The Sacred Rule of Love - (PUBLISHED 2019)

Chapter 12

***12***

            I felt violated.

            Wala akong naging ibang reaksiyon kung hindi ang sampalin si Jax. Namula pa yung mukha niya nun. Hinawakan niya yung pisngi niya at kitang-kita ko yung bakas ng kamay ko. At times like this usually I would feel sorry about it, pero ngayon, puro galit lang ang naramdaman ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun na lang siya parati. One day you’ll feel like he’s a friend, another an enemy.

            “Ano bang problema mo Jax?!” tinulak-tulak ko siya ng malakas and he started holding onto both of my hands para ihinto niya kung ano man yung ginagawa ko, “Bakit mo ko ginaganito?”

            Ngumiti lang siya sa akin na parang nang-aasar, “Don’t deny na hindi mo nagustuhan, Zoe. I can do it again. All you have to do is ask.”

            He was pulling me in for another one of his dreadful kisses, at bago pa niya nailapit yung mukha niya sa akin, naramdaman ko na nawala yung mahigpit na pagkakahawak niya sa akin. Narinig ko na lang na may humampas ng pagkalakas-lakas doon sa dingding namin at nahulog yung mga nakasabit na paintings na binili pa ni Daddy kung saan. Ako naman ay natumba na lang mag-isa.

            Some of those paintings ended up with a broken frame.

            Habang nakatingin ako doon sa isa sa paintings, a blue glare was overpowering it. There was a massive blue light sa bahay namin and I couldn’t help but turn around kung anong nangyayari.

            And then I saw it. Alex was holding Jax by his collar using his left hand habang nakasalampak si Jax sa sahig. Jax did have a bloody mouth—pero ang napansin ko ay yung kanang kamay ni Alex.

            A sword. There was sword sa kamay ni Alex flaming in blue. His eyes were blue at yung buong katawan niya ay umaapoy in his vibrant blue self.

            “You just gave me a reason to hurt you…” narinig ko na sinabi ni Alex as he lifted his hand para saksakin si Jax.

            It might be my sense of morality, o baka naman stupidity, pero I did what I had to do. Something I was good at.

            I screamed.

            “ALEX!!!” I heard myself screaming at the top of my lungs. Hindi ko alam kung may magagawa yung pagsigaw ko. Alex seemed like he was full of rage katulad ng inaasam-asam na makita ni Jax. I didn’t know he was capable of showing such emotions. Parang isang snap lang ng fingers mo and he was out.

            Parang ganun si Alex. It seemed like he wasn’t there.

            But I guess my scream helped dahil biglang humupa yung nag-aapoy niyang sarili and it took a couple of minutes before he dropped Jax again sa sahig. From the view on the side, nakita ko na pinikit niya yung mga mata niya, tumayo siya bago lumingon uli sa akin. This time, it’s the Alex that I remember.

            “I’m sorry.” narinig ko na sinabi niya nung nakaharap na siya sa akin, “I will do anything---“

            Hindi niya natapos yung sasabihin niya dahil tumawa si Jax sa gilid habang pinupunasan yung dumudugo niyang bibig. Napatingin kami ni Alex sa kanya ng de-oras. Siya na nga itong nasaktan, siya pa ang may kuhang tumawa. Hindi ba siya natatakot na kulang na lang ay masasaksak na siya ni Alex?

            “A Defender,” narinig ko na sinabi ni Jax at tumayo na rin siya sa pagkakasalampak niya sa sahig, “This is just great. You work for Michael.”