Katalina
“Mum, what are you doing here?” I blurted out in panic.
“Follow me.”
She started dragging me down the long lecture room corridor. At the other end, she turned into another passage that led to the restrooms.
Being a weekend and with no lectures going on, the building was almost empty. By the time we got to this place, it was just the two of us. My brain just shot down, making me too shocked to protest.
She dragged me to the very end of the restroom area and then entered one of them.
“Mum, what is going on? Where have you been?” I asked the moment she dropped my hand.
“I was right. You are fine. I knew he wouldn’t do anything to you.” She gave me a scrutinizing look and nodded to herself.
She knew he wouldn’t do anything to me. What the hell is she talking about about? My mind yelled. The implied meaning of her words made my head swell, but I repressed it because it would be too absurd to even think that she did it on purpose.
“Mum, what is going on? Where have you been?”
“I am fine. I am doing just great. I just wanted to see you. Make sure you are fine. How is he treating you?”
“You mean Huracio?”
“Yes, who else?” She sneered, and a strange glint crept into her eyes. “I suspected he would come after you. I just didn’t expect him to marry you.”
My heart sank. I was actually hoping she was referring to Kelvin.
“You knew? So, so you intentionally ran away? You intentionally stood him up at the altar?” I gasped.
“Of course…”
“But why?”
“Because I had to.”
Her phone buzzed, she brought it out and frowned. Her demeanor instantly turned from relaxed and unbothered to hurried. “Kata, listen. I don’t have much time. Huracio can’t be trusted. You have to protect yourself. Don’t let him deceive you, okay? ”
“I don’t understand, Why did you run away?”
“I told you. I had to.” She snapped at me, suddenly angry. “I will contact you again. Remember what I said. Huracio can’t be trusted.”
She abruptly turned around and started jogging away.
“Mum, wait!” I went after her.
“Stop!”
She stopped, and turned around with her hand doing the stop sign, almost clashing with my face. “You can’t follow me. It’s dangerous. Stay here for 5 minutes, then come out.”
Dangerous?
I couldn’t tell Emilia anything about my Mum because Huracio said it was dangerous. Now, Mum also said the same thing. What did she get herself into? Why is nobody telling me anything? And to think she intentionally left me behind? She wouldn’t even hug me just now.
Confused, I looked intently into her eyes. They were very clear and bright. They also looked stern and serious. She really meant what she said.
Feeling a wave of disappointment and helplessness, I nodded and took a step back.
Sending a shift in my demeanor, she squinted her eyes at me. “Kata, I know you are confused. But with time, you will understand. Just stay alert and be careful around Huracio. You can’t tell him that you saw me, Okay?”
“Yes, Mum. I understand.”
She felt relieved, and her stern face relaxed. Nodding, she patted me on the shoulder and turned away.
I watched her jog away, feeling completely out of sorts.
Once she was gone, I brought out my phone and dialed Emila’s number. The dialing tone dropped three times, and the call disconnected, reminding me that she had blocked me. Exasperated, I slid to the floor, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Slowly, Mum’s words replayed in my head. She actually ran away. She knew Huracio was dangerous, yet she ran away, leaving me behind to deal with her mess. But what did she do? How bad could it be?”
“Remember to call me if you see your Mum today.”
Those were words he constantly said to me whenever I wanted to leave the house. Should I tell him? Should I not? But why would Mum do this to me? What the hell is going on?
My chest suddenly felt tight, like someone was wrapping a thread around it, pulling and knotting it over and over. It became hard to breathe, and I broke into a cold sweat. I felt a sharp pain in the middle of my chest. It was like getting slashed with each breath I took. My head became heavy and it was like it was swelling. Grunting, I grabbed my chest and buried my head between my knees.
I have no idea how long I was like that before the pain finally disappeared.
Once I was calm enough, I walked to a wash hand basin and washed my face. Lifting my head, I came face to face with a pale me. My eyes were red, and I had unknowingly bitten down on my lower lip, drawing blood.
I slowly made my way out of the restroom area with just one thought in mind.
To go home.
I was making my way to the car park when it occurred to me that going home was facing Huracio. Facing Huracio meant telling him about Mum…
“Hey, watch out!!”
Just as I was about to step onto a road, someone caught me from behind. My body spun around and a strong arm dragged me by the waist just as a very fast sports car zoomed past.
I got lightheaded, and my ears started ringing as I realized what just happened. I lost strength in my legs and slumped against a hard wall. I started shivering uncontrollably.
“Hey, are you okay? Hey.”
A male voice reached me from far away and something hit my cheeks.
I tried to look at him, but all I saw was a white fog. Like when white powder is sprayed into the air.
“Oh my god, Katalina. Katalina!!” A familiar voice called my name from far away. I struggled to concentrate, but the noise in my head was simply too loud.
“Take her to my car. She is my friend.” That voice earnestly shouted.
I felt several arms touching me. Then I started floating.
“Katalina, look at me. It’s Emilia. Katalina, say something.” Someone tugged at my hand.
Emilia!
It was as if whatever stopped working in my head suddenly restarted itself.
“Emilia?”
Suddenly, my blurry sight cleared and I found myself in some strange man’s arms. He was carrying me bridestyle. Emilia was beside him looking frantic and holding hands.
“Emilia,” I screamed in panic.
I tried to jump out of his arms, but he grabbed me and pinned me in place.
“Hey, slow down. I am not trying to harm you.” The man grunted.
That voice…
Then It all came back in a rush.
I saw Mum.
She intentionally left me behind.
I nearly got hit by a sports car.
This man, he saved me. He saved my life!
“Oh, my gawd!”
I covered my mouth with my hand and frantically tried to get out of the man’s arms. He must have sensed that something was wrong because he hurriedly let me down just as the first splash of vomit came gushing out of my mouth.
Feeling too weak to stay on my feet, I crumbled to the ground and just kept retching.
“Oh, my god, Kata. What’s wrong with you?” Emilia stood beside me and started patting my back.
When I couldn’t regurgitate anything again, someone brought a bottle of water and I rinsed my mouth.
“What happened here?” A grave voice echoed behind me.
It was Stone
“Step back. I will take it from here.” He growled at the man.
“He is just trying to help.” Emilia glowered at him. She signaled to the strange guy and he stepped away from me.
Before I could say anything, Stone scooped me up and started walking away.
“Hey, wait. We should take her to the hospital.” Emilia screamed behind me.
“No need,” Stone replied, not sparing her a glance.
I wanted to tell him not to disrespect my friend, but I was simply too weak. I closed my eyes and prayed that Emilia would leave him alone and just follow me home.