50 - Hugged

The cool breeze greeted him, adding to the delicious audible flow of water. He filled his chest with air then he stepped towards the rocky outcrop. He stood superficially and did not bother to take off his clothes. Somehow, he laughs at the thought here he was first seen by Frahisto without a body covering. Blushing he forgot that part in his mind. He may not be able to fulfill his desires in life if this is always what he thinks. Whenever the man is still around, his brain becomes big and he can't think clearly. In short, he was stunned by its presence. He was smart when he was in college, so it's amazing why when Frahisto is just around, he loses his brain ... He runs away.

His eyes were closed as his body was soaked in water when he was suddenly startled by a loud gunshot. He squirmed in his position and felt fear flow through his body. He feels, something bad has happened when it comes to gun rumors. He felt around for a long time what was going on, he took a few breaths before deciding to get out of the water. He had to go home. Maybe his Dad woke up and was looking for him. He feels, if he lasts ... He will be eaten up even more by fear.

He reached for the gas station on the rock and made his way home. There is still the feeling that he is nervous. He was still far from home when he heard a series of shouts. There was a commotion.

Fire!

He hurriedly ran home only to be shocked at the stand. Their house ... Their house is the one he sees consumed by a big fire.

“No! Itang! Itang! Itangggggg! ”

“Odessa,‘ don’t! ” Tina pulled him away. He constantly struggled to run inside and get the old man out but he hugged him and because he was bigger than him, he was able to stop him.

“Tina, let me go! My Itang Bartolome. Tina, my Dad! My Dad is inside ... I have to save him! Let me go, what! ”

He almost lost his mind, he almost forgot about his friend but it didn't let him go. All he could do was cry out loud as he watched the huge fire being gutted by the neighbors.

“O-odessa ... S-you're at our house first ... It's dangerous out here. B-maybe someone will see you alive ... ”

"What do you mean?!" He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at Tina in surprise. "What did you see? What, Tina? Yes! ” he started to get hysterical again but it calmed him down. He nodded in response as tears welled up in his eyes.

“There are ... There were men who came here to your house earlier. I would have screamed when I saw they had guns. Then ... Then they suddenly entered your house and I heard a loud gunshot ... We were all scared. Next, they poured gasoline on your house and set it on fire. I heard ... I heard they were looking for you before they left then we responded to put out the fire ... Odessa! Your life is in danger! ”

No ... H-no ...

He was even more confused. Why is it happening so fast? He could not understand! Why now? What is his fault? When his Itang? Who made it? Who!

"Itanggggggggg !!!" it was as if thousands of needles had pierced her heart, to think that the man she considered to be her stepfather had died innocent. “Why my Dad! Tina, have mercy and let me go ... My uncle ... My uncle ... ”

He clung so tightly to Tina's shoulder and tried to draw strength from it but the incident was too crushing ... Too fast. He wasn't prepared ... Hopefully, he didn't just leave earlier and go to the stream. Maybe he did something more for the old man. He may have prevented criminal pests.

Odessa just felt the weakness of her knee and before everything could finally sink into her mind, she suddenly fell to the ground.

Frahisto ... Frahisto where are you?

“Odessa! Hey! Odessa! Odessa! ”



Odessa woke up QUICKLY. "Itang!"

He looked around and immediately got down on the bed. Akmang tatakbuhe was already blocking the curtain to serve as a door when Tina suddenly entered there. He stared at his friend for a long time and then it finally sank into his mind, that the old man was gone.

"I-itang ..." his voice began to growl. Next came the tears in his eyes.

Tina's hug immediately ran to him and let him cry as he cried on her shoulder. To this day, he still cannot accept that the old man is gone. That it was gone ... That was the last conversation they had that day. He couldn't even say goodbye. He didn't even hug her tightly. It died bitterly and without guilt. Soulless people killed the man who was always with him.

"Odessa ..."

“Tina h-I still can't accept! Hi-I can't accept ... No ... ”He was almost speechless but the pain he was feeling prevailed. When will he just come back, eh. All he knew was, he had no arrears with anyone. He has no enemies. So whoever killed his Dad, it was probably a demon! Heartless!

“You're just here in the room, Odessa. Don’t ever come out later in the presence of Mang Bartolome ... ‘We don’t know, maybe there are only people around who want to kill you. Maybe they will come back and when they see you, they will kill you ... So, here you are first Ode ... Hide. ” He stroked her hair while she was also crying. They both weep over the event that shocked her peaceful world. Her sobs were steady and her tears seemed endless.

He looked up and forced himself to calm down. “B-but I want ... G-I want to see Itang, T-tina ... I-I can't be without her. He can’t be buried anymore ... That ... ‘I can’t see, Tina! No! ” he sobbed as he wiped his eyes.

"But Odessa ..."

He just hugged her and cried again. Where is Frahisto? Where is the man? Why is it not there now? Why ... The pain is a joke of time. When he needs sympathy.

When he woke up, Tina immediately invited him to eat. But because he had no appetite, it did not force him. He also noticed that it was morning and noon. It also did not allow him to leave the room. The window remained closed and Tina said that their neighbors worked together to make her Dad's coffin. He passed away later that night and called his cousins to come home.

No Frahisto said to visit him. He also tried to call his number on the keypad cellphone he could donate to the museum, but the young man's phone was turned off. He also called Frahisto's phone a few times but there was nothing so he didn't try again. He just let it go and maybe he forgot. Maybe because it's so busy, it doesn't care anymore.

His father was only three days old, then he was buried. His parents also asked him to go home to Luzon first and maybe what will happen to him in the province. In which, they are right and Tina ... someone went to see the old man with three men in black. It didn't do anything wrong but they just looked around and looked at each person. Tina and her parents would not let her out of the house. He was just inside and on the other side of his heart, he felt fear. Who doesn't? Judging by the looks of the three men, they are not casual and have nothing to fear.

“Odessa, my older brother will take you to the terminal this morning. You can't just leave and maybe what will happen to you. ”

“Whatever you are, I can do my self daii. I'm just beautiful but I'm not stupid enough to test right away. ” What are you, I can do it myself day. I’m just beautiful but ‘I’m not a fool to kill right away.

It took a deep breath and something handed him, money. When he saw that he was reluctant to accept it, he himself took the money in his hand and placed it in his palm.

“Just be careful, huh? If only you could come here first but they might find out you are here ... You already know ... ”

He smiled and held out his hand. Only Tina can be considered his best friend in his whole life. No one wanted to be friends with the poor like him when he was still in school.

"I understand and I know that I can't stay here much longer. I don't want to hurt your family, Tina. Then promise, I'll keep promise! I'm coming back, you witch and you must be your legume, it has grown and turned into a watermelon. ” They both laughed at what he said but immediately fell silent. They were both saddened by what had happened.