Completely Free From You

CHAPTER 9

Are they even getting foods? They look like they are just waiting for their deaths.

I tried hard not to create a sound as I walk pero siguro dahil madilim at hindi talaga nila makikita kung may pumasok sa loob ng kulungan ay ang pakiramdam nila ang ginagamit nila. Dahil kahit gaano pa ako kaingat na walang gawing ingay ay nakuha ko ang atensiyon ng babaeng nakakulong sa ikatlong kulungan. Even in the darkness, she's able to see or feel me?

"Help me." I never heard someone as desperate as she is. The man needed help but he's not as desperate as she is.

I  looked at her. She has a lot of bruises just like the man in the second Bastille but her wounds are different. Like she experienced all the sufferings she can ever experience. Maiitim ang ilalim ng mga mata niya na para bang ni hindi niya man lang naipikit ang mga mata niya para makapagpahinga. If I were in her situation, I wouldn't dare close my eyes either. Hindi mo alam kung anong naghihintay sayo kapag ipinikit mo ang mga mata mo. Baka bigla ka nalang patayin habang natutulog ka. I don't know if that's better than to experience more pain when you're awake. Magulo ang buhok niya at madumi ang damit na suot niya. Gutay -gutay pa.

"I know you are there." she said so certain that there's really a person looking at her right now. A person who can finally hear her, help her. I can't even help myself. Judging how she threw her words, I know she's not ordinary. Mukhang Alta. She has this accent that only those who stayed outside the country can speak.

"Stop looking at me and help me." I wanna commend her instinct or was it even her instinct? Maybe she's trained. Malakas ang pakiramdam niya at may tapang pa rin siya sakabila ng mga sugat at pasa niya. Kung tutuusin ay parang pareho lamang kami ng kalagayan. Ang kaibahan lang ay natutulog ako sa mas maayos na higaan at may maayos na damit. Pero kung sakit na pisikal ang pagbabasehan ay hindi nagkakalayo ang mga sugat naming dalawa.

"You are not the person I wanted to see." mahinang sabi ko at naglakad na palampas sa kulungan niya.

"Who? Your Mother? Your brother?" natigil ako sa paglalakad at bumalik sakanya ang mga tingin. Bumalik ako sa harapan ng kulungan niya. She knows me, I am certain. "You really think he'll make them live? You think they survived? Think again, Alessandra!" my eyes widened. She knows me! Alam niya ang pangalawang pangalan ko.

Sino siya? 

"The poor kid is just what? Thirteen? Your mother is old. They can't survive the beatings and the whippings. You were just holding onto the idea that Marcus will make them live when in fact, he is  fooling you with the idea that they are still alive. For what? To hold you."

"Once you found about their death, he knows you'll eventually leave. There's no one he can use to threaten you. The reason why he is keeping their deaths." I can't feel my own legs right now. I am trembling hard with what I've heard. Namuo ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. I don't want to believe her. She's lying. She's making up stories. He said that he'll make my brother live. He won't do that. Umiling ako, pilit kinokombinse ang sariling hindi totoo ang mga sinabi ng babaeng 'to. Anong alam niya!

"Y-you're lying! They are alive! We have an agreement!" she laughed sarcastically. 'Yung tawa niya parang sinasabing ang tanga ko para maniwala kay Marcus.

"You are blinded by your selfish love, Alessandra! Kahit halughugin mo ang buong Mansion, hindi mo na makikita ang pamilya mo. They are probably decayed by now." she said like she is certain. I couldn't believe it. Unti-unti nang nakukuha ng babae ang tiwala ko. My rage doubled.

"And why would he send you away? Hmm? Nagmamadali pa ngang bumalik dito pagkatapos kang ihatid sa kung saang lupalop ng Pilipinas. That's to fully bury your family while you were there, fighting your life just to fucking comeback here! Estupida! Anong binalikan mo dito? Ang kahibangan mong ikaw ang pipiliin ni Marcus at gagawing asawa? Na may pagmamahal na nararamdaman sayo ang lalaking 'yon? Tigilan mo na ang kahibangang 'yan! I should have killed the man and escape already. Napakalaki mong tanga!" she furiously shouted at me. I can almost feel her rage. Siguro kung hindi lang siya nakakulong ay sinugod niya na ako at iniuntog sa galit niya.