Those sad, pained eyes

We were 10 again. Back in Jolo, at Mohammad Tulawie Central School, where it all started.

You were 2nd in line. I was farther down. The teacher called the girl in front of you and the guy in front of me. "You'll be partners." Then she called Hope who was in front of the guy whom she earlier called. I was expecting her to be paired with you but the teacher just asked her to step aside.

Then she called you. Then me. We'll be partners. "Why us?" I blurted, referring to what just happened to us.

Then you turned around and looked me in the eye. It was you. But it wasn't the you I know, with smiling eyes and bubbly disposition. You were looking at me with those sad, pained eyes that pierced my heart.

And I woke up, still vividly seeing your eyes. The windows were shaking. The wind howling. Glenda has arrived. Willing all the things she could touch to fly, to rip, to die.

Fear gripped me. And I wasn't sure if it was because outside the four comforting walls of my apartment, people are holding on to their lives, or if it was those eyes torturing me with thoughts of final good bye.