Then I shouted, "Stay away from her!"
Nasa canteen kami no'ng mga time na iyon, kaya tinginan agad sa'kin ang iba pang mga estudyante na kumakain din no'n including ang staff ng canteen.
"What is happening here Dwayne?" Sasha asked, also confused like the others.
"There's Chelsea behind you, holding a knife." I said frantically.
I saw Sasha's confused look grew even more when she turned sa direksyon kung sa'n nakaturo kanina ang daliri ko. Other students who witnessed my sudden reaction laughed while their index fingers are pointing at me in an insulting manner. My eight year old self that time can't take the insults anymore and so I stormed out of the canteen and went somewhere na alam kong pwede akong mapag-isa.
Sa school playground.
There I sat on a swing and let out my frustrations. When I turned to my right, Chelsea was there, The knife gone from her hand right now.
"Why you did that for?" pagalit kong tanong kay Chelsea. "She's my friend!"
"I'm your friend too, right?" she responded. No'ng natahimik ako ay biglang nag-iba ang kanyang reaction into something na parang handang mamatay ng tao.
"Right?" tanong ulit nito sa pangalawang pagkakataon.
"You know what, go away! Hindi na kita kaibigan! You've hurt my friend." sabi ko. Chelsea's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You wouldn't dare to do that! I'm your true friend." ani nito.
"Kung totoo kitang kaibigan, hindi ka mananakit ng iba ko pang mga kaibigan." saad ko and walked out of that playground. But Chelsea somehow managed to grab my right hand.
"Pagsisisihan mo ang pang-iiwan mo sa'kin someday Dwayne." Chelsea now gave me a maniac look while grinning evily. "Makikita mo..."
'Yun na ang huling engkwentro ko kay Chelsea since then, but that feeling habang pinagbabantaan niya ako hunts me even in my sleep. Napapansin na rin ng aking mga magulang ang mga eyebags na namumuo sa mura kong edad that's why they decided na dalhin ako sa isang psychiatrist.
"Your son has symptoms of schizophrenia." the psychiatrist said, as gentle as he could.
"Ano po 'yun? I curiously asked.
"Well, schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations and delusions." he tried to explains, but seeing na nakakunot lang ang noo ko eh napabuntung-hininga na lang ito.
"In other words iho..." he tries to find a simplified word for me. "May mga nakikita kang mga nilalang o bagay na hindi namin nakikita."
Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko. So parang ang pagkakaintindi ng eight year old self ko no'n is nasisiraan na ako ng utak.
Doctor advised me and my parents to have at least someone who I can seek emotional and moral support. My parents had known Sasha for quite some time now kaya siya ang kinulit ng aking mga magulang ko to look after me.
Kaso, ever since no'ng pagbabanta ni Chelsea, naging mailap na rin ang pakikitungo ko kay Sasha. Hindi ko na rin nakikita pang nilalapitan siya ni Chelsea, at nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil doon.
Kahit mahirap para sa'kin, I tried my best na layuan si Sasha. And without her by my side, my life even gets darker and darker by the minute.
But fate definitely has something hidden in its sleeves. Nag-high school na kami pareho, magkaklase pa rin kami ni Sasha at magka-same section pa.
Yesterday arrived, when I accidentally confessed my feelings for her, that's when I realized I really can't outrun destiny. It will just find its way para pagtagpuin kami ng babaeng matagal ko ng napupusuan.
"What do you want to do later?" I suddenly turned to look at Sasha who is sitting right next to me. Break namin ngayon kaya andito kami sa cafeteria.
"Hmmm..." napaisip ako ng magandang gagawin. "Night swimming tayo?"
As an Alpha Student, one of our privileges as well is to use the infinity pool of the school as long as we want at any given time. Kami lang ang hindi sisitain ng guard 'pag nag-night swimming kami.
"Sa'n naman nanggaling yan?" natatawang sabi ng kasama ko. Natawa na rin ako. Nakakahawa ang kanyang kasiyahan.
"I don't know. Bigla ko lang naisipan."
"Alright. It's night swimming then." pagpayag niya rin sa suggestion ko and give me a quick peck on the cheeks
"'Wag nga kayong mag PDA dito." rinig ko namang angal no'ng isa niyang kaibigan, si Eli, na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa tapat namin.
I chuckled with his reaction and shrugged him off.
Me and Sasha are now on the dating stage by the way. Gusto ko pa sanang manligaw sa kanya, but since she said she didn't believe in courtships, so ayun diretsong naging kami. Pero sobrang saya ko basta kasama ko siya, kahit na nakakabakla mang pakinggan.
Somehow, 'yung insidenteng gumagambala sa'kin since I was a kid, slowly fades out of my subconscious memory.
***
When night time already came, me and Sasha proceeded with our night swimming plan. I changed into my aqua shorts and got out of the changing room being topless. Kahit papa'no pwede ko na ring maipagmalaki ang naacquire kong 6 pack abs na resulta ng kaka-gym ko dati para lang aliwin ang sarili ko sa ibang bagay.
Sasha is also looking extra gorgeous today with her one-piece swimwear and her hair na nakalugay lang. Napangiti siya nang makita ako.
"I didn't know you have abs." she said in her alluring voice. I admit nakaka-turn on talagang pakinggan ang boses niya.
"Now you know." pabiro ko na lang na sagot sa kanya.
I went first for a dive in the pool para naman hindi ako masyadong maturn on sa kasama ko ngayong gabi. I just let my nasty thoughts drown in the water. I heard another splash so I immediately knew that Sasha went for a swim as well.
All throughout the night, masaya lang kaming lumalangoy sa kahabaan ng aming infinity pool. We even dared ourselves na tumalon gamit ang diving ramp ng school na ilang metro din ang ikinataas.
I was the first one to take the risk, you know to make sure it's safe for her. Nang smooth naman ang naging landing ko sa tubig ay sinenyasan ko na siyang sumunod. No'ng una natatakot pa siyang gawin ito.
"Kaya mo 'yan!" pagchi-cheer ko sa kanya.
"Okay!" she responded at kita kong napaatras pa siya ng konti para kumuha ng bwelo.
Masaya ko siyang tiningnan mula sa taas when something caught my attention.
I saw the familiar figure of my old friend Chelsea also swimming in the waters with me. Like me, nakaabang din siya sa pagbaba ni Sasha mula sa taas. Bumilis agad ang pagtibok ng puso ko as I saw her grimaced at my companion who's now preparing for her jump.
Ilang ulit na akong pinagsabihan ng aking doctor na Chelsea's not real, and everything about her also is not real. I also keep on instilling that to my mind. Pero bakit ganito? Nakakaramdam pa rin ako ng takot hanggang ngayon?
"Sasha, don't jump!" Sinubukan ko pang balaan ang kasama ko pero iyon na rin pala ang oras na tumalon na siya mula sa itaas.
I turned to look at Chelsea pero pagtingin ko sa kanyang pwesto kanina ay bigla na lang itong nawala na parang bula.
"Pagsisisihan mo ang pang-iiwan mo sa'kin someday Dwayne."
Chelsea's final words back then starts to echo again inside me, hunting me once more. I felt adrenaline kicked in my system and swam my way towards where Sasha landed as quickly as I can.
"Help... Dwayne!"
Natigil ako saglit sa paglangoy ng marinig ko ang boses ni Sasha na nasa panganib. Pinipilit niyang umahon ngunit tila may humihila ng kanyang mga paa sa ilalim para siya'y lumubog.
Wala na akong inaksaya pang oras at mabilis akong lumangoy papunta sa kanya. Hindi rin naman nagtagal bago ko siya napuntahan. Agad ko siyang hinila paibabaw at idinala agad siya sa gilid ng pool. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang malay.
"Sasha...please gumising ka." pagsusumamo ko.
No'ng hindi pa siya sumasagot ay napagdesisyunan ko nang gawin ang CPR at mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Kaso no'ng lalapit na sana ako sa mukha niya para bigyan siya ng hangin sa kanyang lungs ay pansin kong gumagalaw ng bahagya ang kanyang ilong, indicating na humihinga siya.
"Sasha naman eh. Kanina ka pa yata gising." sabi ko. And with that ay kinuha niya na ang kanyang cue para bumangon.
"Okay, you got me." nakaismid niya namang sambit.
"Pinag-alala mo'ko. I thought..." saglit akong napahinto at napatingin sa sahig "...I thought I'd lost you."
"Hey... sorry na when I played a prank on you." sabi niya sabay tapik sa magkabila kong pisngi.
"So pati 'yung paglunod mo kanina ay prank din?" natanong ko.
"No, silly." she said, which shocked me. "Nagka-muscle cramps ako ng 'di oras which caught me off guard after ko maglanding sa tubig."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Chelsea did tried to kill her! It's gotta be her! "Are you hurt somewhere?"
"I'm fine. What's with that look? Para kang nakakita ng multo." pagpuna niya.
Hindi multo ang nakikita ko ngayon, kundi ang pigura ulit ni Chelsea na nakatayo sa kanyang likuran. Just like before, she's holding a sharp knife on her right hand.
"NO! DON'T HURT HER, PLEASE!" I begged Chelsea, hugging Sasha and turning her away from her. I even tried to use my powers on her but she didn't even bulged one bit.
"Dwayne, what's wrong?" nag-aalala na ngayong sabi ni Sasha sabay hawak ulit sa magkabila kong pisngi at pilit akong pinapatingin sa kanyang mga mata pero hindi ko magawa. Masyado akong nagpapanic to do so.
"It's your old friend, isn't it? The one your parents told me about before." she added.
Hindi ako makasagot kaya dahan-dahan lang akong napatango ng aking ulo. The next thing I knew, I was wrapped up with her tight embrace.
"Ssshh... 'wag kang matakot. She's not real... Andito ako. Handa akong tumulong sa'yo Dwayne." she tries to ease my burden but then I gently pushed her away.
"Maybe tama nga ang ginawa kong paglayo sa'yo dati. Magiging pabigat lang ako sa'yo Sasha." Nagsisimula nang mag-init ang dalawang sulok ng aking mga mata kaya napayuko na lang ako para hindi ipahalata sa kanya na nagsisimula ng pumatak ang aking mga luha.
"Hey, look at me..." she said, tapping my right cheek to look at me but I didn't obliged. "I said, look at me.' she said more sternly this time.
Luhaan ko siyang tinitigan sa kanyang kulay kahel na mga mata na direkta ring nakatingin sa'kin pabalik.
"I don't care kung sino 'yang punyetang Chelsea na 'yan..." sabi niya, her eyes never left mine. "...but you have me now. I'll never leave you. Tutulungan kita hanggang sa makamove on ka na rin diyan sa karibal ko sa'yo. Makikita niya kung sino ang kanyang inaagawan."
I suppose she didn't intend to make me laugh but I did so anyway. Bigla akong natawa ng mahina sa huli niyang sinabi. Ang cute niya lang kasing magselos.
When I looked at her again, there goes Chelsea again with her knife in her right hand. I tried to close my eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and gathered my willpower altogether and tried my best to convince myself that she is not real.
My parents were right.
The doctor was right.
Sasha was right.
CHELSEA IS NOT REAL!
And with that thought forever glued in my mind, I slowly opened my eyes, and all I could see now is the beautiful face of my lovely girlfriend.
"Are you alright?" she asked, concern is all over her tone right now.
"Yes. Never been better." I proudly said. And then we hugged once more.
I know this disorder of mine is already a lifelong illness. But with the help of my supporting system, of course with Sasha na hinding-hindi ako iniwan, ng parents ko, at ng mabubuo kong pamilya together with the Alpha Section...
I know someday ay gagaling din ako sa sakit kong ito. I've just got to believe in possiblities...
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-READ AUTHOR'S NOTE BELOW PLEASE. THANKS-
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AteJanz
AteJanz Hi! I will temporarily rest muna from writing because of 2 consecutive migraine attacks I've experienced. I'll be back din naman agad. So sorry for the inconvenience. :)
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