Save the Beast for Last (R-18)

Chapter 46: Secluded

Halos magsitindigan ang mga balahibo sa buong katawan ni Summer dahil sa takot na pilit niyang kinubli. Hindi naalis ang pagkakukunot ng noo ni Summer habang nakatitig sa matanda. Hindi na naglaho ang pagkadisgusto niya rito.

Ang mga araw na napaniwala siya ng matanda na aalagaan siya nito hanggang sa gamitin at paglaruan at maging noong tinapunan siya ng mainit na kape, hindi niya malilimutan ang mga iyon.

Summer desired true love, yet she was poisoned with fallacies. She was promised happiness, yet she received hell in return.

From Ernie who told her he couldn't impregnate her so he handled her carelessly, to Stephen who wanted to control her every move, and possess her like a doll.

Her past was nothing to be proud of. She was filled with scars internally and externally.

Buhay ang nawala at mukhang buhay rin ang magiging kapalit.

"Do you really think I wouldn't know about my child?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Summer. Stephen wasn't supposed to learn about Charlie's identity. Sapat nang alam nila ni Chase at ng pamilya ng binata kung sino ang totoong ama ni Charlie. And she knew better . . . they wouldn't spill that truth.

But who else knew about it?

Genesis.

Nailing sa kaniyang isipan si Summer. Nasisigurado niyang hindi rin iyon gagawin ni Genesis. Imposible. Matindi ang galit ni Genesis sa matanda dahil sa mga ginawa nito noon.

But then, who?

"W-what?"

"Surprised?" Mahigpit pa rin ang naging hawak ni Stephen sa kaniyang pisngi. "You fucking killed my child and make someone else own her! That was my child! Do you really think I wouldn't know?!" galit niyong singhal sabay ang pagbaba ng busal sa bibig ni Summer.

Napaawang ang bibig ni Summer dahil sa sakit ng ginawa ni Stephen. Pakiwari niya ay maging ang kuko ng matanda ay lumandas sa kaniyang pisngi dahil may naramdaman siyang hapdi sa pisngi.

"Speak, you whore!"

"You're not the father, you asshole!" galit na singhal ni Summer. "And you're the reason why my child died! You ruined my life!"

"Are we still playing innocent, wench?" Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Stephen sa bawat salitang binibitiwan nito. "You've fucked so many men and keep killing your supposed children! Who fuckin' does that?!"

Whore . . . Wench . . . Summer had chills with every offensive term Stephen threw at her.

But where was the lie there?

Summer wasn't a saint, nor was she a virgin. She had made so many mistakes in her life. And Stephen was one of the mistakes she regretted. She still felt like he had power over her . . . because maybe that was still the case.

Summer couldn't contain the secluded emotions in her chest and chose to let her tears fall—from Ernie to Stephen, who hurt her physically, emotionally, and mentally, to Chase, who she became desperate for love and used both their vulnerabilities to stay together. Everything had been in shambles for her.

Alam niyang wala talagang puwang na maging masaya. Pero dahil kay Genesis, gusto niyang maniwala sa isa pang pagkakataon na mabuhay at maging masaya. Kasama ni Genesis at ng baby nila.

"It's a shame your knight in shining armour isn't coming. No one's coming for you, Summer."

"You monster!"

"I'm not the monster here, Summer. I'm the only one who truly cares for you. You know that," he sweetly stated. "So, are you willingly going to come with me? I'll give you everything you need."

"I know you are insane, but did you think I would be crazy to tag along peacefully when you abducted me?"

Habang nakipagsusukatan ng tingin si Summer kay Stephen, lumapit ang isang tauhan ng matanda at bumulong. Nakapako man ang tingin ni Stephen sa dalaga, mukhang dumapo sa ibang bagay ang isipin nito. Ilang segundo pa ang nakalipas bago dumistansiya ang tauhan ni Stephen.

Nilingon ni Stephen ang kaniyang tao. May galit sa mukha nito na animo'y sasakmalin ang kaniyang kausap.

Hindi marinig ni Summer ang naging palitan nila ng salita, ngunit batid niya kung gaano kaseryoso iyon. Mas nangunot ang noo ni Stephen at halos bumuga na ng apoy sa galit.

Yumuko ang lalaki bago lumisan. Muling bumalik ang buong atensiyon ni Stephen sa kaniya.

Stephen pulled a gun from his coat and pointed it at her chest. Humugot ng malalim na paghinga si Summer nang lumapat ang baril sa kaliwang dibdib niya.

Marahan na umangat ang kamay ni Stephen hanggang sa nakatutok na ang baril sa kaniyang noo. Ilang beses napalunok si Summer at hindi maikubli ang panginginig ng buong katawan.

"So you plan to kill me?"

"Oh, no, darling. I don't want to kill you. I want you to bleed to death, and then I will kill you." Summer could feel the cold sensation from his voice. He was dead serious. "Maybe I'll preserve your heart since you've been very naughty. At least I'll have a lovely souvenir from you."

"Y-you psycho!"

"Careful there, dear. You're playing my game. Shall we try put a hole between your eyes? I think that would suit you."

Napalunok muli si Summer sa narinig. Pilit niyang pinipigilan ang pagtulo ng kaniyang luha ngunit hindi siya nagtagumpat dahil kusang bumabagsak ang mga ito sa kaniyang pisngi. Sa kaniyang pagtitig sa lalaki, hindi na matinong lalaki ang kausap niya. He was a monster hiding underneath the thick layers of human skin. He wasn't the man that she once respected.

"I wonder if that would just sink in your skull or if it will go past it and decorate your dear lover's place with blood."

Nangunot ang noo ni Summer dahil sa kalituhan.

Ilang segundo ang nakalipas nang magrehistro sa kaniya ang sinabi ni Stephen. Wala sila sa hotel. Nasa loob mismo sila ng bahay ni Summer. It made sense since she opened the gate before everything turned blurry and dark.

"Oh, you haven't realised it yet? We're just at that damn Bartolome's house. I'll be generous and send your bleeding photo to him as a souvenir. Isn't that a great idea?"

Hindi sumagot si Summer at patuloy na nakipagsukatan ng tingin kay Stephen. Natatakot siya ngunit isang maling kibo, hindi lang siya ang mawawala pero maging ang baby niya.

She stared at the man and saw his index finger traveled to the trigger of the gun.

Different thoughts occupied her mind. Should she beg him? Should she just say yes to survive? Will he let her off if he knew she was pregnant or will he not hesitate more in pulling the trigger?

Baka ito talaga ang dapat kahantungan ng buhay nita. Baka hanggang sa ganito na lang talaga matatapos ang lahat.

Walang senyales ni Genesis o kahit sino man na sasagip sa kaniya. Hanggang sa huli, mag-isa pa rin siya.

Wala naman dapat sisihin maliban sa sarili niya. Sa dami ng naging maling desisyon niya, kahit ang akala niyang tama ay mali pa rin. Isa siyang hangal na naniwala na may espasyo sa mundo para sa kaniyang kaligayahan at kasiyahan.

Mariin na pinikit ni Summer ang kaniyang mga mata nang maramdaman ang malamig na baril na lumapat sa kaniyang noo.

"Gab . . . "

***

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