Completely Free From You

CHAPTER 9

"Help me. Magtulungan tayo." she said calmly. Nawala ang galit sa boses niya.

"Who are you?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Hindi mo ba ako naaalala?" I saw how she flashed her smile. I had goosebumps all over my body when memories came flashing. Her smile. That smile! The very same smile. Nabago man bahagya ang mukha niya dahil sa mga sugat at dumi roon, nanatili naman ang parehong ngiti.

"Remember me?" she said with her usual playful tone. How can I forget her. Hindi ko siya nakilala dahil pumayat siya, she have wounds all over her body, she's dirty as shit but her smile. I can't forget how she smiled at me back when were still in college. When we were still having good time together. When everything seems good and easy.

"How are you, bestfriend?" kinilabutan ako. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nasa lugar na 'to ang matalik kong kaibigan. I got my tongue tied.

"Paano ka napunta dito?" naguguluhang tanong ko.

"Just like what your father did, my father also betrayed the organization. Too bad, I wasn't picked to be Marcus' woman." she then laughed mockingly. "On the contrary, I think I'll have a chance now. I heard that you killed Anastasia. That bitch!" she uttered her last sentence angrily. Tumalim din ang mga mata niya. What did Anastasia do to her?

"How long have you been here?" I have a lot of questions. Gustohin ko mang paulanan siya ng tanong ay pinili kong huwag gawin. Hindi ko pa rin lubos maisip na nasa harapan ko siya ngayon. Is this really true? I missed her pero hindi ko gustong dito kami magkikita. This isn't even an ideal reconciliation.

"When you came, I followed. Our fathers were into it kaya sabay din tayong nasangkot." she said bitterly.

"How about Tita Kaye?" I asked worriedly.

"Things happened, Aless. Pareho ang naging kapalaran ng pamilya natin." my tears silently ooze. I cannot phantom what I truly feel right now. I am grieving, I am fuming, I am happy because finally, I found someone I know, Kavanagh, my best friend. Pero hindi ko maisip na pati pala ang ama niya ay nasangkot din sa organisasyong ito.

"Are you going to help me?" muling sumeryoso ang boses niya.

"Makalabas kaman dito, hindi pa rin tayo makakatakas sa dami ng mga tauhan ni Marcus. They are scattered all over the seaside, Kavanagh. At kahit paglabas palang mismo natin sa kwartong ito, may nakaantabay ng mga kutsilyo at baril. We will be dead before we can take a step." sabi ko. "We tried escaping. Nahuli kami kaya mas marami ang nagbabantay ngayon sa tabing dagat."

"I'll rot in here, I guess." umiling ako.

"I'll plan things out. For now, rest. You fucking look like a damn zombie. Have you forgotten about sleeping?" pangaral ko sakanya.

"I can't sleep in this garbage! Mabuti sana kung kasing lambot ng kamang hinihigaan mo ang tutulugan ko. Wala man lang unan o di kaya'y kumot. Ang lamok at ang lamig pa ng sahig!" she whined. Fuck, I missed my best friend. Kavanagh and her mouth. Gusto ko siyang yakapin. Was it a year since I was chosen by that old woman to be her son's wife?

"What's your plan? Are you seriously here to look for your family?" tumango ako.

"I told you." she said pertaining to what she said a while ago. I sobbed and I saw how she threw me dagger look.

"There's no place for a weakling here, Alessandra! You've been through a lot. You survived. We lost our family. We should avenge! Dammit! That Martino Del Prado, Marcus, even Trinidad Del Prado, I'll fucking kill them!" ramdam ko ang galit niya.

"Ipaubaya mo sakin si Marcus at Martino. Tinuluyan ko na sana ang matanda!"

"I don't trust you with Marcus! You love the man, Aless!" hindi kombinsidong sabi niya.