1: Neko

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(Fourteen years ago)

"H-haahh . . .  haahh . . . " Halos hindi ko na maramdaman ang bawat paghakbang ko habang paurong ako nang paurong mula sa kinatatayuan ko. My breathing is heavy and unequal as my eyes are wavering and slowly getting blurry due to the tears coming into forms.

It didn't take too long until I finally exploded. With all my strength dressed with fear, panic, and grief, I let out a deafening scream followed by a woeful cry.

Narinig ko ang mabilis na pagtakbo ni tito Robert palapit sa kinaroroonan ko at agad akong pinaharap sa kanya at niyakap.

"Hey, baby, it's fine. It's fine. Nothing bad is gonna happen," he consoled me first before knowing what happened. "Now tell me, what's the matter?" he then asked as he looked at me worriedlly.

Lalo pang lumakas ang pag-iyak ko habang dahan-dahang itinuro ang ibabaw ng aking kama kung saan parang walang-awang pinagpira-piraso si Neko, ang paborito kong stuffed toy na pusa. Hiwalay ang ulo mula sa katawan. Ang tiyan ay biniyak sa dalawa na parang kinuhanan ito ng laman. Natanggalan din ito ng isang paa at kamay, at sa bawat hiwa ay may pulang likido.

Tito Robert didn't move an inch with what he saw. He just looked at the mess and then shook his head as he heaved a sigh.

"It's time, Ria. I'm sorry. I can no longer stop her."

I cluelessly looked at him with my teary eyes. "A-Ano pong sinasabi n'yo? A-At sino pong gumawa n'on kay Neko? Neko is my one and only friend!"

"You're crying over a mere stuffed toy, my child?"

Nabaling ako sa may pintuan nang pumasok doon si mommy. Nakahalukipkip siya at mabagal ang hakbang na lumapit sa amin.

"Neko isn't just a stuffed toy. She's my friend!"

"Oh." She smiled at me sweetly. "I didn't know Ria had a friend, so mommy destroyed Neko using a knife full of chicken blood."

My lips quivered. She's giving me an aura that I've never felt before, and the next thing I knew, I'm already on the floor, unable to stand up.

"T-Tito," I whispered with shaking voice. Tito Robert just looked at me sympathetically.

He turned his gaze to my mom. "Rebecca, hindi ba ito masyadong malala para sa anim na taong gulang?"

Pagak na tumawa si mommy habang iniikot-ikot ang ulo at minamasahe ang leeg. "At the age of five, I saw my father whipping a man in a blindfold. The bruises the whip caused on his body, the blood and flesh lined like cracks on his skin, ah, what a sight to see." Lumapit siya sa kama ko at mapaglarong hinawakan ang sirang katawan ni Neko. "And when I'm at my daughter's age, my mother has put a human head on top of my study table, still warm and fresh. Robert, you know yourself what I've been through."

Naramdaman ko ang sunud-sunod na pagtulo ng mainit na luha mula sa aking mga mata habang pinanginginigan ng buong kalamnan. My head has started to spin a little. I could not name the exact feeling havocking my chest.

What is going on? What is happening?!

"You know yourself how traumatizing they were. How can you let your daughter experience the same?"

"The traumas have made me stronger. And that strength of mine has what made me survive this hell of a life. Ria is six, yet I was trained the very moment I was born. Kung hindi lang dahil pinipigilan mo ako, matagal ko na itong ginawa, Robert."

I'm confused. I'm clueless. What is this all about? What does my mom want from me?

"But witnessing all those traumatizing scenes isn't the real challenge." A smile made its way again to my mom's lips. "It's the fact that you aren't allowed to react freely." Mom looked at me coldly. "Ria, stop crying."

Red Lipstick on His Neck [Series #4]Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon