Fundamentals of Marriage | Suarez I

Chapter 27

"Era... Era."
 
Paggising ng diwa ko'y pagbigkas ng pangalan ko ang unang narinig.
 
"Era, you need to wake up." It was a whisper, a scared whisper.
 
Opening my eyes cost me a lot of strength. Noong una ay wala akong makita. I thought I was dreaming. Pero nang maaninag ko ang isang babae sa tabi ko ay napagtanto ko ang balon na tinalon.
 
"Ciana..." usal ko sa mahinang boses bago ikutan ng tingin ang buong lugar.
 
It is dark. We are in an old building with large windows. The mosses dirtying it and the vines crawling on the walls tell how old this place is.
 
We are in the middle of the large room. Tanaw ko sa malaking bintana ang langit at buwan kaya masasabi kong nasa itaas kaming bahagi.
 
Nakaupo kami sa kahoy na upuan, nakatali nang mahigpit kaya hirap ang katawan sa paggalaw. My eyes went down to my stomach, bothered.
 
Hindi lang kami ang narito. Sa kabilang gilid ko ay may isang lalaking hindi ko kilala. Pikit pa ang mga mata nito, tila natutulog lamang. Tumingin ako kay Ciana para magtanong pero inunahan niya ako.
 
"How did you end up here?" Dismayado ang boses niya.
 
"I-I was trying to find you. I-I went to your cafe and--"
 
"Who would go to the cafe at this hour? Era, buntis ka." If she can yell, I bet she already did at least twice.
 
I can't be mad at her nor feel pain from her words. I know she's just worried. "You can't blame me for being troubled. I was more than anxious when Kuya called and he said you're missing, C-Ciana."
 
"How can you be so impulsive? Even if I'm missing or not, you should've not left your house at this hour." She teared up. "My God, are you okay?"
 
"I-I am scared," I said honestly.
 
She used her body to move the chair closer to mine. She sighed in devastation when she realized she can't offer her shoulder to make me calm down.
 
"Sana hindi mo na lang ako hinanap, Era. Didn't your brother ask you to stay at home? Why would you leave alone?"
 
"He did but I-I c-can't be at peace, knowing that something bad might happen to you."
 
Mariin niyang naipikit ang mga mata. "You know I rather die than to put you in danger. Fuck these criminals." Iyon ang unang beses na narinig ko siyang magmura.
 
"How can you say that?" naiiyak kong tanong. "You know you're my only family, you can't die."
 
She did nothing but sighed at the situation. Maya-maya pa ay nagising na ang lalaki sa kabilang gilid ko. Suot niya ang nagtatakang mukha ay pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang lugar.
 
"S-Sino po kayo? Na-Nasaan ako?" he asked.
 
He's looking at me but I can't give him an answer. Si Ciana ang nagsalita.
 
"We are kidnapped."
 
"K-Kidnap? B-Bakit? W-Wala po akong ginagawang masama. M-Magsasaka lang po a-ako rito. W-Wala po kaming pera," taranta niyang sabi habang iniiling ang ulo.
 
Tumingin akong muli sa katabing babae, nagtataka. Who are behind this? If Kuya has something to do with this, what is the farmer's relation to my brother?
 
It is as if my question was heard, a group of men on their all black uniform-looking attire appear. They have their masks on, covering their whole faces. Lahat sila ay may hawak na baril, malalaki ang katawan at matataas. Pinanghinaan ako ng loob.
 
"S-Sir, hindi ko po kayo kilala, Sir. W-Wala po akong kasalanan--wala po akong maibibigay sa inyo, Sir. M-May p-pamilya po ako. Maliliit pa po ang mga a-anak ko, Sir. Pakawalan niyo na po ako," nagmamakaawang sambit ng lalaki sa tabi ko.
 
His words almost killed me for I can feel his sincerity and the terror in his voice. Sinilaban no'n ang galit na namumuo sa dibdib ko.
 
Walang nagsalita sa kanila. They remain standing, frozen like statues until the man on his suit entered the door.
 
"Sino kayo?!" Ciana yelled. "What the fuck do you need from us?!" She is breathing with her anger.
 
The man laughed. "Sandali lang, Ma'am. Pwede naman magtanong pero paisa-isa lang. Kararating ko lang." Papalapit na siya kay Ciana nang sabihin iyon.
 
My foot wanted to kick him when he bended his knees down the floor in front of my sister.
 
"Your first question is?" He sounds like he's teasing.
 
Nanggagalaiting dinuraan ni Ciana ang lalaki sa maskara. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang bigla nitong hawakan sa panga ang kapatid ko.
 
"Fuck you! Let go of her!" Nagpumiglas ako sa upuan.
 
I screamed whe he slapped her. Naibaling ni Ciana ang mukha sa gilid sa lakas no'n.
 
"Oh, My God." I'm catching my breath, mouth open. His hand left a mark on her face.
 
"I was asking you kindly, Miss. Sana sumagot ka rin nang matino."
 
He is an old man, I can tell. Umurong ang dila ko sa takot. Kahit gaano ko kagustong sigawan ito ay napipi ako. I can't let someone hurt me. Not now.
 
"You are all merciless. Malakas ang pangangatawan niyo kung tutuusin pero mahina ang utak niyo kaya kayo naging kriminal. Nakasusuka kayo!"
 
"Ciana..." I want to stop her. Wala kaming laban.
 
Muling tumawa ang lalaki, mas malakas. It's more disturbing. I never heard of laugh this evil.
 
"Sabihin mo 'yan sa iniirog mo, binibini. Tell him you he should've use his mind to choose enemy suited for him. Mali siya ng kalabang inalok ng laro, Ms. Feliciana."
 
"When did it become smart to kidnap children? You are cruel. Criminals are nothing but a greedy stomach. Gutom kayo sa pera kaya pati ang mga walang muwang na bata ginagamit niyo! Wala kayong puso at utak!"
 
"No, please. Don't hurt her," pakiusap ko sa takot na baka saktan siyang muli ng lalaki.
 
"Don't beg him, Era," she told me.
 
"You should stop, Ciana. Please..."
 
Hindi ko kita ang mukha ng lalaki ngunit sigurado akong may ngiti ito sa labi nang lumingon sa akin at unti-unting lumapit.
 
"Don't try touching her. I can kill you." Ciana warned.
 
"O, kid. How can you kill me if you're all tied up?" He chuckled. Back to me, he raised his hand to reach my face. I flinched when I thought he'll hit me.
 
"I said don't touch her!"
 
"Shut up or I will pull the trigger." Itinutok sa akin ng lalaki ang baril niya.
 
"I-It's okay, Ciana... I'm okay."
 
"Fuck you," she cursed at the man in a much lower voice now.
 
"You should be well behaved like Ms. Legazpi. Look at her, very obedient." Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko. Noong una ay marahan, hanggang sa dahan-dahan iyong humigpit. "Hindi ka naman talaga dapat madaramay, Ms. Legazpi. Kaso lang masiyadong pakialamera ang kapatid mo, gustong maturuan ng leksiyon."
 
I'm being coward again. Ni hindi ko maigalaw ang mukha para alisin ang kamay niya sa takot. "Stop this. You can live a good life by starting a new one. Crimes won't bring you anywhere."
 
He laughed in great delight. "Crimes won't but money can. Malamang ay hindi lubusang maintindihan dahil mayaman ka pero sa aming mga hindi, pera ang nag-aangat."
 
"Why do you have to kill people and kidnap children? Why do you have to be criminals when you can earn money in a good way?" I asked that in the calmest way I can.
 
"I think we're going too personal, Ms. Legazpi. Masiyado mong pinalalambot ang puso ko, baka maiyak ako niyan." He let go of my face. "Don't worry, I will set all of you free."
 
"A-Ako po, Sir. W-Wala po akong kasalanan--"
 
"Putangina ang ingay. Kanina ka pa!" The man exploded in impatience. "Manahimik ka kung ayaw mong pagluksaan bukas."
 
Tumiklop itong nanginginig ang katawan. The mercy I am feeling for him is greater than the fear.
 
"Madali lang naman ako kausap. Kapag mabait kayo, makalalabas kayo nang buhay rito. Ang pasaway na bata, ekkk. Deads." Tumayo siya pagkatapos magsindi ng sigarilyo sa mismong harapan ko.
 
I coughed when I breathed the smoke. He walked back to his members. My eyes glanced at the lighter he dropped. Nagliwanag ang isip ko nang makalayo ito ay hindi niya iyon napansin.
 
Nagkatinginan kami ni Ciana. I instantly extended my foot the farthest it can reach to pull it closer but it was hard.
 
"You think you can successfully do what you want?" Nagsalita si Ciana. It took me a while to realize she was doing that to get their attention.
 
"What makes you think we won't?"
 
"I heard you're a failed agent. A loser. My man won over you, tell me I'm wrong." Ciana beamed, teasing him.
 
I am working on my plan. Dahan-dahan at paunti-unti kong iniuusad ang upuan habang nakikipagtalo ito sa lalaki.
 
"I'm afraid you're talking about a different person, Miss. I wasn't an agent but you will know who I am soon. Iyon ay kung buhay ka pa."
 
"So you weren't an agent. What kind of loser were you then?"
 
The man hissed, now approaching her again.
 
"Gusto mo talagang mauna sa langit? You know how to get on my nerves. I want to slap you again."
 
"Why, Mister? Did I word it out right? Were you a loser? Or are you still a loser--
 
"Stop!" sigaw ko matapos matakpan ng paa ang lighter. "Ciana, can't you humble yourself?" I faked my anger. "You're not thinking about us but yourself. Kung gusto mong mamatay, pwes ayaw namin!"
 
"How about you? Until when will you behave like that? Act your age. You're not a kid anymore."
 
"Ako pa talaga ang bata? When you are the one being childish here. They already said they will let us go. You just fucking need to shut your mouth." I became an actress in an instant.
 
We were still in the middle of a fake argument when the man turned his back to face his people. Hindi kami huminto ni Ciana upang hindi mahalata.
 
"May maiwan dito sa loob, sa labas na 'yung iba. Bantayan niyong mabuti. Roger, sumama ka sa 'kin. May lalakarin tayo."
 
While arguing, my eyes are secretly watching the man leave the room with one member. Tatlo ang naiwan sa loob at ang iba ay lumabas na katulad ng inutos ng lider nila.
 
"Selfish," I uttered at last.
 
"I'm not, you are," Ciana said before raising a brow to tell me we should end it.
 
Nagpapahupa pa kami ng dibdib sa pagpapanggap ay tumingin ako sa tatlong lalaking nakapaligid sa amin.
 
"P-Parang awa niyo na po, Sir. Pakawalan niyo na po ako," ani muli ng matandang lalaki.
 
How the hell can we escape from these men if they're looking at us?
I keep glancing at Ciana, hoping that she has something in mind.
 
The men are conversing and sharing cigarettes. They are so casual like they are so used to doing this. Minatahan ko ang swiss knife sa bulsa ng isang lalaki. I need to get it.
 
Ciana eyed my feet, the lighter beneath them. I arched a brow, asking. I had a hard time getting what she wants me to do until it was all I can think of. I kicked it the least obvious that I can. The heel of her shoe trapped it beneath.
 
"Shit!" she cursed after forcing a fall with her chair so she can get the lighter on the floor.
 
"Ciana... Please help her," I asked the men.
 
"Pare, itayo mo nga 'yon."
 
"Punyeta, bakit kasi napakalikot. Hindi pa kasi tinuluyan ni Sir--" Siya mismo ang pumigil sa sarili niyang banggitin ang lider nila.
 
"Kalmahan mo lang, baka ikaw unahin ni Sir," natatawang sambit ng isa.
 
The two of them remain talking, facing each other. Ang isa'y nagtungo na papalapit sa amin para tulungan itayo ang upuan ni Ciana. When he slightly lowered his body, I have a clear sight of the knife peeking from his pocket.
 
It's impossible to get it with my mouth at this point. I have to wait another chance. Nang malapit ang pang-upo niya sa mukha ko ay dinungaw ko iyon. Gamit ang bibig ay kinuha at mabilis na ibinagsak sa pagitan ng mga hita.
 
"Ah!" Ciana yelled to keep his attention on her.
 
"Tangina, nagpapabigat ka ba?"
 
"Why not use your strength? Gaano ka ba kahina para hindi ako mabuhat?"
 
I pressed my knees together, hiding the knife in between. He cursed at my sister for the last time before going back to his mates.
 
"Chill lang. Babae lang 'yan, pare." Inabutan ito ng kasamahan ng bote ng alak.
 
When I glanced at Ciana's hands, she was using the lighter to cut the rope.
 
"Your hands..."
 
"Shhh."
 
She's hurting her hand, she can't see where the fire is. Animo'y nangangapa siya ng apoy. I refused to look at it because I can feel the pain. Matindi ang pagtitiis ni Ciana. She didn't even let her face distort.
 
Lumingon siya sa lalaking katabi na para bang sinabihan itong maghintay, bago ko naramdamn ang kamay niya sa akin. She's untied, now untying me.
 
"Endure it," she whispered.
 
The men are too busy to notice something is going on. What a set of stupid assholes.
 
I endured the pain and heat until I felt the relief. Pagkatapos putulin ang tali gamit ang apoy ay pasikreto niyang inabot ang lighter sa kasama naming lalaki.
 
Our hands remain behind us, acting like we're still tied to the chair. When I had the chance, I took the knife in between my thighs and hide it behind my back, behind the backrest of the chair where our hands were tied.
 
There's nothing left to do but to wait for a perfect chance. Hindi kami pwedeng umatake nang nakaharap sila o basta-basta dahil may baril ang mga ito.
 
"Hindi niyo man lang ba kami pakakainin?" Ciana demanded.
 
"Wala pang sinsabi si boss, maghintay ka riyan!"
 
"Pasensiya ka na, Miss beautiful. Wala kaming maihahaing masarap. Maliban na lang kung gusto mo akong tikman," said, the pervert.
 
I want to throw up but I held back myself. Sinuot ko ang nakaaawang mukha bago nagsalita.
 
"You should at least feed us. I-I'm hungry. I can't starve myself, I am pregnant," ani ko sa paawang boses.
 
"Gago, buntis daw, pare. Hindi ko naintindihan 'yung ibang sinabi basta buntis daw siya."
 
"Itawag mo kay boss kung pakakainin na."
 
Nag-usap silang muli. I don't know why I feel like they're doing this because they have no other choice. But no reason can justify a crime. They are still criminals.
 
One man called their boss. He asked him if they can feed us. Pitik pa lang ng leeg at tango ng ulo ay alam ko ang isinagot nito.