Offering the world doesn't measure how you love that person.
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I don't want to be scared. I want to be strong. I held Danielle's hand. Sabay kaming tumakbo papuntang daungan.
"Where are the other volunteers?" Nilingon ko si Danielle. Hinihingal siya. I want to carry her. I know she's still sore.
"I don't know, Dan. I don't know but I smell danger." I saw how fear crossed her eyes but she remained firm beside me. I know ayaw niyang maging pabigat. Natigilan kami ng biglang sumigaw ang mga lalaking nandoon sa camp.
"Malapit na tayo sa daungan. Kaya mo pa ba?" My heart melted when Danielle smiled at me.
"As long as I'm with you, Simon."
Gusto kong umiyak at yakapin siya but I need to be strong.
We ran for our lives but as we go on... nagkatinginan kami ni Dan.
"This is planned." Fuck. Gusto kong magwala. What the fuck is happening? Sira sira ang balsa sa daungan. I clearly remembered what this medical mission about. It's for the t'boli tribe na malayo sa syudad. Did I miss something? Hindi kaya may medical mission because there's war happening?
"We will go home, Simon." Danielle held my hand. Pinisil niya iyon like she's telling me everything will be alright. I should be the one doing that.
"We need to run. Kailangan nating magtago." I told her when I heard the footsteps coming. Tumango siya. We come across the cave. Pumasok kami doon. Pinuntahan namin ang dulo at sapa na ang nasa harap namin.
"Can you swim?" I asked her. Damn. She should be resting and all. She's sore!
"It's okay, Simon. I can." Pinisil niya ulit ang kamay ko. We were about to jump when suddenly I don't know what happened. I felt a throbbing pain in my back and I lost my vision.
Damn.
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"No please! Please don't kill him." I woke up hearing Danielle sob. I suddenly feel the pain at my back.
"Please..." I panic once again. I heard her cry. Kahit masakit at nahihilo ay pinilit kong gumising. Napasigaw ako bigla ng maramdaman ang sakit sa kamay ko.
"Simon! Simon!" Nalipat ang tingin ko kay Danielle. I want to cry after seeing her. There's a red marked on her cheeks and a traced of blood on her lips. Nakagapos sa sa harap ko. And I saw the red marks on her thighs and feet.
I moved impulsively to go beside her but I feel the sudden sting again in my hand. Napasigaw na naman ako sa sakit.
Napalingon ako sa kamay ko. There's a lot of blood all over my body. Ang taling ginamit sa paggapos sa akin ay may mga blade. Even in my foot. Nilingon ko ulit si Danielle. She's crying loudly. I'm just relieved na walang blade ang tali niya.
"Hush, sweetheart. Please.. stop crying." My voice broke upon seeing her hurt.
"Simon, they will kill you. Pinana ka nila kagabi." She's cried again. Gusto kong kumilos but I am so damn weak.
"I'm alive, Dan. We'll get out of here. Please stay strong." Pareho kaming napalingon sa pintong yare sa kahoy ng bumukas iyon. Nasa isang kubo kami na puro mga dayami ang laman. A guy with a big tribal earing in his nose entered. He's wearing a lot of necklace. Bigla ay kinabahan na naman ako. Not for me, but for Danielle. I'll surely kill someone if bad things will happen to her. I pray to God that none.
Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita ang sumunod na pumasok.
"What do you feel, Simon?" I greeted my teeth after hearing Edward's voice.
"Leave my girlfriend with this." Tumawa siya. I swear I'll kill him after this.
"I'm sorry, Simon but you see I'm not as jerk as you. You left my sister after having sex with her. Hindi ka man lang natinag ng sinabi naming may sakit siya at kailangan ka niya! You're a doctor pero pinatay mo siya!" I heard Danielle gasped. Nilingon siya ni Edward. Uminit ang dugo ko sa titig niya.
"Your sister is desperate like you Edward. You want my position and she want me. Bakit ba hindi na lang kayo makuntento sa kung anong meron kayo?"
He punched me right there. Ramdam ko ang galit niya. I hear Danielle's plea. Asking Simon to stop. How I wanted to caress her back.
"You'll never get away with this, Simon. I'll ruin your life like how you ruin mine." Nanlaki ang mata ko ng harapin niya si Danille.
"Do something and I swear I'm gonna kill you Edward!" He laugh. He didn't even bothered to face me. Tinanggal niya ang tali ni Danielle.
"FUCK YOU EDWARD! LEAVE MY GIRLFRIEND ALONE! FACE ME! AKO ANG HARAPIN MO!"
Dumanak ang dugo ko when I tried moving. Ramdam ko ang sakit pero nangingibabaw ang takot ko.
"Simon, please don't move!" I saw how scared Danielle is.
"Please... please let him go. Please don't kill Simon." My tears flowed when I saw the love of my life pleading.
"Dan, stop. Stop it. I'll be fine."
Napamura ako ng marahas na hilahin ni Edward ang buhok niya.
"Let's make a deal baby. One wrong move, and your sweatheart will die."
"FUCK YOU EDWARD! FACE ME! AKO ANG HARAPIN MO!" I don't care If I'm gonna lose my fucking hand and feet right now. I need to be with my girlfriend. I need to get her away from Edward.
"Dan, No! No! Don't follow him. Listen to me, Dan. Don't follow him!" The guy with the tribal attire punch me in my stomach. Napaubo ako ng dugo.
"Simon! please, stop! Deal! Please stop hurting him!" Gusto kong sumigaw but It won't be loud anymore. Nagulat ako ng may pumasok pang isa na katutubo. His face has a big ugly scar on his face. He is big and bulky.
"HAYOP KA EDWARD AGUSTIN! HAYOP KA!" I tried moving again. I can't feel the pain anymore.
What happened next broke my heart. My sould and everything.
"NO! NO! DAN! DAN! DAN!" I keep calling her that. The big man raped my Danielle and I just stood there crying and shouting.
What broke me more is while she was raped she's crying and she's smiling at me. Her eyes tell me that everything is alright. She even murmured to me.
"I love you more, Simon."
I thought when you love, you conquers all. Why can't I even do anything for the one I love? Why can't I stop that big man who raped her? Why can't love do something to free us in this situation?
"Sweetheart please stay sane. Dan, please stay with me." It's been one week and it kills me everyday seeing Danielle used by the tribal people. I always lost my consciousness, the physical pain can't keep me up. I lost a lot of blood already but I can't die. I need to stay alive. My Danielle is still alive, she's fighting for me. I need to fight for her. But my Danielle now is numb. She keep staring at me. It pains me to see her like that.
I lost my consciousness again when I saw her weep. Danielle doesn't deserve this. She deserve the world. She deserve a beautiful world.
