Ilang minuto mula nang umalis ito ay nagreklamo si Jackie na naiihi daw ito.
"Dito na lang ako, Lora. Medyo masakit ang tuhod ko," saad ni Aling Maridon. Lumapit ito sa isang bench na nasa 'di kalayuan at tumabi sa dalawang babaeng naroon.
"Sige, 'Ma. Baka bumalik na rin si Steven."
They headed to the comfort room. She remembered that it was located near the Reptiles' section so she guided the kid there. They didn't find anybody inside the loo as everybody was already gathered at the exit of the zoo. May nakasalubong silang lalaki na marahil ay isa sa mga zoo keeper.
Sinamahan niya ang anak sa loob ng pampublikong palikuran dahil pakiramdam niya ay kailangan na ring manalamin. Medyo pawis na kasi siya. Marunong na rin namang maghubad ng sariling short pants si Jackie kaya hinayaan na lang niya ito.
Eksaktong natapos siyang maglagay ng baby powder sa mukha at lip balm ay natapos na ring umihi ang bata.
"So, shall we go back to daddy and lola Don now then eat our lunch?" she asked her, plastering a quick smile on her face.
"Yes, mom!" Jackie immediately answered with a certain look of excitement in her eyes.
Magkahawak-kamay silang lumabas mula sa comfort room. Ngunit ilang hakbang pa lang mula roon ang kanilang nagawa ay nakita na niya ang isang ahas na kasing laki ng braso ng isang bata. It bore an olive green color and some bands that run over it from the top down. It also has a cream color on the belly. It was hastily crawling towards them!
Bumundol ang 'di matatawarang kaba sa kanyang dibdib habang tinitingnan ito ngunit kailangan niyang maging matapang para sa anak. Nakita ni Jackie ang naturang hayop na ngayon ay palapit na nang palapit sa kanila. Dahil siguro sa matinding takot ay pumalahaw ito ng iyak.
The snake suddenly raised the front part of its body, extended its hood and hissed loudly. It was a cobra, one of the most venomous snakes in the world! Oh god!
Fear like no other started to eat her whole system because of the way the reptile looked. It gave a look that appeared to be very intense as well as fierce. Its forked tongue was coming in and out of its mouth, ready to attack anytime.
Habang pumapalahaw ng iyak ay mahigpit namang nakayakap sa kanyang baywang si Jackie. "Daddy!" sigaw nito.
Pakiramdam niya ay namanhid ang buo niyang katawan at naumid ang kanyang dila. Nawalan siya ng lakas na sumigaw upang humingi ng saklolo. Marahan niyang itinulak ang bata sa likuran upang sanggahin kung sakaling manuklaw ang makamandag na hayop.
"Lora!" It was Steven. He was standing a few of meters away from them. His face was filled with worry.
She was staring at him when he suddenly screamed, "No!" Then he flung himself in front of them. Everything happened so fast that it was a blur.
Steven fell to the ground with a loud crash. Nakita niyang kumaripas nang takbo ang dalawang zoo keeper patungo sa kinaroroonan nila. Nagsilapitan na rin ang mga tao sa kanila at kabilang sa mga iyon si Aling Maridon.
"Lora, anak! Diyos ko, anong nangyari?" taranta itong lumapit sa kanila. Out of shock and worry for Steven, she didn't manage to answer her mother.
Tagumpay na nahuli ng mga zoo keeper ang ahas. She looked at Steven again. He was sitting on the ground, slightly writhing in pain while holding his left leg. There were bleeding fang marks on his skin. Kaagad niya itong dinaluhan habang si Jackie naman ay umiiyak pa ring lumapit kay Aling Maridon.
She was about to suck the venom out of the leg but she suddenly remembered, based on a tip that she read on the internet before, that it was a wrong thing to do.
"Parating na po ang ambulansiya," wika ng class adviser nina Jackie na halatang natatranta rin.
"Thank you, Ma'am," she answered, then turned to Steven again.
"Steven, please hold on." Her tears were now slithering down her cheeks as she looked at him. Mas lalo pa siyang natataranta habang nakikita niyang unti-unti na itong tinatakasan ng kulay. Bahagya na ring nakapikit ang mga mata nito.
"Steven," aniya saka marahan itong tinapik. But he didn't answer. "Anak ng tokwa naman, Steven! Huwag kang mamamatay! Ayokong mabiyuda lalo na't 'di pa tayo kinakasal." Pinilit niyang idaan sa biro ang lahat kahit na patuloy pa ring tumutulo ang kanyang mga luha.
"P-Promise, I-I won't die. I-I love you, Lora..." he said in a raspy voice. She could feel the sincerity in it.
Hindi na niya nagawa pang sumagot dahil dumating na ang ambulansiya. Pinagtulungan na itong buhatin ng dalawang lalaking nurse upang ihiga sa stretcher at isinakay sa sasakyan. She stayed with him until they reached the hospital. Alam niyang nakasunod sina Aling Maridon sa kanila pati na ang mga class adviser ng Grade One habang ang ibang sumama sa educational trip ay nagsipag-uwian.
BINABASA MO ANG
PLEASE BE MINE...AGAIN (Completed/Editing)
Romance[WARNING: RATED SPG. THERE ARE SCENES THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR MINORS AND READERS WHO HAVE SENSITIVE MINDS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.] Lorabelle loves Steven so much, but she had to sell at a loss and leave him just to follow her dreams. Ngunit kasaba...
