Kaagad na sinalubong niya ng paningin si Benjamin nang magbalik ito sa kanyang apartment.
"You're not safe here, Maru..." worried na wika nito habang papalapit sa kanya.
Nagkasalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. "What do you mean?" she asked in confusion.
"The guy who's living next door is a psycho. He tormented and shot his girlfriend. Now he's on the loose. Baka bumalik iyon dito. Mahirap na. You can't stay here anymore. Baka ikaw naman ang pagdiskitahan niyon..." he cursed under his breath. "God forbid!"
Her knees literally buckled in fear. After the shooting incident that almost damaged her eardrums, she didn't want to experience the same terror again. At ang isiping baka siya ang susunod na magiging biktima ay mas lalong nakapagpanindig ng kanyang balahibo sa takot.
"Let's go!" In a swift movement, he was in front of her, snatching her wrist and pulling her from the bed.
Napailitan siyang tumayo at sumunod kay Benjamin dahil halos ay hilahin na siya nito. "Hey!" she uttered a weak protest that fell on deaf ears.
"Bring your very important stuff," he commanded authoritatively. "And where's your keys?" baling nito sa kanya at saglit na pinakawalan ang kanyang kamay.
"Bakit, saan tayo pupunta?" she asked instead. The keys were just on top of the fridge.
"I'll get you to somewhere safe," sagot nito. "You can't stay here anymore. It's too dangerous while your psycho neighbor is at large.
"But-"
"No more buts, Maru," he snapped at her. His face was serious. Worry was deeply etched on the lines on his face. And he looked as if he wouldn't take any opposition from her. "Just do as I say."
She hated it when someone boss around her, but she found herself obeying him. She secured her iphone and her other electronic gadgets. Hindi niya alam kung saan sila pupunta pero kailangang dala-dala niya ang iphone at laptop dahil kailangan niyang mag-touch base kay Liana mamaya.
"And your keys?" his eyebrows were cocking as he saw her ready to leave with her electronic gadgets.
"Nasa taas ng ref-"
He stormed towards the fridge and snatched the keys. "Let's go," he crisply said and walked towards the door, leading the way. Binuksan nito ang pinto at hinayaan siyang makalabas at pagkatapos ay ini-lock at isinara iyon.
"Benjamin-"
"I'll bring that," putol nito sa kung anumang sasabihin niya at inabot ang bitbit niyang laptop bag. Napilitan siyang ibigay iyon sa lalaki. "Let's go," muling wika nito at hinawakan siya sa braso habang ang isang kamay nito ay bitbit ang latop niya.
Nakagat na lamang niya ang pang-ibabang labi habang umagapay sa paglalakad ng lalaki. Kailangan niyang doblehin ang bilis ng kanyang paglalakad para lamang makasabay sa lalaki. And she hated that. Dalawang hakbang niya yata ay isa lamang kumpara rito.
Bukas ang pintuan ng katabing unit at may mga pulis siyang nakikita sa paligid. The other people who were renting in the building were also littered around. Pero naka-cordon ang pintuan ng katabing apartment unit niya at may nakalagay na, "OFF LIMITS. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION ONGOING." It gave her chills.
"Keep walking," si Benjamin na halos ay pabulong na nagsalita malapit sa kayang tainga.
She tore her gaze away from the crime scene and followed Benjamin. They were heading out of the building after a few moments.
Iginiya siya ni Benjamin patungo sa kalsada kung saan naka-park ang porsche nito. May nagbabantay na isang lalaki sa sasakyan.
He guided her towards the passengers seat and opened the door. Tahimik siyang sumakay sa sasakyan. Lumigid ito sa driver's seat pero may iniabot sa lalaking nagbabantay sa sasakyan nito kanina bago tuluyang pumasok.
Ipinatong nito ang kanyang laptop sa dashboard. Inabot niya iyon at inilagay sa kanyang kandungan.
He revved up the engine and drove off. Tahimik sa loob ng sasakyan habang seryosong nagmamaneho si Benjamin.
"Saan tayo papunta?" hindi na nakatiis na tanong niya.
"La Verve, Maru," was his crisp reply.
She didn't know what La Verve was or where the hell it was, but he answered her question as if he didn't want to elaborate further. Napasandig na lamang siya sa leather seat at lihim na napabuntong-hininga.
Pagkatapos nang nangyari sa kanyang apartment at makita ang mga pulis kanina ay parang ayaw na rin muna niyang manatili roon.
BINABASA MO ANG
Steal My Heart (Published)
General FictionRated SPG: Some scenes are not suitable for minor readers. Read at your own risk. Tagged as always the groom's man but never the groom, Benjamin thought that he would stay that way forever. Until he met Maru, the woman with a breath-taking but fragi...
