OBSIDIAN ISSUE #2 : WOUNDED

TWENTY SEVEN

Isang sigaw ang humila sa akin bago ang tuluyan na pagkakalunod sa kawalan.

As soon as I was pulled back into consciousness, everything about today struggled to catch up with my gaining reflexes. Fear suddenly gripped me. Unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pagliliyab ng buo kong katawan at maliban doon, nanunyo rin ang aking lalamunan.

I also felt cold. The surface underneath me felt stone-cold and yet, there seems to be a dancing hell building inside my bones. Pinilit kong binalikan ang nangyari, but the more forceful I become, the more painful remembering gets. Sa matinding sakit na nararamdaman, hiling ko na sana ay bangungot lamang lahat ng ito, o kung hindi man ay sana matapos na.

Angelov... the very first name that came to mind. Sa pikit kong mga mata ay hindi dilim kundi pagliliyab ang bumalot sa aking paningin at naging tanlaw ko ang mukha niya. The images turned into his hands tracing promises, then his voice echoed that soothes but is slowly drifting away...

"...She has nothing to do with this. Maling tao ang dinamay mo, Joaquin!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Unti-unting lumalakas ang mga boses sa paligid habang inaangat ako sa pagkakamalay. Sa kabila ng sakit ng ulo at panghihina, marahan kong idinilat ang mga mata.

"Dapat ba ikaw, huh? You're nothing but his filth now, Ev. Wala ka nang halaga kaya paano kita pakikinabangan?"

"At sa tingin mo may halaga nga ang babaeng iyan? You're trying to get a rise out of an enemy you barely know. Angelov just wants to fuck and play! That girl is too naive for his taste. So what I think you should do is keep her out of this and use me instead. Tutal ay may nakaraan din naman kami. I am also important to him!"

Opening my eyes, I realize that I am lying on my stomache, the same position as I was when I collapsed. In front of me is a background of white blur trembling before my very eyes, followed by two vague figures revealing themselves slowly into clear familiar faces.

Binibingi ako ng sariling kalabog ng puso. The pain in my head got worse as I recognize Evrose!

Bakit siya nandito? Is she a part of this? Pero kung kakampi nga siya ay bakit tila hinahain pa niya ang sarili sa nananakit ngayon sa kanya?

Joaquin's wide shoulder half-covered her frame as she was pressed hard against the tiled wall. Sa bigat na nararamdaman ay halos hindi ko na maiahon ang sarili ngunit naigtad pa rin nang makita ang pagdakma sa buhok niya at nanggigigil na hinila para iangat ang mukha kay Joaquin.

"Anong akala mo sa 'kin, tanga? He doesn't do lesbians that's why he ditched you!" sigaw niya at marahas na binitawan ang babae.

Seeing that danger in front of me, I tried to move my hand so I could support myself in rising up, but I realized they were tied together on my back. Kahit ang mga paa ko ay ramdam ko ang pagkakatali. But then, even without the restrictions, the slightest move I make would still do nothing to me. My body is in burning pain and a little lift of my head always caused me to sway until I flake out again.

Sa kabila ng sitwasyon ko ay pilit ko pa ring pinapalakas ang loob at binigyan ang sarili ng pag-asa. I let my thoughts race about any possible ways to stand and defend myself but I realize, this is just hopeless. My vulnerable situation is no doubt in favor of the assailant. Any attempt of strength to match his is undoubtedly futile. Kung iisipin kasing mabuti, maliban sa lalake siya at mas malakas, sa steel pipe pa lamang na hawak niya ay agrabyado na ako. Iyan marahil ang pinangpalo niya sa akin at isang tama lang niyan muli sa ulo ko, sigurado ang bagsak ko.

Nakatalikod siya sa akin ngayon. I could atleast move my body but it would take some time before he'd catch me. Kung magpapanggap ba ako na wala pa ring malay... well he can easily bring me somewhere. If he sees me awake, he'd possibly hit me with that pipe again. Iyon naman talaga ang intensyon niya una pa lang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito sa kinahihingatngan ko.