Fourth of October (Juntarsiego Series #1)

Chapter 25

My head bowed down as he opened his car's window and fired numbers of bullets behind. Napasigaw ako ng dahil doon. I can hear loud sounds from behind. Nagpapalit-palit ang mga ito ng bala habang ako ay hindi na alam kung anong gagawin sa loob!

"Fuck!" I heard him cursing so loud as he both drive his car and loading another set of bullets in his gun. I am trembling. Nanginginig ang katawan ko sa sunod-sunod na narinig mula sa kanila.

Still holding his hand, I closed my eyes as if it can cure everything now. Ilang tunog ng mga baril ang naririnig ko hanggang sa may tumama sa aking banda. I heard the sound of the bullet crashing to his right-side mirror! On my side!

Jaeden tried holding my face to look at him. Nag-aalala ito. His face is telling the truth. Tinakasan na ako ng dugo sa mga naririnig sa kanya. He's firing to that car behind us!

"Please hold on, okay? We'll go home safe. I promise you that." Sunod-sunod na luha ang dumaloy sa pisngi ko nang hindi na makayanan.

I feel scared, not being able to know if he's protecting me or leading me into danger.

Sa bilis ng takbo ng kanyang sasakyan, hindi ko namamalayang palayo na kami ng palayo sa nakasunod sa amin. I am still at my seat, my head's still looking under it, saving my life for the possibility of dying in here.

Another gunshot from him. Dinig ko ang pagkabasag ng salamin sa likuran. Mariin ang pagpikit ko nang sandaling tumigil na ang lahat pagkatapos ng huling putok.

Using both of his hands, he guided me to him, taking me for a warm embrace while still trembling. He's not holding his gun anymore. I can't hear gunshots and I am not seeing the car that's following us earlier.

Nasa loob pa rin ang kaba ko. Hinihingal at tila wala nang magawa pa, pinakawalan niya ako mula sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. He cupped my face and when he saw me still crying, his gentle fingers wiped it with a lot of worry etched in his eyes.

Those blue eyes I admired the most is now full of worry, scared of losing me and regrets about witnessing that scene. I feel like I am still in the middle of the war, having no chance to survive at all.

Napahinga ito ng malalim saka paulit-ulit na humingi ng sorry sa akin. I was just quiet the whole time while listening to his voice. I can clearly picture out in my mind what he has done.

Guns. I've seen a lot from him before. He owns much of it and he's now using one. I refused to believe that he's one of those people who's into killing one of their kind. I refused to believe that he can kill people in an instant.

I know Jaeden. I know him so much even his family! I do believe that he can't be the person I think now. I don't see him as the person who takes people's lives.

Naging tikom ang bibig ko sa ganoong pangyayari. Dahil determinado akong mapagbigyan ng oras ang magulang ko, itinago ko sa kanila ang naranasan ko.

But Jaeden knows how to reveal everything to my parents. Siya na ang nagsabi sa kanila no'n.

"We were chased that night by a car with five people inside. All of them were using guns and I did what I think is right for us to escape safely, sir," marahan niyang sabi habang ako ay nananahimik.

Hindi ko gustong mag-alala pa ang magulang ko sa akin. I want to be silent, to not let them feel that I am always in danger.

Sabay akong tinignan ng magulang ko. My mother has this concern look to me. Binigyan ko lang siya ng maikling ngiti, pinapaalala na maayos lang ang lahat.

"Wala namang nangyari, Ma. Jaeden saved me..." I whispered it, enough for them all to hear.

Gumalaw si Jaeden sa kinauupuan. I know what he thinks. Na nagsisinungaling ako kahit na siya na mismo ang nakakita ng tunay na kalagayan ko noong gabing iyon.