WHEN I'M BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN

CHAPTER 3 - Suicidal Attempts

It's been a month since the death of Alicia. The woman that Jameston love the most. And it's been a month that they didn't hear anything from him. He's locking himself in he's room while hugging he's girlfriend's frames. That made the people surrounds him so worry.

"Son, open the door." Pangangatok ni Jonnalyn sa kuwarto ni Jameston. But as usual wala siyang nahintay na sagot. Kaya't inulit ang pagkatok sa ikalawang pagkakataon at mas malakas na.

"Jameston, please open the door. The maid said you didn't eat yet since this morning." Pangangalampag niyang muli. She's so worried on his conditions. Jameston is living with them in Harvard who got the position as a officer in FBI Department as he graduated in the prestigious university. Everyone know him as a jolly person but in a sudden moment he shut up his mouth and oftenly say a words.

"Jane, go and ask the maid where's the key of the room's. Your cousin locked again himself." Binalingan niya ang anak na kasama niyang nasa harap ng kuwarto ng pamangkin.

"It's not surprising, Mommy. It's been a month that he's doing that," kibit-balikat namang sagot ng dalaga.

"I'm so worried about him, Jane," aniya sa anak.

"Wait, Mommy. And I'll go and take the key. I know where did Grandma put before if they didn't change the place it's still there," tugon ng dalaga at pansamantalang iniwan ang ina para kunin ang susi.

Hindi naglipat segundo ay muling nasa harapan ng kuwarto ng pinsan niya si Jane at nadatnan niya ang ina na nangangalampag na naman dito.

"Here's the key, Mommy. Just open it don't knock again and again. Your just wasting your time there. He will not open that, Mommy." Iniabot nito agad sa ina ang susi. Nag-aalala rin naman siya para sa pinsan. Isang buwan na ang nakakaraan, ganoon na rin katagal na pinahihirapan silang buksan ang pintuan nito.

Pagka-abot naman ni Jonnalyn sa susi sa kuwarto ng pamangkin ay agad niya itong binuksan at ganoon na lamang ang pagkagulat nilang mag-ina dahil naliligo sa sariling dugo ang binata. He was showered of his own blood. His one arm holding close to his heart his girlfriend's frame while his one arm still holding the gun that he used to shoot himself.

"Go and call your Dad! Quickly before he will totally lost his life!" malakas niyang utos sa anak.

Wala silang narinig na kahit anong ingay o putok ng baril dahil ang ginamit nitong baril ay may silencer.

"Lord of mercy! Your killing yourself, Jameston. Have mercy to my nephew oh, My Jesus." Lumapit siya ng tuluyan sa pamangkin saka ito pinulsuhan at laking pasasalamat niya ng maramdamang may pulso pa ito, mainit pa ang katawan nito. It only means that he just shoot himself in just a moment.

Then her husband showed up! The same as she was, he was shocked upon seing their nephew's condition.

"Oh, My Jesus! Go down, Jonnalyn, now and tell to the driver to be ready. I'll carry him," utos nito sa kaniya saka nilapitan ang pamangkin nila saka ito binuhat saka nagmadaling bumaba.

"Stay here, Jane. Don't go anywhere else and make a long distance call to the Philippines talk to your popsy JR not to Grandma or Grandad okay? Be carefull to the way you will tell them." Binalingan niya ang anak saka ito binilinan.

"Okay, Mommy, I will. Just take him to the hospital now or else he will die." Tumatango nitong pagsang-ayun.

Dali-dali namang sumunod panaog si Jonnalyn sa asawa at saktong naisaayos ng mga ito ang sasakyan kaya't pagkababa niya ay bumiyahe agad sila patungo sa pinakamalapit na hospital.

Madrid, Spain

"Good morning, Miss Mckevin and Officer Dela Peña, have a sit." Nakalahad ang palad sa mga upuang nakahilera ng superior sa departmentong kinabibilangan ng magkaibigang Janellah Pearl at Vincent Paul.

"Thank you, Sir," sabay na sagot ng dalawa. Ipinaghila muna ng huli si JP ng upuan bago naupo.

"Your welcome guys. Anyway first of all I want to congratulate both of you for the job well done. Specially you, Miss Mckevin. Since you became a part of our department there are lots of changes and I'm proud to tell you that you're one of the assets of the whole department," masaya nitong tugon.

"Thank you, Sir. And not only me, but the whole department. We succeeded to conquered those pest because we have a unity that's why we did it successfully." Nakangiting humarap si Janellah Pearl sa superior.

"You're so humble, Miss Mckevin. But anyway thank you for working with us too. Keep up the good work," tugon ng opisyal saka bumaling kay VP.

"Officer Dela Peña, since that your the one who dwells here in our country for so long, I'll give to you the new assignment. But don't worry you will be working with Miss Mckevin as well. I know that both of you can do this. I trust you guys," anito na puno ng kumpiyansa ang tinig.

Hindi naman mapigilang napangiti ni VP dahil sa tinuran ng Boss nila. Yes he admitted na magkaibigan lamang sila ni JP pero sa kaloob-looban niya ay may pagtangi siya rito na higit pa sa isang kaibigan. He love her for so long since they're at the younger age way back then.

"It's my pleasure to have this as my assignment, Sir. And to be with Miss Mckevin. Once again, thank you for the trust, Sir." He smiled. Patunay lamang na masaya siya.

"I know your capabilities and abilities, Officer Dela Peña and for one month that Miss Mckevin is with us, we witnessed already how she dedicated herself to our job so it's not surprising if I gave you both this assignment. I know it's a big break for you too," nakangiti ring tugon ng opisyal.

"Thanks once again, Sir," tipid na pasasalamat ng dalaga sa opisyal nila. Natuturete ang taenga niya! Puro na lang papuri ang naririnig niya.

"Your welcome, Miss Mckevin. As well as you, Officer Dela Peña. Good luck t both of you. Any questions guys?" muli ay tanong ng superior nila.

"Nothing, Sir. Prmission to leave, Sir." Nakasaludong pamamaalam ng dalawa.

"Carry on men. You may go back to your offices guys." Nakipagkamay pa ang opisyal sa dalawa bago sila tuluyang umalis.

Pero imbes na bumalik sa kani-kanilang opisina ang dalawa ay napagdesisyunan nilang sa canteen na lang muna para sa kanilang snack.

"Mukhang hiyang ka ng Spain, JP," wika ni VP sa kaibigan.

"Well, tama ka naman friend. The place is quite good and besides I'm enjoying my new job here." Kibit-balikat ng dalaga.

"Alam mo kahit ngayon lang ulit tayo nagkasama ng matagal-tagal alam kong may pinagdadaanan ka dahil hindi mo tatanggapin ang alok ko rito kung wala. I know how you love AGDA. You can tell me para matulungan kita," muli ay sabi ni VP sa kaibigan.

"Some other time, Vincent. Sa ngayon ay gusto ko munang ituon ang panahon ko sa ating trabaho. Salamat sa pagkuha sa akin dito and for the help," tugon ng dalaga.

"Anything for you, Janellah Pearl. Alam ko naman kasing kayang-kaya mo ang trabaho rito patunay lamang ang isang buwan na paninirahan mo rito ay tinaguriang asset of the department ka na." Nakatutok man ang mata ng binata sa snack menu ay nagawa pa rin niyang purihin ang dalaga.

"Hindi naman kasi bago ang trabahong ito sa akin. Kaya hindi mahirap ang mag-adjust sa nature ng trabaho. Anyway thanks sa snack. Bilisan mo at may trabaho pa tayo," sagot naman ni JP not because she want to go back that fast but she want to avoid talking about the reasons why she's in Madrid Spain. She left her family in the Philippines to move it on though its hurt for her but she love her twin too and as she can see to her ex, he love her twin already and she doesn't want to be unfair to them.

"Not all good byes are for sorrow as well as not for happiness. Sometimes we need to say good bye to the one we love because it's for the sake of everyone. I know that the hardest thing to do is to say good bye to our love one but in every good bye we may say at the end or at the finishing line there's a happiness that's waiting to me and the one who will stand by me for the rest my life. I still believe in love and I know that God will never forsake me. Lord bless me and be my guide always," piping aniya ng dalaga sa sarili.

At dahil sa kaniyang pagkatulala at pag iisip ng malalim ay napatayo siya sa gulat ng tapikin siya sa balikat ni Vincent. Akmang bubunot siya ng baril pero hindi niya ito itinuloy ng mahimasmasan.

"Hey, Janellah Pearl. What's the matter with you? I'm talking to you but your mind's flying so I decided to tapped on your shoulder but I think you're scared. I'm sorry if I scared you," hinging paumanhin ng binatang opisyal.

"No I'm not, Vincent and I'm so sorry if I acted that way. Are you done on your snack?" tugon ng dalaga.

"Yes, I am ,JP. But you're not done yet---"

"I'm full and thank you. So let's go?" putol ng dalaga dito.

They left the canteen and made their way once again to their respective offices.

Santiago Isabela, Philippines

Everyone was in a deep sleep when the telephone rang continuously.

"JR, sagutin mo nga iyang telepono inaaantok pa ako." Pikit-matang utos ni Lhynn sa asawa.

"Ikaw na asawa ko ikaw ang nasa tabi," agaw-diwang sagot ni JR sa asawa pero pitik sa ilong at kurot lamang ang napala niya dito.

"Why you're pinching, asawa ko? Don't tell me na naglilihi---"

"Ang sabi ko ikaw matanda ka sagutin mo ang telepono. Hindi iyong kung ano-ano ang sinasabi mo!" inis na sabi ni Lhynn dito. But her husband's right dahil nasa tabi niya ang linya nito pero gusto na niyang matulog kaya ito ang inutusan niya upang sagutin ang tawag.

"Ayan tumigil na kaya matulog na tayo asawa ko maaga pa ang meeting natin sa mga board of director bukas." Tumigil ang telepono kaya't yayakap na sana ang Ginoo sa asawa kaso muling tumunog ang linya.

"What a holy sh*t! Disturbance of sleeping time---" Napamurang balikwas si JR dahil gusto pa niyang matulog kaso muling tumunog ang telepono.

"Your mouth! Your forgetting your manners again!" Kinurot siya ng asawa kaya't naputol ang pananalita niya. Inis na inis naman kasi siya.

"I'm sorry asawa ko. Saglit lang at sagutin ko ang tawag. Makatawag wagas, it's almost dawn!" inis na wika ni JR saka pagulong na lumipat sa tabi ng side table subalit sa ibabaw ng asawa niya siya dumaan.

"Oliver Smith the second, speaking who's on the line please?" aniya.

Samantalang inis na inis at idagdag pa ang pagkainip ni Jane sa pagsagot ng sinumang poncio pilato sa tawag niya at mas nainis pa siya sa tuno ng tiyuhin. Kaya't imbes na sabihin niya ng maayos dito ang tungkol sa pinsan ay nakalimutan na yata niya na hindi magkaparehas ng oras ang bansang Harvard at Pilipinas.

"If you want to see Jameston alive come over here. He shoots himself. My Dad and Mom rushed him to the hospital." Lukot ang mukha niyang pagbabalita sa tiyuhin.

Pero....

Ang hindi nila alam ay naangat na pala ni Angel ang linya kaya't dinig na dinig nito ang sinabi ng apo ng asawa niyang si Oliver Sr sa una nitong asawa.

"What?!" he screamed on what he heard pero bago pa man makasagot ang pamangkin niya ay binulabog na sila ng ingay sa mismong pamamahay nila. And it's from the room of the old Mr and Mrs Smith. Mrs Smith lost her senses that made her spouse scared dahilan para sumigaw ito na ikinasugod ng mga kasambahay.

Again...

"Mom, said come here and take him home with you there, Popsy. He committed suicide by shooting himself. Bye for now and we will be waiting for your presence," aniyang muli ng nasa kabilang linya.

Day time in Harvard they rushed Jameston Clarke in the hospital and its night time in the Philippines they rushed also Angela Smith to the hospital.