Chapter 7

Nisha's Point of View

We've been walking for almost one hour. It irritates me but I didn't complain anything. Patuloy lang na naglalakad si Shawn na nakapamulsa. Parang hindi napagod ang isa. Nasa isang masukal na gubat kami at tahimik lang din akong nakasunod kahit panay ang buntong hininga ko. Are we really going to the Greenhills? I'm still not there, yet I am facing already my own death by walking.

"Chill. Malapit na tayo," he said. Patuloy lang siyang naglalakad kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ang magtiis. This is hell. I didn't see wild animals in this forest and that made me peculiar. Yeah, I'm always curious even in just small things. But this scene is making me suspect anything. Even if they take good care this forest, there will still be wild animals that was surrounded in this area. But the reality, by the look of this forest, they didn't take good care of it, not even for once.

"We're here," he informed. Tumingin ako sa harapan at nakita ko ang isang itim na gate na nakaharang sa amin. It seems that this place is prohibited. "We are taking a shortcut by going here. We have no choice but to be careful not to be caught. May daan doon sa may swimming pool area pero masyadong crowded doon lalo na sa mga manlalangoy. So, we need to deal in this way," he continued. I'm just observing the gate and the words that embedded there caught my attention.

'DO NOT ENTER

BY: PRESIDENT'

"No one owns this place or this Greenhills. My father just owned this without the consent if who's the owner and guard this because he's making the students safe. He did not want anyone to see it. Two years ago, something happened. A lot of people died because of the war. All the people who died was buried here where you were standing. They didn't get the justice that they want and the fate take their lives unjustice, leaves agony to their family and died in vain," mahaba niyang paliwanag sa akin. I don't know what to say. Should I send sympathy to those people? I shook my head mentally. No, they need justice instead of affinity.

"So, how can they find the justice that they want if every minute, there are other crimes that happened?" I asked in respond. He looked at me and answered my question at the same time.

"There's a right time for the justice. We still need to suffer first before we succeed. Madaming buhay pa ang masasakripisyo bago tayo magtagumpay," he answered. My forehead gets crumpled because of his statement. Is he insane? He looked away and stared at the gate again.

"That's it. We need to avoid to sacrifice the lives of others. Life is not about wasting. It should be treasured," I grumbled at him because I felt irritated.

"But we are facing the reality, Nisha. We live in this City and if we need to sacrifice our lives just to succeed, then we will," he said and walked closer to the gate first. "Be ready. There's a lot of skeletons in this area. Are you sure you want to check it?" Pagtatanong niya sa akin. Sinama pa niya ako rito kung itatanong lang din naman ang opinyon ko, tss. But, I swallowed hard before nodding.

He slowly opened it until I heard the squeak tone of the gate. By the sound of it, it screams how old it is. Nang tuluyan ng nabuksan ay humakbang na ako papalapit kay Shawn. When I was behind him, he grabbed my right hand and pulled me.

"We are going somewhere," sabi niya sabay hila sa akin at nagpatianod lang din naman ako. And he is fucking right! Skeletons are everywhere. Tinakpan ko ang aking ilong dahil sa amoy sa paligid. I can't take this. I regretted for letting Shawn dragged me here. I want to go back. Shawn stopped so, I bumped into his back. I was surprised because he was busy with what he was looking at in front. I peeked and saw someone's bone. Another exoskeleton but it was isolated from the other skeleton that's scattered in this area. Nag-iisa iyon sa isang lugar.

"She's my sister," he stated. I was left speechless because of what I've heard. I never thought that he will let me see his sister's skeleton. Nathalie didn't mention that Shawn has a sister, and she's part of those people who wants justice. "She died by protecting all the people. She sacrificed herself just to save the people who need help. She sacrificed herself by saving the girl who's living right now exchange of my sister's life," he paused. I didn't know that he had this kind of history in his life. But I feel hurt for what he said. "I didn't feel mad about her presence because I know that sacrificing my sister's life would be worth it," hindi ko alam kung ano ang maramdaman ko. I'm curious who's that girl but I remained silent and let him express what he wants to say.

Napabaling ako sa kaniya nang bitawan niya ang aking kamay at pinunasan ang kaniyang mukha. He's crying. I don't know what to do, so, I caressed his back and comforted him in that way. I sighed. This will be the first time that I will spoke.

"Sometimes, we can't avoid losing someone. 'Pag nawala iyon, malaking parte sa atin ang mawawasak at hindi alam kung paano buuin. That's life, Shawn. Accepting is the only way we can do and pray for their loss. You said that she sacrificed herself and it would be worth it. Then, you wait for that time. Put in your mind that she had a missions and her goals end that time." I said while tapping his shoulder. He didn't move and it's a sign that I should continue, and he will just listen. "I lost someone," because of what I've said, I got his attention. He turned to me and frowned.

"Who?" He asked. I smiled and answered him.

"I lost the half of myself," I responded. He just stared at me and I grinned. And this is the first time that I smiled. Tumingin ako sa kawalan at nagpatuloy. "I asked myself sometimes, who am I? I feel lost. I don't know where I can find something or someone who will complete me. It's hard for me. Losing the part of yourself and you have a big question mark about your life was the worst- because that's what I feel right now. I feel worst. I feel lost. And my mission is to find myself," after saying those, I feel relieved. Ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam na may napagsasabihan ka ng problema. I heaved deeply and stared in his eyes again. I saw admiration in his eyes telling that he's proud of me. "My point is, find your mission. Fulfill your unfulfilled dreams. Don't fail your sister," I lastly said.

We stared at each other for a few more minutes and I saw him nod with a smile. He cut his gaze towards me and check his wristwatch. Maging ako ay napatingin din at doon lang namin napagtanto na malapit ng dumilim.

"Let's go. Nathalie might scold us. Sa swimming area na lang tayo lalabas. Tapos na silang mag-ensayo ngayon kaya wala nang makakita sa atin doon," he said to me and I nod as my response. He intertwined our hands and because of that, an image suddenly entered in my mind. I stopped that made him paused as well. Napapikit ako at napahawak sa aking ulo. What happened? Nakita ko rin ang ganitong eksaktong eksena. Someone's holding my hand and we are running. I can't clearly recognize the face of the guy, but we just keep on running for our lives.

"Nisha, are you okay?" I heard Shawn ask anxiously. I slowly opened my eyes as my headache slowly disappeared. What happened to me? What's the meaning of this?

"Hey, look at me. Are you alright?" Napatingin ako kay Shawn at nakita ko ang pag-alala sa mata niya. Tumango na lang ako bilang sagot. "You sure?" Paninigurado niya.

"I am. My head just suddenly hurt. Maybe, I need some rest. Let's go," I said and walked ahead. Wala naman siyang nagawa kundi sumunod sa akin. I just let him touch my wrist and he led the walk again. I smiled in my mind because of what he was doing. Crazy.

-

Nakarating kami sa swimming pool area at tama nga siyang wala na roon ang nag-eensayo. We walked quietly and only the sound of shoes was created the noise. I bent down and found my shoes full of mud. Hindi ko napigilang mag-alala at magsasalita sana nang maunahan ako ni Shawn.

"Don't worry. Nathalie will understand," he said. Nagtaka ako sa kaniyang sinabi.

"You were worried earlier that she might scold us," I replied. He chuckled that made me annoyed.

"I am. We are not allowed to spend the night outside but she did not say that we are not allowed to go there," he responded.

I was stunned by what I've heard. What the hell? But he's right! Now I'm confuse. I didn't stop to open my mouth to ask him about this.

"Can I trust her?" I asked him that made him stopped and face me. He sighed and nodded.

"She maybe full of lies but believe me-

...You can trust her anytime. And you can count on her. She's not our enemy. Someday you will understand but, for now, be careful, and we will help you," he said with a serious on his face.

I startled when he grab my arm and give me a tight hug.

"Thank you. I know that it will be worth it and I will help you to overcome this. Trust me..." He said softly.

And that made me left dumbfounded.